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Storing Brood Comb and Honey Comb
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ส.ค. 2021
- Finally got around to cleaning out the couple of dead-outs that I had. So take a look at how I store my old comb and how I do what I can to prevent wax moth damage.
Thanks for joining me in my bee yard here in Louisiana as I share how I maintain my beehives. My videos are not meant to be 'How To' videos, but simply me sharing my experiences in beekeeping as I learned it from my mentors, teachers, and studies.
I can't help looking at all that larvae and think "Chicken Feed !!" LOL.
Chicken do love them for sure!
Good video Mike enjoyed it thanks have a blessed week
Thanks Frances, you too!!
Mike, you hit the nail on the head “there’s a lot of work to keeping bees”! Honey should sell for $25 a pound considering how much work it takes by the beekeeper not counting what it takes by the bees!
That’s right Don!! People in so many cases just don’t get it.
Don, so very true. . Beekeeping is loads of work.
The new thing in bottom boards is you make a shallow box with screen top on it. The hive body sits on top. Inside the shallow box you put a pan of cooking oil. Any beetle, beetle larva, or mites that fall through the screen fall in the pan of oil and DIE.
That’s the same setup as the freeman trap. I don’t hear a lot about the freeman traps anymore, but they worked. Dirtrooster used them back in the beginning.
Good to know about the mold, been wondering on that
Yea, they clean it right up like it was never there.
We can never be reminded too many times how to keep our comb safe. Thanks Mike!
Thanks Rodney. Got the goods by the way. Will be including one a video soon.
@@MikeBarryBees Awesome!
“They like a squirrel trying to get a nut…”. Love it. Nice job Mike!
They just tryin to get by.....
My chickens are lusting over this video! :) I like to scape them into a bucket and throw them into their run...they LOVE both those larvae! I have an old deep freeze in my shop and after freezing the frames I put them in the old deep freeze. I haven't had to add moth crystals yet but the seal is still good on the old freezer. At some point I will run out of room...
Yea, as long as you can keep those moths out, they’ll keep.
I actually found that the toilet bowl fresheners you can get on the cleaner isle are made of the same para ingredient. it even has the nice hanger built in too. Just stay away from the scented ones if possible, but they;'ll work either way.
Good to know Dave. Thanks for posting that information!!
I had some heavy wax moth damage this year. And I've heard people say that wax moths won't get on a frame with no pollen. I'll have to upload a little short snippet of a box with plastic foundation only and it was full of wax moth cocoons. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Oh, they will, but not as bad. And to your experience, my friend in Florida had the same thing happen to his foundation. Cocoons and no wax left on them. I keep all my acorn foundation inside. I lose maybe less than5% honeycomb time moths, and usually it’s because I have a few brood frames mixed in where the queen got in.
Nice video!
Thanks!!
Thanks for the information. Thanks for the video. God bless.
Thanks as always Garry!!
Set the box on some black top in the sun ☀️ cooks everything
Ha!! Funny you said that!! One year had a colony that was overtaken in a yard north of here and I loaded the box up and headed to the gate. When I pulled out onto the blacktop on that summer day, I shook those monsters out and set the box and frames there and just hung out in the truck AC and relaxed as they cooked. Only blacktop close to my bee yard has too many dump truck running up and down it...lol!
Another good video, thanks. I have found that, if I place my wet supers at least 100 yards from the closest active hive I do not stimulate robbing. As I understand it, the bees only do a figure "8" dance if the sugar source is more than approximately 100 yards from the hive. If placed less than 100 yards, the scouts do not give exact directions thus robbing. I use queen excluders, so I do not have dark production combs. I store my supers outside in stacks of 10 by 11 (I alternate the stack height so the covers will fit with stacks closer together). I store them with a metal queen excluder on top and bottom (for ventilation). I cover each stack with an outer cover with 1/2 inch spacers again for ventilation. When I stored inside, I had trouble with rodents. If outside, the rodents natural enemies seem to keep them at bay. Like you say, I am not giving advice just stating "what works for me".
