Question Do native bees build their comb from the top down?

Mark

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Hey, do native bees build comb/brood starting from the top top down or bottom up?

I'm thinking from what I've seen it's from the top down but that's just a guess...
 

stevo

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I just saw this thread! Gees I miss a few.

I don't have any evidence actually when I think about it, but I'd guess from the bottom up. Starting at the ground floor they'd start to build upwards.

I think what you're saying is that they're attach it to the top and hang?
 

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Yeah, so say the brood and therefore the cells start at the top which means they're also the first to hatch out.

Which then means they'd always be working downwards - if they started at the bottom then they'd always work up.

The other reason I was wondering is when splitting a hive this could be significant as a horizontal split at the wrong time could result in limited cells ready to hatch for one half. It wouldn't matter if it was working up or down, naturally. :)
 

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found this...

BroodDiagram.jpg
 

Mark

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Bloody awesome! So it is from the bottom up then...

I know a man shouldn't lose sleep pondering over such trivia but this question was eating away at me LOL - it's nice to know the answer! :D:cheers:
 
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