Hello Lennard & All,

>I would discard them as GBP (good beekeeping practice).

Safe is good but I personally have completely disregarded what the books say
and used equipment from other beekeepers from the start. I mix frames and
bring in comb almost yearly from other beekeepers.

The only problem I see is having to cull frames with too much drone comb or
drawn wrong frames.

When I buy used hives or equipment we use the best and burn the rest.

>I like to stay away from other beekeepers.

Good advice. I find other beekeepers are always wanting to borrow money.

>Strains of strange, non-local Nosema might come with them.

The above is why I answered the post. As far as I know there are nosema apis
and nosema ceranae in honeybees. I have never heard of local variations.
Randy?

>Nosema ceranae made it to all the islands here,

My advice is to keep an eye on nosema levels and not wait till hives are
crashing to start control.
I know that's not what the experts say but my opinion as a nosema survivor.

  >  Lord knows what residues are in other peoples wax.

I agree. I hear the stories at meetings and scares me to death!

bob

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