TEXAS Winter Super Storage

[fuzzybeekeeper]

I've just been thinking lately.  Not too well, mind you, but I HAVE been thinking!

The winters here in Texas are mild to say the least.  There is no such thing as stacking the supers and waiting for the first freeze.  The first freeze may well be NEXT year!

Since I don't like chemicals (crystals) to prevent wax moths, would it work to put the supers in a freezer for 48 hours and then immediately stack them and wrap them with the Saran Wrap type stuff that is used to wrap things on a pallet?  Or put them in drum-sized plastic bags?

It seems to me that 48 hours of freezing would kill all of the eggs and larva and then two layers of plastic wrap would keep the moths out from laying new eggs.

I'm sure there are holes in my theory.  Please feel free to fire away.

I do have an old freezer that I could get all of my supers done in about two weeks.  I would plan on taking the supers off the hive a few at a time.  I know this wouldn't work for a very large operation, but it would work for me.

Love to hear from you even if you disagree.

Fuzzybeekeeper

[Brian D. Bray]

The only problem I see with your plan is that of moisture.  Moisture inside a sealed container (ie suran wrap) can cause mold, which can also destroy the comb.  To avoid the effects of moisture It would be necessary to vacuum pack I think.  I would opt for a method that allows air circulation yet doesn't let bugs and moths in.  Freezing to kill the eggs would still work.

[fuzzybeekeeper]

I had not considered the moisture issue.  But what happens when you stack the supers, put duct tape around all of the openings and sprinkle crystals on top like I have seen recommended on this site?  Isn't moisture an issue then, too?

Fuzzybeekeeper

[Michael Bush]

Certan.  Spray them with Certan....

http://www.beeworks.com/uscatalog/details/certan.asp