A box freezer

[Joelel]

Has anyone ever kept their frames and supers in a box freezer over the winter to keep the wax moths and other creatures out of them ? Just thinking of a way.

[RayMarler]

Wax moths like it dry and warm and dark, they are more of a problem in summer and fall than they are in winter for me here. I keep old stuff outside in the sun with no covers for wax moth prevention. It works pretty well until July or so, then they come on in anyway.

[mgmoore7]

I know of a commercial operation that keeps their supers in large steel containers (like tractor trailer size) with air conditioners running to keep the temperature down although I don't recall for sure the right temperature.  He said this kept the wax moth and SHB out. 

Be sure that there is no pollen in your comb.  That will attract them for sure.

[JP]

http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18

A freezer works fine but you could run out of room pretty quickly.


...JP

[Kathyp]

i don't store them in there, but i did get a chest freezer big enough to drop a couple of whole boxes into if needed.  it's easier to freeze frames in the box.

[Hormel]

Last year I put either individual frames or full supers into my tall freezer until I was able to rent an extractor.  Worked great but takes a little while to get the honey back to room temperature.  I also put full supers and empty combs into the freezer for a few days to kill off any extra bugs.  You could do all year long, just be caarefull of the combs as they are quite fragile frozen.

I also pulled a couple of frames in the summer that were full of honey from a side of the brood box on each hive.  Kept these frozen until spring and then gave back to the bees where they were light on stores.

[Scadsobees]

Yes, I do.  The temperature fluxuates between 60F and -5F, but averages below freezing.

Oh yeah, btw, the box happens to be my shed, and the freezer happens to be winter :roll:   :-D

Still get a few but nothing too bad.  BT spray helped.

My wife doesn't like it when I get bees, ants, and bits of beeswax all over the frozen vegetables, so I avoid the chest freezer.

Rick

[Natalie]

Wow dude what is wrong with your wife? :-D I thought everyone liked a little ants in their broccoli.