Storing Supers

[Ailsaboat]

Was just having a tidyup/clean of my equipment and had to move a super I removed before winter. I wondered if it needed any special storage, other than keeping it dry and vermin free.
It is full of frames, mostly fully drawn out with a couple of the frames partially filled with stores - from the syrup I was feeding at the time.

 

[sherwood]

I should put a sealed crown board below and above the super once you have ensured that there is no wax moth lavae in there. I usually stack them and put tape round the box joins, this stops the ingress of ants and the like.

 

[BeeNice]

You need to seal it up so that the wax moths cannot get at it, put it in a large black plastic sack or something of the like. You can store the frames sealed in a bag and clean up the super ready for next year.
good luck
Steven

 

[george]

And find a way of feeding the stores back to them next Spring . You dont want to harvest sugar syrup next year and call it honey .
G

 

[Ailsaboat]

Thanks everyone, that's just about what i was thinking.

 

[beeno]

Thanks everyone, that's just about what i was thinking.

Hi Ailsaboat,
I would be very careful indeed. Waxmoth is a real problem. People usually treat with something (cannot remember what it is) or freeze the frames for 48hrs before storing to kill any waxmoth eggs and larvae. Then thick plastic wrapping.

 

[alldigging]

Is that what the acetic acid treatment is for?

 

[oliver90owner]

Is that what the acetic acid treatment is for?

No, it helps, but is for removing a range of pathogens rather than just waxmoth. Sulphur strips are more effective than ethanoic and a lot cheaper for repeated treatments throughout a mild winter, IMO.

 

[tonybloke]

and a sulphur candle works out even cheaper, as you only need a teaspoon full per stack of supers

 

[alldigging]

and a sulphur candle works out even cheaper, as you only need a teaspoon full per stack of supers

Do candles get measured in teaspoons?

I've never used sulphur candles - so I'm assuming you mean the beady sort like on here
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/fumcandle.html

 

[tonybloke]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenhouse-Sulphur-Candle-Kills-Insects/dp/B0017RPGOK

I use this stuff, available from most good garden centres

 

[drex]

solid board on bottom of stack of 6 ( I use plain 1/2 inch ply). Burn two suplhur strips on top of stack. Solid board on top and then use ratchet strap to hold them together. Store in cold shed. No problems with wax moth.
Air out at end of winter and use.

 

[Carmelia001]

If your frames had no pollen or brood in the combs then wax moths won't bother them. The moths larva are after protein in the pollen and pupa casings and destroy the wax getting to them. Honey has no protein in them for the wax moth larva to want.

 

[oliver90owner]

If your frames had no pollen or brood in the combs then wax moths won't bother them.

I would not want to rely on that. Reduced risk of attack, yes, but frame comb destruction all the same. Precautions are far cheaper than finding devasted comb later.