How long will a honey comb last?

Honey comb, the hexagonal cells built by honey bees to store honey and pollen, is an engineering marvel. But like all natural materials, honey comb won’t last forever. So how long does honey comb last before it needs to be replaced by bees?

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Quick Answer

Most honey combs will last 1-2 years before needing replacement. However, well-maintained combs in a healthy hive can last up to 5 years. Beekeepers often replace combs after 2 years to maximize honey production and hive health.

What is Honey Comb?

Honey comb consists of hexagonal cells made of beeswax which are used by honey bees to store honey and pollen. The cells also contain developing larvae and pupae. Honey comb is constructed by worker bees, which secrete beeswax from glands on their abdomen. The wax is molded into interlocking hexagonal cells through the use of the bee’s mandibles.

Honey comb serves several important functions in the hive:

Food storage – Cells are used to store honey and pollen reserves.
Brood rearing – Cells house developing eggs, larvae and pupae.

Communication – Bees share information by depositing pheromones in cells.

The hexagonal shape of the cells is an example of efficient honey bee engineering. The walls shared between cells saves wax and space allowing more cells to be constructed. Hexagons also use the least amount of wall material per cell volume compared to other shapes.

Honey Comb Lifespan

How long a honey comb will last depends on several factors:

1. Strain of Bees

Different strains and species of bees have differing propensities for building comb. Italian honey bees tend to build more robust comb than Carniolan bees. Africanized bees tend to build comb quickly but the comb may be more fragile.

2. Quality of Forage

Bees that have access to diverse and abundant pollen and nectar sources, tend to build higher quality wax and comb. Better nutrition provides the resources for wax production.

3. Presence of Hive Beetles and Wax Moths

Wax moth larvae and small hive beetles can damage comb by tunneling through it. Their presence reduces comb lifespan and requires more frequent replacement.

4. Chemical Residues

Chemical residues, such as miticides and insecticides, accumulated in the wax comb over time. This can negatively impact bee health and comb quality.

5. Temperature and Humidity

Extreme temperature fluctuations and high humidity can warp and degrade honey comb over time.

6. Handling and Care

Gentle and proper handling and storage of honey comb can help extend its useful life. Harsh handling can damage comb.

New Comb

When first constructed by bees, new honey comb is white in color before it accumulates pollen and becomes yellowed. New comb has thinner cell walls and is very fragile until it matures and is reinforced with additional layers of wax by the bees. It takes about one year for new comb to fully mature and harden.

Brood Comb

Brood comb that is actively being used for rearing worker bees has the shortest useful lifespan. The cell walls get stressed from the developing bee larvae chewing their way out. Constant cleaning, burrowing, and reuse makes brood comb degrade faster than honey storage comb. After one year of brood rearing, this comb is often replaced.

Drone Comb

Drone comb with larger cells specifically meant for rearing drones also degrades faster than regular worker brood comb. The larger cell size gets weakened more quickly.

Honey Storage Comb

Comb designated solely for honey storage lasts the longest. Since it is not being reused for brood rearing, the cell walls remain intact. Given proper beekeeper management to keep wax moth and hive beetles at bay, this comb may last many years without replacement. Beekeepers often extract honey and reuse this comb. However, most replace it after two years to reduce potential pesticide and disease buildup.

Signs that Comb Needs Replacement

There are visible signs that comb is reaching the end of its usable life:

Darkening color – Accumulation of cocoon residues and pollen make old brood comb nearly black. This inhibits visibility for colony inspections.

Thick cell walls – Walls become very thick with multiple wax layers over time.
Misshapen cells – Cells lose their hexagonal uniformity with age.
Increased fragility – Old comb gets brittle and breaks apart easily.

Pest damage – Wax moth and hive beetle damage weaken comb structure.

When to Replace Comb

Many beekeepers follow these comb replacement guidelines:

Replace brood nest comb after one year.

Replace honey storage comb every two years.
Replace any comb showing signs of significant pest damage.
Replace old comb on a staggered schedule, not all at once.

Replacing a portion of old comb each year maintains a balance of new and old comb through the entire hive.

Benefits of Replacing Comb

Replacing old darkened brood comb has several advantages for both bees and beekeepers:

Increased brood viability – Bees have higher brood rearing success rates on fresh wax.

Reduced pesticide buildup – New comb gives beeswax a fresh start without old contaminants.
Higher honey production – Bees store more honey on clean comb.
Better colony inspection – White comb enables easier queen and brood assessments.

Wax moth and hive beetle control – Young comb helps break their reproductive cycles.

