Mucky frames –*your advice greatly appreciated as ever

[psafloyd]

Extracted the last of this year's honey yesterday and found some granular stuff on the cappings of a few frames (see link to pictures).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19273536@N00/8175201010/in/photostream

Is this a wax or honey mite I have read of but cannot find any link to now? Whether it is or not, what does it mean and is the honey OK, as it seems perfectly good?

I also lost an old frame full of honey from 2011 I hadn't got round to. It was OK a couple of months ago, but in that time, wax moth had got in and gone to town. Despite this only being a super. However, they got in and not out, as the box was full of hundreds of pupae and adult moths and was a stinking mess. There was air, but no space to get out.

Have had to junk most of it but have held back a few empty frames I may freeze.

Anyway, please advise what to do with the above situation. Is the honey likely to be OK?

 

[Heather]

I would cut out wax and dump- wax moth there too. Then freeze wood for 2 days to kill wax moth eggs, then dismantle and clean inside bits and rewax in Spring. Dont take risks

 

[chrismcd]

Looks like wax moth to me

How did it find any protein to tempt it onto super frames? That frame looks a bit dark, did you have brood in the supers?

I would agree with Heather, but my solution would be to steam sterilise.

That will wash away the dirty honey, get all the wax out and sterilise the wood.

 

[psafloyd]

How did it find any protein to tempt it onto super frames? That frame looks a bit dark, did you have brood in the supers?

I would agree with Heather, but my solution would be to steam sterilise.

That will wash away the dirty honey, get all the wax out and sterilise the wood.

No, there was no brood in these supers. They are dark as full of honey. I extracted in the end and put to one side. At least, I think I did.

 

[richardbees]

bloody hell he bee, you took your time!

 

[Finman]

.
You should inspect all your combs in store room to see where wax moth has made damage.

 

[psafloyd]

bloody hell he bee, you took your time!

Been busy.

 

[Into the lions den]

I know this is an old thread .............but having seen it before I did not chip in as the reason for all the white protruding stuff seemed obvious and I thought someone else would come in on it.

You have SN1 frames, so not self spacing. Two frames containing sealed honey stores have ended up too close together and the faces have been in contact. The bees have removed the honey but left surface wax connections between the two combs as they have emptied out up between them. Its common. there may be some minor wax moth just right of centre on the comb. The comb DOES seem to have been bred in, but nonetheless is a decent sound comb.

The very small granular like detritus on the face of the capped honey combs IS the result of wax moth larva activity.

 

[psafloyd]

I know this is an old thread .............but having seen it before I did not chip in as the reason for all the white protruding stuff seemed obvious and I thought someone else would come in on it.

You have SN1 frames, so not self spacing. Two frames containing sealed honey stores have ended up too close together and the faces have been in contact. The bees have removed the honey but left surface wax connections between the two combs as they have emptied out up between them. Its common. there may be some minor wax moth just right of centre on the comb. The comb DOES seem to have been bred in, but nonetheless is a decent sound comb.

The very small granular like detritus on the face of the capped honey combs IS the result of wax moth larva activity.

Thanks, ITLD. I assumed the stuff on the face was moth, but couldn't find any other indicators. I will watch for that in future. Anything else that indicates they were bred in?

These are not self spacing, as I have been using castellated spacers. I thought it was hard to get the Hoffman sides for supers now and I don't like those spacers. I have a couple of boxes with them and I find them frustrating.

 

[keith pierce]

Been busy.

Your profile reads Music, guitars, literature, classic cars. I have an allotment. Oh, and bees, now, too.

When you keep bees they can be a little more demanding and you should bring them more to the front

 

[Little John]

These are not self spacing, as I have been using castellated spacers. I thought it was hard to get the Hoffman sides for supers now and I don't like those spacers. I have a couple of boxes with them and I find them frustrating.

Have you considered drilling small holes (c.2mm ?) in the frame sides into which small screws are fitted ? Then adjust the screws to give the desired spacing ...

LJ

 

[victor meldrew]

I use spacers, these are easy to remove for extracting by using the ploy of two strong screws under the work top! Place a container on the deck, all that's needed is to Hook the spacers behind the screws, tug and the spacer falls in the container.no sore fingers )
You can as an alternative use Hoffman converters on SN 1s
VM