--- Wayne Chesley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I'm new to beekeeping and have a question about
> cleaning out dead hives.

>>  First ascertain that the bees did NOT die from
foulbrood.  If they died for any other reason, you can
install a new swarm/package of bees into the old
equipment.  Those little ladies are great housekeepers
and will clean out all of the dirt and debris from the
hive, and will utilize the stores that are still good.
 Do make sure that you keep the frames in good shape;
i.e. do not let the small hive beetle do its thing or
let the lessor or greater wax moth destroy the comb.
Use paradichlorobenzene (PDB) to kill any moths and
hatching eggs that might be in the combs.  You stack
your hives and seal them air tight.  Before you close
the stored hives, place the PDB crystals on a flat
surface on top of the top frames so that as the
crystals evaporate the fumes will percolate down and
through all the combs below.  Then seal the thing up
tight.  Be sure to air everything out well at least
two weeks before installing any new bees.  Oh yeah,
another way to kill the little critters is to seal the
hive parts up in plastic bags and freeze them good for
about a week.  Good luck.

Mike
Located 1/2 way between Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama

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