How Bees Replace Comb

Bees are adept comb builders. When old comb needs replacing, the process goes quickly:

Worker bees consume honey to activate wax producing glands.

Flakes of wax are secreted from glands on bee abdomens.
Wax is passed from bee to bee, chewed, and molded into comb.
Hexagonal cell walls are constructed from the bottom up and reinforced.

Some cells are immediately filled with honey stores.
The queen lays eggs into other cells to give comb brood rearing function.

Given adequate food stores and a large enough population, bees can build several square feet of comb in just a few days. They work with eager precision fueled by consuming copious amounts of honey.

Getting Bees to Draw New Comb

Beekeepers employ some techniques to encourage bees to build out new wax comb on frames or foundation:

Make sure the colony has a young and prolific queen – her pheromones drive wax production.
Feed syrup or sweet honey water to fuel wax making.

Crowd the bees a bit on existing comb to make them want more space.
Provide empty drawn out comb for a guide and template.
Make sure hive boxes are level so comb construction is even.

Protect the hive from light and drafts which slow building.

Replacing Comb in Honey Supers vs Brood Boxes

Comb replacement strategy depends on if it is used for brood rearing or honey storage:

Brood Comb Replacement

Replace 1-2 frames per inspection.

Alternate and move old brood comb to honey supers.
Cull very old black comb.
Install new brood comb in the spring for the new brood cycle.

Honey Super Comb Replacement

Extract honey and replace a couple frames per box after each season.
Replace especially thick/old comb to maintain storage space.
Rotate old brood comb into honey supers to extend usefulness.

Cull comb damaged by wax moths or hive beetles.

Storing Old Comb for Reuse

Drawn wax comb removed from hives can be reused. Proper storage is important to preserve it:

Keep in an airtight container to protect from wax moths.

Freeze comb for a few days first to kill eggs if concerned about pests.
Stack frames tightly together so comb doesn’t warp.
Store out of direct sunlight and away from heat.

Reusing stored comb gives bees a head start on comb construction. Just make sure it is still structurally sound and pest free before reinserting into a hive.

Selling Old Beeswax

Old comb that is no longer usable can be rendered into beeswax for sale or reuse:

Remove all residual honey first by soaking in water before melting.

Melt down comb in wax melter, solar melter, or even saucepan.
Filter melted wax to remove impurities.
Pour beeswax into molds or blocks.

Beeswax has many uses for cosmetics, candlemaking, wood polish, artisan crafts. Old comb can provide supplemental income for beekeepers when recycled into beeswax.

Disposing of Old Comb

Comb that is rotted, diseased, or fully infested with wax moths is best disposed of entirely. Options for getting rid of unusable comb include:

Burning – Empty comb can be disposed of via fire or incineration.

Landfill – Non-diseased comb can go out with regular trash pickup.
Composting – Crush up comb for compost piles as a soil amendment.
Burial – Burying comb at least 2 feet underground keeps pests contained.

Be responsible with disposal methods. Containing pests and diseases protects other bee populations from harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if comb needs to be replaced?

Signs that comb should be replaced include dark color, thick cell walls, misshapen cells, increased fragility, and evidence of wax moths or hive beetles. Brood comb older than one year and honey comb older than two years should be replaced.

Can bees reuse old comb?

Yes, bees can reuse comb for a few years by repairing and reinforcing it. However, very old comb becomes too fragile and degraded for continued reuse. It eventually needs to be replaced for the health of the colony.

Does new comb increase honey production?

Yes, newer comb allows bees to store more honey. Old brood comb becomes cocooned and uneven over time. Replacing a portion of the comb each year results in maximum honey storage potential.

Can I sell my old bee comb?

There is not much of a market for selling just used comb. But you can melt old comb down into beeswax and sell that pure beeswax. Crafters, cosmetic makers, and candlemakers often purchase beeswax.

Is it safe to compost old bee comb?

Yes, empty bee comb poses no risks for composting. The wax gradually biodegrades and is a soil enhancer. Just be sure the comb has no honey, venemous pesticides, or disease present first.

Conclusion

Honey bee comb is a marvel of insect engineering with its perfectly hexagonal cells for maximum storage space and minimal materials. But like any natural material, it has a limited useful lifespan. Knowing when to replace old comb improves colony productivity and health. With proper care, some well-built honey storage comb may last up to 5 years. But most beekeepers replace brood nest comb annually, and honey supers every 2-3 years to give bees a fresh start. Proper management and staggered replacement keeps hives humming along at peak efficiency.