Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: BRIANCJ on September 15, 2009, 08:27:29 AM

Title: Mold on the top cover
Post by: BRIANCJ on September 15, 2009, 08:27:29 AM
I found mold on my top cover last night.It's green and it was on the inside edge's of the cover.
Was this due to the torrential amount of rain we had Friday/Saturday,then the warm up again,or is there possibly a more sinister situation I need to worry about?
Title: Re: Mold on the top cover
Post by: David LaFerney on September 15, 2009, 09:15:05 AM
Quote from: BRIANCJ on September 15, 2009, 08:27:29 AM
I found mold on my top cover last night.It's green and it was on the inside edge's of the cover.
Was this due to the torrential amount of rain we had Friday/Saturday,then the warm up again,or is there possibly a more sinister situation I need to worry about?

It's due to moisture from whatever source.  I've seen a bit of the same thing lately.  As it gets cooler outside the hive the warm moist air inside the hive (from curing honey, bee respiration) is apt to condense.  We both might need to provide more ventilation.  You also might want to make sure that rain isn't leaking into the hive or soaking into the top cover - your equipment will last a lot longer if it sheds water.
Title: Re: Mold on the top cover
Post by: BRIANCJ on September 17, 2009, 08:16:43 AM
I was hoping it was simple.The rest of the hive is bone dy,so I wil change out the inner cover with a vented one.
Thank's for your help.
Title: Re: Mold on the top cover
Post by: Kathyp on September 17, 2009, 11:50:46 AM
don't get to excited about it.  wet wood in contact with other wood will grow a little green stuff.  my car grows green stuff in the winter!   :-D

be careful venting the hive to much with the weather changing.  make sure your hive is tipped a bit so that any moisture rolls off or away from your cover opening.  i prefer a screened bottom board because even with the insert in for winter, the moisture will not sit on the bottom.

make sure you have a close fitting lid and no other holes or cracks into which rain can blow.