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Methods for Stimulating the Construction of New Combs

The comb-building process is strictly dependent on the biological state of the bee colony and external factors. A key element of apiary management is utilizing the bees’ natural instinct to secrete wax during periods of abundance.

1. Key Conditions for Initiating Construction

Inflow of Fresh Nectar: This is the most important condition. In the absence of a nectar flow, bees completely cease comb construction, even if the hive contains large honey reserves. The intensity of building increases proportionally to the strength of the nectar flow.
Presence of Young Bees: The most active builders are bees aged 12–18 days, whose wax glands reach peak development. Bees that previously cared for brood build the best.
Presence of the Queen and Brood: Queenless colonies stop building. Wax secretion is stimulated by the presence of open brood, which requires care.

2. Technique for Expanding the Brood Nest with Foundation

Frames with foundation are introduced with the appearance of the first stable spring nectar flow.
Initially, foundation is placed between the outermost brood frame and the frame with honey and pollen reserves. As temperatures warm and colony strength increases, two frames can be introduced simultaneously on both sides of the brood nest.
“Splitting” the Brood Nest Method: In strong colonies, frames with foundation are inserted directly into the center of the brood nest, between brood frames. Beekeepers utilize the fact that bees biologically do not tolerate gaps in the nest and strive to connect its parts as quickly as possible by building comb.

3. Methods for Intensifying Wax Production (Drawn Comb Frames)

Use of Drawn Comb Frames: Empty frames or frames with a narrow strip of foundation are used, typically placed between the last brood frame and the food frame. This allows for the collection of pure wax and satisfies the instinct to build drone cells without damaging brood combs.
Cutting Frequency: During a good nectar flow, wax from drawn comb frames should be cut every 3 days to prevent the queen from laying eggs in them or them being filled with honey.
Mass Rebuilding: Freshly built combs can be taken from strong colonies before the queen lays eggs in them, replacing them with new foundation. This allows obtaining even 20 or more frames from a single colony per season.

4. Optimization of Thermal Conditions

Heat Management: Comb construction requires high temperature (approx. 35°C). To facilitate the bees’ work, it is recommended to use top insulation and special strips to close the inter-frame spaces, which reduces heat loss and encourages bees to move onto the foundation.
Preparing Foundation: Older foundation that has become dull should be warmed in the sun before being given to the bees until it regains its yellow color and aroma, making it more attractive to the bees.

5. Technical and Energy Parameters

Energy Expenditure: Wax production is costly – to produce 1 kg of wax, a colony consumes on average from 3.5 to 3.7 kg of honey (some energy calculations indicate an equivalent of about 3.035 kg of honey and significant amounts of pollen).
Efficiency: A strong colony under optimal conditions can produce 2–2.5 kg of wax during a season. A single deep brood frame contains about 140–150 g of pure wax.

Effective stimulation of comb construction is based on ensuring a continuous nectar flow (or stimulative feeding), maintaining high temperature in the brood nest, and regularly providing foundation in areas with the highest activity of young bees.

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