Bees will fill spaces larger than the bee space (3/8'') with what?

When bees encounter spaces larger than the bee space, which is approximately 3/8 inch, they will typically fill those gaps with excess comb. This is because bees prefer to maintain their hive structure consistently and will create additional comb in spaces that are too wide to optimize their brood-rearing and honey-storage strategies.

The concept of bee space is crucial in beekeeping; it helps to maintain the right environment within a hive. If spaces exceed this dimension, bees can produce extra comb as a means of addressing that unused space. This behavior is important for keeping their hive organized and functional.

In contrast, honey is stored in designated honey cells, not used to fill gaps. Propolis, which bees create from plant resins, is utilized to seal cracks and openings but is not used to construct comb. Drone brood refers to the male bees that are raised in the hive and is not related to the filling of spaces around the hive. Therefore, excess comb is the appropriate choice as it directly addresses the behavior of bees in response to larger than ideal spaces in the hive.