What to do when brood comb gets too old? (very dark from use)

[Bee Happy]

one of my two strong hives has some very old brood comb in it, almost black. I guess my two questions are: Should I be concerned about the age of the comb? and If I should replace it for sanitary reasons, how and when should I do it?

[DBoire]

When you hold it up against the direct light, if you can see light use it.  If not melt it down and sell it to yuppies as candles. :lau:

[Scadsobees]

If you have swarm traps you can use it as a lure.  Just don't leave it in there too long, the wax moths love it too.

Or just burn it/dump it, it has too many cocoons to make it worth rendering.  Mostly cocoons less wax.

Rick

[riverrat]

rotate it to the outside frames then replace it nd use it in a swarm trap

[Michael Bush]

>Should I be concerned about the age of the comb?

IMO no.

> and If I should replace it for sanitary reasons, how and when should I do it?

When it's empty.

[Bee Happy]

Thanks for the answers, I think I may have asked a version of this same question before, you won't see it a third time from me.

[D Coates]

>Should I be concerned about the age of the comb?

IMO no.

I've wondered about that myself.

[asciibaron]

i have been told that wax should be replaced every 5 years to avoid pesticide and other chemical build up - i crush and strain and do cut comb, so the honey supers always have fresh wax, but the brood chamber is all old stuff.