I am a first year beekeeper and I LOVE it! I only had one hive this year but we have already put in our order for 2 more nucs next spring. We have already begun getting our boxes and frames ready for next year. I have several medium supers and frames with plastic foundation inserted already. Currently my husband has the finished supers with the frames and foundations wrapped up in black garbage bags sitting out in our barn. Will the new foundation be okay stored that way or should I store the plastic foundation (w/wax coating) in the freezer until ready to use?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Bees are so much fun, aren't they! Congratulations and welcome to the forum!
I also store my frames w/foundation in deeps or supers for the winter by using the large, black plastic garbage bags. I double bag them with the ends knotted on opposite sides of the boxes. I have not had problems with wax moth this way, unless the foundation was sitting unwrapped for a period of time.
So, using some wax moth crystals in addition to the above is a good plan. Just make sure you unwrap everything early enough in the spring to let it air out.
BTW, would you please consider adding your location? Location can be a huge factor for some questions you may need answers to later.
Congrats, again!
If its new, unused plastic foundation, it isnt necessary to freeze, treat or wrap it for winter. Moths are just attracted to used drawn comb.
I leave my unused foundation in the basement in the boxes they come in. generally the top one is as dirty as my boys room when I goto use it but the girls dont seem to mind as much as mom minds about the boys room. So I would think twice before I put any bee equipment in trash bags I was going to use again. It is my understanding that alot of companies that make trash bags spray pesticides on the plastic to keep the flies down. Not sure which companies, but if its suggested for trash I dont use it for bees or food. Maybe I am wrong. I dunno but I dont take that risk.
I use the Duragilt foundation, so there is a wax coating. If the webbing I'm finding isn't wax moth, then it's probably spiders. The stuff is still sticky as all getout, though, and irritating to clean. Also, mice can be an issue from time to time. They don't like the new stuff as much as the old, either, but if the frames w/foundation are being stored in a deep, it makes a great place for the mice to hold up and they do chew it to pieces! Wrapping just seems to deter them more.
As for the bags being sprayed, I hadn't heard about this but will check it out. To date, though, I haven't had any issues.
Wax moths and the other bugs will not bother plastic foundation that has been waxed. They like the drawn out comb. I have had boxes of plain wax foundation packed with wax paper in my basement open for years. No problems ever.
OK. I just took off some partially drawn comb, some with honey stored in it I was planning to keep for a new hive next spring (none of this is plastic.) I was planning on freezing all these frames (about 8) and then storing them in plastic bags till needed.
You have all kind of scared me with talk of mice, etc. I don't have a freezer I can keep them in all winter. Could I wrap a box w/the frames in it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then put in a plastic bag to store for the winter? If I wrap it tight in plastic wrap will moisture build up and I get mold?
After they come out of the freezer, they will have to warm up and completely dry off before you store them or they will mildew. Wrap the in trash bags and they should be fine.