wax moth control

[tig]

Hello everyone,

    Does anyone have any advice how to control wax moths?  I have a huge problem keeping my combs free of them.  I have been taping the boxes using old newspapers as covers but somehow the moths still find their way inside and destroy my drawn combs.

Thank you,
Tig

[ctsoth]

Are these combs that you have in storage or combs on the hive?

If they are in storage you can use "moth crystals" they kill the larvae...  www.betterbee.com, www.dadant.com, either of those sites should have information on how to apply moth crystals on stored comb to keep wax moths out...

[JP]

Tig, do a search on certan, for wax moth.

[Michael Bush]

If you like poisoness chemicals that kill bees and moths and causes cancerin people, PDB (Paramoth) is probably what you're looking for.  If you prefer something natural and safe, then this is probably waht you're looking for.

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

[Apis629]

PDB only causes cancer and kills bees if you don't ventilate it properly before (a) eating the comb (for reasons beyond my knowlage...there's no honey in there) or (b) placing it back on the colony.  I can't think of why anyone would eat the crystals.

[BeeLady]

To kill the moths, eggs, etc. after the fact put the frames in the freezer a day or two.  This I know how to do.

Question I have now is can I keep my drawn comb moth-free in an unused refrigerator?  Will the seal on the fridge keep the moths out?  What if I keep the refrigerator running and cold?

Any experience with this :?:

[TwT]

I have been lucky so for by just putting the super in the freezer for 20 hours then when I take it out I Tie it up air tight in a garbage bag, then I put in a big box and tape up tight, so for so good for me with out using anything........

[Apis629]

You have a freezer large enough to hold a super?! :!:

[Brian D. Bray]

It must bee a chest freezer, I can't imagine putting a hive in the icebox atop the refrigerator.

[Michael Bush]

>PDB only causes cancer and kills bees if you don't ventilate it properly

And you want that in your hive?

[TwT]

You have a freezer large enough to hold a super?! :!:

yup I have 2 chest freezers, a small one and a large one, can put about 8 mediums in at one time( thats both freezers together) as long as I have room ;)

[mick]

Theres a trap recipe posted n here somewhere. Vinegar, sugar and banana peel in a bottle hung from a tree, worked for me!

[Michael Bush]

http://www.beeworks.com/informationcentre/wax_moth.html

[tig]

thanks a lot everyone who posted to my question. im really more interested in safe control rather than chemical control.  i have about 700 drawn combs to store and that's quiet a lot to loose to wax moth.  i will check out Certan and see how it works!