Honey bees consistently used comb for storage of food products, supporting brood development and as a structural component within the hive. Honey bees will remove or rebuild wax themselves after many years, but the buildup of residues, such as agrochemicals, and pathogens, can all occur within the wax after only a few years of use. Regular comb rotation every four to five years helps improve honey bee health by limiting exposure to contaminants found within wax as it ages.
Comb Rotation
Comb rotation is the regular replacement of older comb with
new foundation or freshly drawn comb. Over time, comb becomes darker, heavier
and more contaminated. The older the comb is, the more it will undergo
structural changes that reduce cell volume and produce smaller workers with
shorter lifespans 1. Replacing comb helps maintain cleaner wax
and supports healthier colony development.
Dark comb is a visual indicator of age, so beekeepers should
identify the darkest, oldest frames and replace them with new frames and foundation.
Marking the date, year of placement, on the top bars of the frames can help beekeepers
track the age of frames. By removing old comb and allowing bees to draw fresh
wax, beekeepers can also reduce buildup of contaminants that accumulate over
time.
Figure 1: Dark, old frames near the brood nest (ATTTA ©, 2026)
Early in the spring is the ideal time for comb rotation
because colonies are expanding and brood nests are being built. Feeding 1:1
sugar water syrup to honey bees can also stimulate wax production during that
time of year. This timing allows for the replacement of old comb without
disrupting brood patterns.
Beekeepers can gradually replace frames by removing one or
two frames per season from the edge of the colony or by replacing darkest
frames first and then replacing them with new foundation. Frames should be
slowly rotated to the outside position which would be the 1st
and 10th frames on standard Langstroth equipment. Removing the
outside frames will ensure the brood nest is not disrupted and only the outside
frames can be culled. When removing frames, beekeepers should aim to remove 20%
of the comb, or 2 frames per a standard 10-frame Langstroth hive box every
season.
Figure 2: Honey bees
on a frame with new wax
Comb rotation is a preventive, integrated pest management,
practice that supports colony health by reducing disease, chemical residues,
and structural constraints related to aged comb. Removing frames is a physical
control used to eradicate the disease American foulbrood and Vairimorpha
(formerly Nosema) 2.
Cultural controls are also a good management practice that
beekeepers can use to minimize the risk of disease, like disinfecting comb by fumigation
or irradiation can be used for treating comb infected by Vairimorpha spores
2. Details on fumigation and irradiation will be discussed further
in another blog post in the future.
By replacing older frames each spring and maintaining a 4–5 year turnover cycle, beekeepers can promote cleaner wax, healthier brood development and more resilient colonies. For additional information on Comb Rotation, refer to the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture Comb Rotation Factsheet.
Connecting with ATTTA Specialists
If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:
visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/
Email attta@perennia.ca
References:
1.
Meng, Q., Huang, R., Yang, S., Jiang, W., Tian,
Y. and Dong, K., 2025. An Overview of the Adverse Impacts of Old Combs on
Honeybee Colonies and Recommended Beekeeping Management Strategies. Insects,
16(4), p.351.
2.
Pernal, S. F. and Clay, H., 2013. Honey bee
diseases and pest 3rd edition. Canadian Association Professional
Apiculturist, Beaverlodge, AB, Canada 68 pp.