Yep Bob, we all find what works for us and once we’ve found that, it’s subtle timing from there. My supers are just kind of in the middle of everything. Don’t have too many issues, but once I put them pout, I don’t open any hives for the next two days. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and how you manage your new yard!! We all learn from other’s experiences.
I have a flatbed truck. It’s usually parked in the sun. I just sit the Beetles and Larva on the metal bed and they cook.
I’d love to hear them sizzle!
Good stuff Mike. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome, thanks for watching!!
I use the ice crystals you showed with no problems. My first year I didn't know about para moth etc and lost 6 boxes of brood frames in the fall. Moths were everywhere in my garage and the smell was terrible. Thanks as always Mike.
Yep Hope, I think we’ve all had that experience. And I’m like you, no issues. I was a bit alarmed the first time I used them and had all the moldy pollen, but the bees appeased me and cleaned it up like it was nothing.
I use marifi paper with stone on it under my hives. Then I spread diatomaceous earth on the stones every so often
That’s an interesting way. Haven’t hear that method before. Thanks for sharing.
great job Mike! Hope you enjoyed your hard earned day off.
Thanks and yes I did!!
Thats great chicken feed that your burning there Mike, I spray the ground under and in front of hives with 50/50 salt and vinegar mix it seems to work good on beetle larvae and weeds. (thanks for the tip Barnyard bees it works a treat).
Yea, I’ve fed chickens a few frames in the past at an acquaintances place, but I have none of my own. Don’t care to get any chickens at this time. I’ve seen the vinegar and pool salt. Just haven’t really tried it. I am ok with the permethrin used in accordance with the directions. I actually use it less than recommended and still have good results. I just do my best to keep strong colonies and keep the space in the hive to optimum area for the bees.
Any comb I find in my hives wax moth damaged I don’t put back in any hives , like you I put em in the freezer then cut the comb out to recycles in to wax scrap for melting down that way I got new wax going in the hives or being built and the older wax being recycled out so no big deal for me but I do hate the wax moth and hive beetles and ants to , the ants if they get going they drive the bees out and they obscond , I had that happen and it happens fast , a real pain in the butt, I notice some people use plastic foundation in hives , to me that’s harder to handle so I stay with wax only , no plastic in my hives but that’s just me. Cool video .👍
Wax is like gold. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Mike, Great video. Confirms my experience. I tried storing my frames in the open (barn overhang) with lots of light and ventilation and I was told that would keep off the wax moths. I even took them out of box and put the frames between two metal rails with about a frame space between them (wide open). It was ok for the honey frames but got wax moths in the brood frames so was disappointed that this "natural" way did not work for brood frames.
Thanks. Yep, they love the brood comb. More nutrient. They’re trying to get the best bang for there buck like everyone else I suppose.
Keep one of the plastic wax moth damage frames for an experiment and show us what the do (or don’t do) with it in the spring time.
I’ll have a few that they tear apart to show. I usually run across a few. If I could remember I’d find the video where I show it from this year. Just know way of remembering which one. But, yes, I’ll show one. Thanks for the suggestion.
Very good video. One of your most informative so far. Quick question though. When you say you scrape and reuse the badly damaged by recoating, is it just those 2 steps ? I am in my second year and one of my 5 hives was a dead out and wax moths got 25 % damage on about 8 frames of 2 deeps. They have been frozen, do I just scrape them down and recoat with a roller of refined/reduced wax from cappings ? Or is there another step in there somewhere ?
Michael, normally there is a step of pressure washing, but after discussion with DirtRooster and his advice, I am going to just scrape and brush them and then re-wax. Never don that before, but I've seen it work on his stuff and he had some good advice for me on it. But I normally pressure wash them and then let them dry, which really takes a while. The foundations hold a lot of water and need shaking off and then a few days to dry. Then I would re-wax, and it works great. I once saw a video of a fella who would soak them in dawn and bleach for a week and then pressure wash them. For me that was a waste of time and resources and made no difference whatsoever. I need less mess and less work, so I will just scrape, brush, and re-wax and see how that goes this year. Here is the video where I wash them before waxing:
th-cam.com/video/u20GcFAJH5A/w-d-xo.html
I just clean up moth damage with my air compressor if using plastic foundation. Just peel off what can be melted and reused then blast away. If damage is not to bad just blast what needs removing then recoat with fresh wax with a brush. I tried the pressure washer but what a mess. Make sure to wear goggles
I need to try that! Like you said, Pressure washer is so messy. I
Now when you cooked the larvae, that's a snack right there. haha
Man, it smelled so bad for the next couple days!!
@@MikeBarryBees Oh i bet. Nasty little bugs, especially when they're cooked.
Wax moths, small hive beetles, and varroa mites, oh my! They do horrible things to our friends the honeybees and are therefore the enemy of the beekeeper and bee lovers everywhere. Anything that can be done to keep them out of your hives should be done. This of course causes extra expense and work for the beekeeper, but it has to be dealt with, especially if you are in a place where the winter can not be expected to kill the varmints. Great video Mike, glad to see you doing well and able to do a whole day outside. I have decided outdoor activities in this heat are reserved for the young and people of a strong constitution, and that is not me! Be well!
Thanks Julie, and in my opinion, correct on all points. I guess what I really don’t elaborate on is I work full time in the heat at work. 6am to 4:30pm. We’re out in the heat everyday, so I know it was meds as I usually do well to manage heat related work. I am like you though on my time off. I limit the exposure. As I’m aging, I’m thinking it could be time for a new line of work...lol
@@MikeBarryBees
Ouch. Well, the day will come when you can change that, don't despair!
I bet you could put that bottom board full of larvae out in the open, something tells me birds would have a hay-day with that. Especially if you can find a bird house or chicken coop.
Yea, they’d eat well. Just don’t want to give them any chance of getting into the dirt to pupate. I could’ve put some bird feed on the board and maybe attracted some birds.
Up here we have more problems with the mites. In your opinion, are ants bad for around the hives?
Thanks for the tips on storage. Again, this is my second year and first year really storing comb.
When you pulled out that hand torch; priceless!
I tell ya Richard, the only ants that tend to give my hives any trouble are the carpenter ants. The rest don’t seem to cause any issues on normal colonies that are healthy and managed properly in the correct amount of space. And even carpenter ants just create a mess on inner covers. And in those cases, I just switch it out to a migratory cover. I only have three inner covers anyhow and once the carpenter ants don’t have anything separating them from the bees, the bees run them off. Weak colonies, well, that’s a different story. So outside of a soil drench I do with permethrin for the hive beetles, I don’t do anything to purposely combat ants. I just don’t like them,, they get everywhere...
@@MikeBarryBees Thank you for your reply and help as always 👌🐝
Mine tend to fix wax moth damage last if at all. They seem to want to spend their time where they don’t have to do all that work to redo a frame. Small amounts are ok but major damage is a different sorry.
Do as you need to do. They are your bees. Hot as blue blazes in Ga too!
Yep, basically what I was saying with mine. Little spots are fine, but a lot of trails and big spots and I'd rather have fresh waxed foundation. Thanks for the comment!!
Mike love your videos!! Do yo freeze all of your comb before storing them.
Absolutely Rickey. The eggs need to be killed and any tiny moth larvae before they are stored. Then the paramoth will keep the moths away. Thanks for the comment Rickey!!
You say 5ml/gal on the permethrin. What % permethrin are you using? I an seeing mostly 10% by the jug or squeeze meter quart.
Not even sure of the %. I’m sure different manufacturers with differing percents might be different. Mine is Guardstar with a metering chamber and it’s 5ml per gallon.
Thanks for sharing how you store your frames. Do you think 24 hours in the freezer would be sufficient and store in a huge plastic tote with paramoth? As always enjoy your channel, our bees did great this year so far and looking forward to next year.
I have heard, not read, to deep freeze for 48 hours to be sure. Again, that’s hearsay and I have done 24 hours when I was in a pinch. But I like at least three days personally. Thanks for the comment!!
@@MikeBarryBees thanks I know your not a how to guy but I really appreciate watching your documentation of how you do. Have a blessed weekend!
A little off topic, did you have any trouble ordering the hive lifter? I want to buy one. Any comments on your ordering experience is appreciated.
