In a message dated 97-02-06 14:18:12 EST, [log in to unmask] (aarcher) writes: << What is an appropriate method of cleaning up the hive bodies and supers insuring that I don't spread disease to my new package bees? Since we are limited in re$ources here and about 2 hours from the nearest village, chemicals (which I'm not too fond of anyway) are not easy to find and acquire. I live in a riparian area on the Gila river and am cautious of any unnatural residues which chemicals can leave behind. I've heard fire can be used effectively to remove most disease problems, but is there a specific way to use fire reasonably. e.g.- Can I hold and rotate the equipment over an open flame to sterilize? Is there a minimum time or minimum heat requirement to do the job? What about using solar heating in or under plastic sheeting? Would temperatures reach a high enough level? How long would be required to do the job thouroughly? >> If the equipment was known to not have American foulbrood, I'd just use it. Be sure to use a couple preventative treatments of terramycin each year, and watch for any problems with AFB. If you know it did, or if you aren't sure, fire is a good idea. Solar heat would not kill foulbrood spores. You might keep in mind that fouldbrood spores are everywhere, and bees normally resist the infection, unless they are genetically weak, or there is an overwhelming source of infection. The unwashed jar of honey tossed into the dumpster has plenty of spores. Your efforts to sanitize are used to reduce the exposure. You cannot remove every spore. Commercial beekeepers have a quick and simple way to char supers. Get a round pointed shovel and a flat workspace away from anything that could catch fire, such as a concrete or asphalt pad. Scrape or knock off any propolis or burr comb that is obvious. Stack up the supers no higher than you can reach, and put a flat piece of disposable plywood over the top, except leave a tiny crack. You have created a chimney. Have some water buckets or a fire extinguisher handy by, just in case. Now drop a paper towel, soaked with gas down your chimney, and follow with a lighted match. Be careful! If you are looking down when it ignites, you won't have any eyebrows, or worse. Take the shovel tip and wedge it under the bottom super corner. You can lift it up slightly to let in air, and really get the fire going. Set it down and the fire dies back. (With the shovel) move the top carefully back to close off the top, and the fire will go out. It's easy and quick. You can use the shovel created draft to burn them just enough to char off the wax and propolis from the interior, but not burn through the boxes. If they fall, or you accidently knock off the cover, you'll have wood igniting, and you'll probably burn through some boxes, so a little finesse is required, but it's not hard. The slow way, more expensive, and just as risky, is to use a propane torch to clean them up. You'll have to scorch all inner surfaces. This is outdoor activity. Don't try this in your garage or warehouse. [log in to unmask] Dave Green, PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC 29554 (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service, Pot o'Gold Honey Co.) Practical Pollination Home Page Dave & Janice Green http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html Jan's Sweetness and Light Varietal Honeys and Gift Sets http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm