Polystyrene Hives

[beesnweeds]

Burning 20 Apimaye hives might attract some attention.

[TheHoneyPump]

Not at midnight.

[Oldbeavo]

It is relatively cheap to Gamma sterilize bee equipment in Australia.
It works out at about $10 per box, you leave the frames in the box, wrap it in 2 garbage bags and stack them on a pallet.
It is a flat rate per pallet and so the more you stack on the better.
Better than the total loss of burning.

[Ben Framed]

Oldbeavo, I know little to nothing about this. Iddee and others were talking about this, or something similar to this when I first joined Beemaster. Does this work for Polystyrene Hives as well? Is this method 100 percent proven effective in ridding equipment of this disease?

Thanks,

Phillip

[Oldbeavo]

Hi Ben
Check out the link, this is in OZ but will give you the idea.
Surely some one in the US is doing this?

https://steritech.com.au/industries/beekeeping/

[Brian MCquilkin]

 

Not at midnight.

My thought exactly, and with the wind blowing away from the Nabours.

[BeeMaster2]

We have talked about nuking before but as far as I know there is not a place in the US that is set up to nuke beehives.
Jim Altmiller

[Oldbeavo]

Hi Jim
I am not sure if this was a one off but the link may give you some info

https://pollinator.cals.cornell.edu/sites/pollinator.cals.cornell.edu/files/shared/2018%20PSBA%20hive%20irradiation-sterilization%20e-mail.pdf

Certainly the cost in the article, even though 2018, was very cheap

[Jim134]

   

We have talked about nuking before but as far as I know there is not a place in the US that is set up to nuke beehives.
Jim Altmiller

    This is a gamma ray treatment center.. Is in Northborough Massachusetts... I believe there are several other ones with the same name  STERIS Company  No I don't know the parent company as. These are all in the USA... It used to be worth it... About 10 years ago... The price of radiation was way over the cost of new equipment..  Remember also there is a cost.. You need your woodware... Insert size cardboard boxes.. There are also some other protocol you have to meet.. I did this about 15 years ago... All I ever sent ...Was  Wooden ware.equipment and  Frames of drawn comb.. You cannot send any honey in the comb !!!!

https://www.steris-ast.com/site/northborough-massachusetts-usa/


                           BEE HAPPY  Jim134   

[Oldbeavo]

From what i understand and i will check with a friend who has done it, that the box and frames are wrapped in 2 garbage bags and sent as a unit.
I assume the garbage bags are to prevent any leaks.

Also another bee keeper who got AFB took all the plastic foundation out and burnt it, the dipped the frames and boxes in parafin at 160 C for 10 minutes to kill the AFB spores.
Burning is an expensive option.

[Jim134]

Also another bee keeper who got AFB took all the plastic foundation out and burnt it, the dipped the frames and boxes in parafin at 160 C for 10 minutes to kill the AFB spores.
Burning is an expensive option.

I know at 1 time there are many studies done on hot dip wax... To kill AFB.... Later on the scientists figured out it just intooned,..AFB.... This was done about 10 years ago.... all I can say ..Is do your homework


                           BEE HAPPY  Jim134   

[Oldbeavo]

The temperature of 160 C and the 10 minutes are critical
There are plenty of Australian recommendations for this from Government departments and also some Belgian work.

New Zealand  https://afb.org.nz/wax-dipping/
Australia   https://www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Managing-AFB.pdf

And here is a Gamma sterilization with prices in the US, for the prices quoted if there were enough boxes it is really cheap.

[Michael Bush]

I had problems with excessive moisture, so I quit using them.  This may vary by climate.  But in my climate it was an issue.