Guilfordbeekeepers.org

Hi! I was out inspecting my bees (they are well, thanks!). I noticed under both my hives that there are tons of tiny wax chips. I have screened bottom boards. Is this normal for bits of wax to fall off the bees? I guess I haven't read about it anywhere and no one has mentioned it to me. But, everything seems ok...and the bees seem good to me...I have larva and I see pollen and nectar stores...and I see my queen in both hives.

Wax chips are normal. The bees drop a significant number of them and you will see them under the hive or on the bottom board. Lots of wax is being made by the new packages of bees and that gives lots of opportunity for pieces of it to drop.

As far as I have experienced, yes, that is "normal". You will notice more if you have screened bottom boards. You will notice pollen and other things as well due to the screened bottom boards.