march2015

Allergic reactions can be stopped by administering epineph-

rine. Allergic individuals can be desensitized in most cases

and should consult their physician.

What you should do if you have acquired used equipment

When you have obtained used hives disinfect them before

use.

To do this, first scrape the boxes using a paint scraper, hive

tool or other suitable instrument, so that the bits of wax

and propolis fall onto some cardboard or newspaper. This

should subsequently be burnt. Be especially careful when

cleaning the internal corners of the boxes and the frame

runners. Consider removing frame runners and

replacing with new ones after disinfection.

When done, clean your scraper.

Then disinfect in one of the following

ways:

a. Scorch with a blowlamp. Make sure any

remaining propolis boils and that the tim-

ber darkens. There is no need to burn the

timber. Be especially careful in the corners.

b. Boil in Caustic Soda. This is not

very practical for the average bee-

keeper due to the caustic nature of

the bath and the problems of dis-

posal

of the used solution. It requires great care and caution. The

method is to prepare a bath using a solution of 450g. So-

dium Hydroxide to 38 liters of water and bring the solution

to the boil. Wooden hives parts are then immersed in the

solution for between 5 and 15 minutes. Then dip the parts in

clean boiling water. After drying, the parts will probably need

re-nailing. YOU MUST wear suitable protective clothing

when using this system.

c. Dip into molten paraffin wax. This requires specialist

equipment, which the average beekeeper does not have.

For further details see a suitable bee-keeping textbook.