I’ve got a dark spot on the bottom of my flow frame. Is it still safe to use? Has anyone else had a problem with that?
Thanks!
Hi Jeff, I’m inclined to suggest that the discoloration is on the inside, which shows through the plastic. I think you should look inside the channels & definitely do a sniff test. I also see it slightly on #4 & 6.
Mildew is one thing that discolors. Hive beetle larvae activity also discolors, which I doubt you have in Seattle.
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Hi Jeff–thanks for your input. You’re probably right. They’ve already filled the frame quite full–I’m hoping there’s a way to clean it out and still salvage the honey in it. I’m opening the hive again tomorrow afternoon–I’ll let you know what I find.
Thanks!
You can take the frame out of the hive, shaking the bees off into the hive. Then undo the flow channel cap and sniff the liquid. It may be fermenting and you should be able to smell that. Once away from the hive you can rinse out the channel with a very slow flow from a hose, or more safely from a jug of water. Then wrap a thin cloth like one of these around the end of your Flow key:
Secure it tightly with several small rubber bands, and then push it into the Flow channel and wipe it out throughly, changing cloths if necessary. Make sure that the leak-back channel behind the Flow cap has not been blocked with propolis or wax, and replace the frame in the hive. Now you are ready for a nice clean harvest! 
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That’s brilliant! I was trying to get it out using a long cooking chopstick. I got about 2/3 of it out. It has the smell and consistency of propolis (but I’m sure it’s not), so I’m not as worried about it as I could be.
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