Scavenger (moths, small hive beetle) or occasional pests (ant, roaches small mammals, squirrels, etc.) chewing on frames/drawn beeswax combs) in honey supers/brood frames in storage area.
Drawn beeswax comb may be stored for considerable periods of time. Drawn comb that has never had brood reared in the cells (only used for honey for example) is not attractive to scavenger pests such as wax moth or small hive beetles and open air storage (outside protected from the ellements or in a well ventilated enclosure) is sufficient. Extracted super frames may be stored “wet” with adhering honey or “dry” without honey residue, following controlled robbing by adult workers of extracted frames. Wet frames may attract general scavengers such as ants, cockroaches, or mice. It also prevents you from accidentally allowing diseases or parasites to transfer from one hive to another via your equipment.
Foundation or new plastic frames do not need special storage.
Drawn comb that has been used for brood rearing is highly attractive to small hive beetles, wax moths, stored product moths, and general scavengers such as mice, cockroaches, etc.
Frames that have been used to rear brood need special care. Drawn comb is the beekeepers most valuable resource. Brood frames are highly attractive to beeswax scavengers like wax moth and small hive beetle and occasional insect or small mammal pests. The frames may already harbor eggs or small caterpillars of wax moth or larvae of small hive beetle when removed from colonies. These scavengers can quickly destroy the structure of drawn comb making them unusable.
Scrape frames with your hive tool first. Cull the frames with large amount of drone cells or that are very dark. Brood frames can be stored in a freezer or with chemical protection against wax moth using Paradichlorobenzene (PDB). If there are brood remains (such as from a PMS deadout) small hive beetles must also be included in protective measures. After 24-48 hours in the freezer, the frames (usually inside their boxes) can be stored in plastic bags. Directly bagging may not be adequate since wax moth eggs/caterpillars might already be present. Check periodically to be sure an infestation does not get started.
Boxes, covers, bee tools, etc can be stored in a dry space such as garage, shed or specific storage facility or outside in covered stacks or under tarp protected from mositure/weathering/pests. The closer the space is to your hives, the better. You might scrape them of burr/brace comb with your hive tool to remove beeswax and propolis before storage. With time, such items accumulate. This is especially true at the end of the summer, when all the gear you used on a weekly basis suddenly sits in one place.
Storing empty boxes, foundation frames, a spare smoker, bee veil and hive tool in out-apiary might save time and an “extra” trip (when you “forget” one of these tools). Include smoker fuel and matches/lighter to start the smoker.
It’s important to clean your Personal Protective equipment before storing it for the season. Hand washing is the best way to clean your suit, hat, veil, and other pieces without damaging them.
https://carolinahoneybees.com/beekeeper-storage/
Conrad Ross 2015. Storage issues: where to put it all. Bee Culture. September. https://www.beeculture.com/storage-issues-tanks-honey-supers-where-to-put-it-all/
Beekeeping made simple. 2020, 4 Ways to Store Frames of Drawn Out Comb Over the Winter. ttps://www.beekeepingmadesimple.com/blog/store-beekeeping-frames
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