The use of Plastic Combs for Brood Rearing and Honey Storage by Honeybees

Abstract

SummaryWax-extended portions of cells of one-piece plastic comb had larger diameters than cells of beeswax comb drawn on foundation. Honeybees tended to constrict the open ends of the large cells in plastic comb, and also, but much less, those of cells of wax comb drawn on foundation. The width of the head capsule of bees reared in combs made from different plastics showed some differences; there were also differences between beeswax comb and some plastic combs. The three types of plastic comb used were moulded on the same mould, but differences in shrinkage gave cells with slightly different diameters.Wax production was greater and honey production slightly less in honey supers furnished with plastic combs than in supers with the same number of wax combs drawn on foundation. Yields of both honey and wax decreased as the number of plastic combs in a super was increased from 9 to 11.Honey could be extracted effectively from plastic combs, without prior uncapping, if the combs were completely drawn out, filled, and sealed, provided they were held in a conditioning room at 37·5° to 40°C for 24 h before extraction.