Freezing

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peacoops

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oops 5
I know the recommendation is freezing to kill wax moth larvae, can you advise what I need to freeze, is it just the frames that have had brood in, or all drawn frames and / or ones that are going to be stored after extracting?
And is it for 48 hours?

Sorry to be dim!:sorry:

And the Supers/BB i'll scorch - is this correct.

Thanks
P
 
This year I have had wax moth on all frames with comb. I have decided that freezing is no good as wax moth can still get in after storing after freezing. I am going to use ash or certan this year. The area I live in has the worst moth problem I have ever encountered. If you insist on freezing, freeze everything for 24 hours and seal well afterwrds!
Freezing may crack the foundation at the back of the cells with the contraction.
E
 
Sulphur Dioxide fumigation works reasonably well (produced by burning sulphur impregnated strips (look under waxmoth on the big T website). You can save money by making your own metal burner out of large (825g) empty dog food tin.
 
Certan only kills larva. Freezing is by far most reliable method, but you need to seal up properly afterwards.
 
Sulphur Dioxide fumigation works reasonably well (produced by burning sulphur impregnated strips (look under waxmoth on the big T website). You can save money by making your own metal burner out of large (825g) empty dog food tin.

Always use it, two treatments a couple of weeks apart, as I believe it does not kill off the eggs, only larvae and pupae. Boards and ratchet straps the kept sealed for rest of winter. Not failed me yet
 
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I have frozen supers in boxes for 1 week, sealed immediately on removal, and still found some wax moth in spring.. Am wondering if the eggs cope with the cols whereas the larvae dies.
 
Good point heather, surely they survive a winter of freezing conditions. So a week in a freezer must be no worse!
 
Certan only kills larva. Freezing is by far most reliable method, but you need to seal up properly afterwards.

So Certan kills the grub which is the damaging phase. No grubs to pupate means no moths from them. Nuff said
 
I have frozen supers in boxes for 1 week, sealed immediately on removal, and still found some wax moth in spring.. Am wondering if the eggs cope with the cols whereas the larvae dies.

Freezing is supposed to kill, eggs, larvae, chrysalis and adults which leaves reinfection. Worked for me in the past and there is a lot of wax moth about.
 
Certan does not kill the eggs

....and what do eggs turn into...small larvae...and what does Certan do...kill small larvae, what does the chrysalis do, turn into a moth, what does a moth do...lay eggs, what do the eggs do...turn into small larvae....what does Certan do...kill small larvae.
 
....and what do eggs turn into...small larvae...and what does Certan do...kill small larvae, what does the chrysalis do, turn into a moth, what does a moth do...lay eggs, what do the eggs do...turn into small larvae....what does Certan do...kill small larvae.

Plus Certan has an extended period of effect so reinfection is inhibited for the lifetime of the bacillus.
It's a no brainer 😁
 

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