Off-gasing, Early Placement, and Foundation

[beek4018]

I'm a new beek, and have my hive all painted and the frames marked by sharpie (with date and manufacturer per another beek's suggestion).

Just curious how long this will need to "off gas" before it's safe for the hive.  It's been painted for months, so I'd imagine that's fine.  but what about the marker on the frames?

Also, I've had suggestions that I should put the hive in place a few weeks before the package arrival to let it weather a bit.  Yes, no?

And how far in advance can I insert the foundation without having to worry about wax moth issues? And once I've inserted them before package arrival, what's the best storage method to avoid moth issues?

Thanks.

[contactme_11]

I'm a new beek, and have my hive all painted and the frames marked by sharpie (with date and manufacturer per another beek's suggestion).

Just curious how long this will need to "off gas" before it's safe for the hive.  It's been painted for months, so I'd imagine that's fine.  but what about the marker on the frames?

If you let it air out for a day, it's fine.

Also, I've had suggestions that I should put the hive in place a few weeks before the package arrival to let it weather a bit.  Yes, no?

You can if you want but it really won't make a difference one way or the other.

And how far in advance can I insert the foundation without having to worry about wax moth issues? And once I've inserted them before package arrival, what's the best storage method to avoid moth issues?

Thanks.

If you are using new foundation than you don't have to worry about wax moths yet. Moths like drawn brood comb. If you are using drawn combs then just throw a couple moth balls in the hive until the bees come. Also moths aren't flying when it is cold out.

[D Coates]

I'm with Contactme 11 except for the mothballs.  Bees hate mothballs and they can be lethal unless the drawn comb is gassed out for a few weeks.  Even then I don't want honey to even possibly smell like mothballs. I've used Paramoth effectively but I now use BT.  It's link to a guy who sells it.  http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225796  I even put it on old brood frames in swarm traps.  The wax moths may start (you can see a little thread if they've tried to start) but these organisms hatch in their gut and eat them from the inside.  No toxicity, harmless to humans and bees alike.  It's considered organic and once you've sprayed it on you can forget about it.  It's like sowing landmines for baby wax moths.