Storing wet honey supers requires creating a robust physical barrier to isolate the honey residue from the environment. The two primary techniques involved are sealing the equipment in airtight containment using heavy plastic or utilizing a mechanical exclusion method by stacking the supers between protective covers in a sheltered area.
Core Takeaway To store supers "wet" (with honey residue intact), you must hermetically seal them or mechanically block all entry points to prevent pest infestation. Alternatively, you can convert them to "dry" storage by allowing bees to clean the equipment prior to shelving.
Technique 1: Airtight Containment
Heavy Plastic Bags
One effective method is to enclose the wet supers in heavy, black plastic contractor bags. These bags are durable enough to resist tearing and help maintain a sealed environment.
Rigid Plastic Totes
Alternatively, you can place the frames or supers inside large plastic totes. The key to this method is ensuring the lids fit tightly to keep the container airtight.
Technique 2: Mechanical Exclusion
The "Sandwich" Stack
If bagging is not feasible, wet supers can be stacked in an outdoor sheltered area, such as a barn or lean-to. This method relies on vertical stacking to minimize the footprint.
Protective Covers
To prevent pests from entering the stack, you must sandwich the supers between two plastic outer covers. Place one cover at the bottom of the stack and one at the top to create a closed system.
Understanding the Trade-offs: Wet vs. Dry Storage
The Limitation of Wet Storage
Storing supers wet preserves the comb, but it makes the equipment highly attractive to pests. Whether you use bags, totes, or stacks, a breach in your defense can lead to infestation.
The Dry Storage Alternative
If you prefer to remove the attractant before storage, you can utilize dry storage techniques. This involves allowing the bees to clean off the honey residue before the equipment is put away.
Methods for Drying
To achieve this, place the empty supers back on the hive above the inner cover and under the top cover; this allows bees to clean the residue without refilling the comb. Alternatively, supers can be placed in bright light for open feeding to encourage rapid cleaning.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Depending on your resources and pest management strategy, choose the method that best aligns with your operation:
- If your primary focus is speed and preserving moisture: Use the contractor bag or tote method to immediately seal the wet supers airtight.
- If your primary focus is utilizing outdoor shelter: Use the sandwich method with plastic outer covers to protect the stack in a barn or lean-to.
- If your primary focus is minimizing pest attraction: Opt for dry storage by placing supers above the inner cover to let the bees clean them first.
Select the method that allows you to maintain the integrity of your equipment until the next flow.
Summary Table:
| Method | Technique | Primary Goal | Recommended Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airtight Containment | Heavy Plastic Bags or Totes | Hermetic Sealing | Contractor bags, rigid totes with lids |
| Mechanical Exclusion | The "Sandwich" Stack | Physical Barrier | Bottom & top plastic outer covers |
| Dry Storage | Bee Cleaning | Pest Prevention | Inner covers, bright light exposure |
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