No, not at all. You have to email Boris from his website. It’s a 10 day lead time and the once he gets it to UPS, it’s about 3 or 4 business days. He uses Xoom for payment which is basically an international PayPal that is run by PayPal. It was seamless and he will also take your phone calls on weekdays. And once you get it, he will email letting you know to call him for assembly or with any questions. Assembly is basically pitting on the wheels and bolting the handle on.
I hate ants as well. Fire ants get into everything. and I have another red looking larger ant that mainly comes out at night. You won't know they are in a hive unless you go out at night. They will still Brood and cause problems with small Nucs. I have to use stands with the legs down in coffee cans or buckets with water in them. You put a Jar feeder on a box of bees and here come the ants.
Yea, we don’t have it that bad here seems like. Certain areas around here are worse than others though. Carpenter ants seem to give me the worst fits.
Hello Mike, have you ever considered trying nematodes instead of poisons?
And for the wax frame damage.....if I had A LOT of extra drawn wax frames I would not reuse like you. But I don't. I would have to try what the forums saw until I get waxed frame inventory built up. I sure like your "how I do" videos!
I have looked into them somewhat Jon, but I really have not seen any conclusive results, good or bad. I save a lot of $$ re-using the foundation and frames that are salvageable. If I had a couple hundred hives, then I would probably just dispose or give away most of them. I sure appreciate you watching and I so glad you enjoy the videos. I sometimes wonder after I’ve uploaded a video, “was that a waste of time? Will anyone even be interested in that?” Always nice reading comments like yours.
@@MikeBarryBees ---- never a waste of time Mike. It's always good stuff!
What kind of torch is that and where did you get it.
That's a benzomatic. You can pick those up at any welding supply or on Amazon.
What kind of ants are you battling ? small red ants, sugar ants, fire ants, or the big black carpenter ants. I have defeated the ants in this area and maybe my solution will work for you. I haven't shared the solution on my channel yet but plan to at the end of the season after I am sure it is flawless. So far not the first ant on the first hive all season. The wax moths and beatles on the other hand. Not good at all. Take care mike and stay cool.
Big farmer, I really have issues unless the hives are weak. Below in a comment I talked about carpenter ants being about the only ants that cause me issues,
But that’s if I have an inner cover on. But I only have three of those and rum them last resort. Switching to the migratory will remedy the issue, but I just hate the little jokers because the get everywhere and are a bother. But now that’s not to say I wouldn’t try something that would keep them out altogether. The ground drench with permethrin for the beetles works ok if it contacts a nest.
@@MikeBarryBees Check your email :-)
I lost 3 of my strongest to moths
Hate to hear that Earl.
What is ground drench?
It is 5ml of permethrin in water and the the ground in front of the hives is drenched out to about 3 feet from the front. It kills all pupating larvae for about 3 months.
I hate wax moth like you hate shb. They catch me slipping eventually every single year and get over 100 combs, ruined 80 the other day...
Yea John, they’re so destructive and I just had to find a better way. I know folks are against the paramoth, but I had just had enough of freezer room and then all the work to protect and still lose a bunch. I guess I don’t hate the moth as much because they come in once weak, but those little beetles just hang out in the hive all year trying to attack. Evil little bugs!
@@MikeBarryBees they always get my stored combs..I'm going to build a screened closet because I'm like you,I have a deep freezer strictly for bee frames (200) but it isn't enough..paramoth works for me but it gases faster in summer and I let it run out ..or possibly the eggs hatched? I think it kills the eggs , can't remember.Good video Mike!
Watched this twice ! Missed the boring and tedious part you mention some how both times!!
Thanks a lot Phil! Appreciate the kind comment. Glad you like it!!
🤣🤣🤣 You really don't like Beatles. Can't blame you, annoying little critters.
They just sit and wait like vultures and mess with my bees. Then, if the hive is right...or wrong really, they pounce! Yep, don’t care for the at all!!
Nope chicken feed
Everyone says that, but I’d rather keep the wax moths out first rather than save them for chickens. I tried giving chickens a frame and it had to be thrown out when they were done with it. Same with ants, they just ruin a foundation.
Great video! I learned a lot. Thanks!
Great David!!