How to clean out and move a dead hive

bwallace23350 · February 03, 2017, 04:14:45 PM

I lost one of my hives over the winter. I have not opened it up yet but I have seen no activity from it like I have the other hive. So my question is what do I need to do to clean up my dead hive and what do I need to be aware of in the hive. Will the dead bees still have stingers so do I need to wear gloves when cleaning it up?

Dallasbeek · February 03, 2017, 05:19:21 PM

Open it up now. You may well find wax moth larvae playing heck with everything in it, including the wooden ware.

FlexMedia.tv · February 03, 2017, 05:47:59 PM

I burned all my frames and freezed the rest but I had wax moths

bwallace23350 · February 03, 2017, 05:50:55 PM

If I have wax moths should I order a new set up?

Dallasbeek · February 03, 2017, 06:53:12 PM

No. Just clean them up and freeze what you can, including whatever wax and frames are there. The frames may look awful, but the bees don't care. Just make sure you kill all the larvae and eggs. They'll be in ever crevice, but freezing will kill them.

cao · February 03, 2017, 07:20:03 PM

If it was alive going into winter then you probably won't have wax moths. They aren't a problem until it warms up. Around my parts I can leave drawn comb out til late april without worrying about moths.

If your hive starved then you will find a lot of bees with their heads in the comb. Just tap the frames against the hive and most of the bees will fall out. The rest you can take a tweezer and pull them out or just let the bees do it. I usually try to get most of them out because if you leave too many dead bees in the comb it can get a little moldy when it warms up.

bwallace23350 · February 03, 2017, 11:41:22 PM

Yes they died in our winter which has not been much of one this year.

GSF · February 04, 2017, 07:30:58 AM

I found some wax moth larva in some frames I had sitting in a dark room inside my shed. It was frozen for weeks then I moved them out. Around here it's warm enough for wax moths to start their destructive behavior. If nothing else take the supers apart, turn them on their side so the sun can pass between the frames. First check for web trails and roach poop looking debris.

Acebird · February 04, 2017, 09:19:44 AM

The sooner the better where you live. Dead bees can't sting but you have another hive so they might be around when you take the dead one apart. I could wait until April up here too but I did mine during the January thaw because I could do it with no protection even though the other bees were flying. If the frames are not slimmed just clean up the propolise so the frames fit in the box easily and freeze if you can. These will be good frames to supplement a new batch of bees.

bwallace23350 · February 04, 2017, 10:13:04 AM

Thanks for all the help. This will be my project on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Jim134 · February 05, 2017, 03:27:31 AM

Quote from: Dallasbeek on February 03, 2017, 06:53:12 PM
No. Just clean them up and freeze what you can, including whatever wax and frames are there. The frames may look awful, but the bees don't care. Just make sure you kill all the larvae and eggs. They'll be in ever crevice, but freezing will kill them.

Looks like some people still believe this wives tale. Freezing will kill all giant wax moth eggs and lava. Lesser wax moth are different story. These wax moths can live for over a month in freezing conditions... Have seen lesser wax moths live . For long periods of time such as below -0 Fahrenheit weather for over a month in Northern Vermont...

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Acebird · February 05, 2017, 09:25:48 AM

Quote from: Jim 134 on February 05, 2017, 03:27:31 AM
For long periods of time such as below -0 Fahrenheit weather for over a month in Northern Vermont...

Really, how do you arrive at this observation?

Jim134 · February 05, 2017, 10:41:47 AM

By talking to beekeeping from this area who has observed the same thing. I guess you would call observe and seen. Two years ago. This area did have served cold. The same thing in this area it was only below -0 F for about 3 weeks. Seen them at the 1st of March. This is an outdoor storage honey supers and some dead out. No one moves bees that time of year in this part of the country as far as migratory and or packages. The same goes for nucs. Yes I have only seen lava. Alive and well. Michael Palmer along with Kirk Webster and Troy Hall. All of these Bee Keepers have observe the exact same thing.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Jim134 · February 05, 2017, 11:04:14 AM

Something remember these are lesser wax moths.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

bwallace23350 · February 10, 2017, 12:53:19 PM

No wax moths. When I get the chance I will upload some pics for everyone to see. Found a mouse living in there though.

Michael Bush · February 13, 2017, 11:42:23 AM

>I burned all my frames and freezed the rest but I had wax moths

The only reason to burn any equipment is AFB. Scrape them down or freeze them and then scrape them down.