Bees cleaning supers after extraction

Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum

Help Support Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum:

BernardBlack

Field Bee
Joined
May 7, 2016
Messages
537
Reaction score
40
Location
Co. Armagh
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
5
Just extracted a super.

Should I put the super back on for a few days for the bees to clean the frames?

Then take off super and store for winter?
 

Ian123

Queen Bee
***
Joined
Jun 20, 2018
Messages
6,357
Reaction score
4,781
Location
surrey
Hive Type
None
Just extracted a super.

Should I put the super back on for a few days for the bees to clean the frames?

Then take off super and store for winter?
Up to you some store them wet some store dry/cleaned……dry it won’t attract robbers or wasps, wet it’s less likely to attract wax moth……your choice!

If stored wet you will be greated with a smell of fermentation and a grey mould in the spring, don’t panic the bees will readily clean it all up.
 

BernardBlack

Field Bee
Joined
May 7, 2016
Messages
537
Reaction score
40
Location
Co. Armagh
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
5
Up to you some store them wet some store dry/cleaned……dry it won’t attract robbers or wasps, wet it’s less likely to attract wax moth……your choice!

If stored wet you will be greated with a smell of fermentation and a grey mould in the spring, don’t panic the bees will readily clean it all up.
I was thinking storing dry won’t be as messy, less dripping etc.

I think I’ll put them back on hive for cleaning. How long would be sufficient for the bees to clean them?
 

Ian123

Queen Bee
***
Joined
Jun 20, 2018
Messages
6,357
Reaction score
4,781
Location
surrey
Hive Type
None
I was thinking storing dry won’t be as messy, less dripping etc.

I think I’ll put them back on hive for cleaning. How long would be sufficient for the bees to clean them?
24-48hrs should be sufficient, if the boxes below are rammed with bees I’d add an empty super above the CB below the super to be cleaned.
 

Latest posts

Top