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Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: tig on May 25, 2006, 11:18:58 AM

Title: wax moth control
Post by: tig on May 25, 2006, 11:18:58 AM
Hello everyone,

    Does anyone have any advice how to control wax moths?  I have a huge problem keeping my combs free of them.  I have been taping the boxes using old newspapers as covers but somehow the moths still find their way inside and destroy my drawn combs.

Thank you,
Tig
Title: wax moth control
Post by: ctsoth on May 25, 2006, 02:51:38 PM
Are these combs that you have in storage or combs on the hive?

If they are in storage you can use "moth crystals" they kill the larvae...  www.betterbee.com, www.dadant.com, either of those sites should have information on how to apply moth crystals on stored comb to keep wax moths out...
Title: wax moth
Post by: JP on May 25, 2006, 10:40:20 PM
Tig, do a search on certan, for wax moth.
Title: wax moth control
Post by: Michael Bush on May 26, 2006, 09:08:54 AM
If you like poisoness chemicals that kill bees and moths and causes cancerin people, PDB (Paramoth) is probably what you're looking for.  If you prefer something natural and safe, then this is probably waht you're looking for.

http://www.beeworks.com/uscatalog/details/certan.asp
Title: wax moth control
Post by: Apis629 on May 26, 2006, 12:36:54 PM
PDB only causes cancer and kills bees if you don't ventilate it properly before (a) eating the comb (for reasons beyond my knowlage...there's no honey in there) or (b) placing it back on the colony.  I can't think of why anyone would eat the crystals.
Title: wax moth control
Post by: BeeLady on May 26, 2006, 09:09:50 PM
To kill the moths, eggs, etc. after the fact put the frames in the freezer a day or two.  This I know how to do.

Question I have now is can I keep my drawn comb moth-free in an unused refrigerator?  Will the seal on the fridge keep the moths out?  What if I keep the refrigerator running and cold?

Any experience with this :?:
Title: wax moth control
Post by: TwT on May 26, 2006, 09:33:46 PM
I have been lucky so for by just putting the super in the freezer for 20 hours then when I take it out I Tie it up air tight in a garbage bag, then I put in a big box and tape up tight, so for so good for me with out using anything........
Title: wax moth control
Post by: Apis629 on May 26, 2006, 10:26:58 PM
You have a freezer large enough to hold a super?! :!:
Title: wax moth control
Post by: Brian D. Bray on May 27, 2006, 01:08:53 AM
It must bee a chest freezer, I can't imagine putting a hive in the icebox atop the refrigerator.
Title: wax moth control
Post by: Michael Bush on May 27, 2006, 11:29:01 AM
>PDB only causes cancer and kills bees if you don't ventilate it properly

And you want that in your hive?
Title: wax moth control
Post by: TwT on May 27, 2006, 12:47:00 PM
Quote from: Apis629You have a freezer large enough to hold a super?! :!:


yup I have 2 chest freezers, a small one and a large one, can put about 8 mediums in at one time( thats both freezers together) as long as I have room ;)
Title: wax moth control
Post by: mick on May 28, 2006, 04:55:10 AM
Theres a trap recipe posted n here somewhere. Vinegar, sugar and banana peel in a bottle hung from a tree, worked for me!
Title: wax moth control
Post by: Michael Bush on May 28, 2006, 11:36:48 AM
http://www.beeworks.com/informationcentre/wax_moth.html
Title: thank you
Post by: tig on May 31, 2006, 01:44:54 AM
thanks a lot everyone who posted to my question. im really more interested in safe control rather than chemical control.  i have about 700 drawn combs to store and that's quiet a lot to loose to wax moth.  i will check out Certan and see how it works!
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