Comb construction and brood development on beeswax foundation adulterated with paraffin

Abstract

In 2010 - 2011 the influence of beeswax foundation adulterated with different percentages of paraffin, on comb construction, brood rearing and bee colonies development was evaluated. Beeswax foundation adulterated with different rate of paraffin (10%, 30%, 50%) was prepared. Each year of the study into 7 experimental bee colonies set in Dadant type bee-hives, the three-frames queen insulators were inserted. Every frame in the insulators had a half of the foundation made from pure beeswax (the control - 0% paraffin) and a second half made from wax adulterated with paraffin (experimental). As a result every colony had an insulator with 3 frames with beeswax foundation with different percentages of paraffin (10 and 0%, 30 and 0%, 50 and 0%). The queens were put in the insulators what stimulated bees to prepare a place for laying eggs, thus, to construct the combs on the foundation. Paraffin used in our experiment had no negative impact on the bee colonies. Bees drew out the foundation properly, and no destruction was observed. The queens laid eggs on the systematically drawn out comb cells. Brood development was normal and its quality was suitable. The worker bees emerged after 21 days. No case of brood or emerging worker bees death was noted. Because of the different chemical compositions and purities of the paraffin available on the domestic market, it is impossible to exclude the fact that such paraffin may cause harmful effects on bee colonies.