What cold temperature kills all wax moth stages in stored comb?
Answer
Below freezing temperatures (around $0^ ext{F}$ or $-18^ ext{C}$)
Temperature management is identified as the most critical control factor for safeguarding stored beeswax comb, such as empty supers or drawn frames, from wax moth damage. To achieve total mortality across all insect life stages, including the resistant eggs and the protective cocoons formed by mature larvae, specific cold treatment is necessary. The recommended effective temperature threshold for this purpose is maintaining the equipment below freezing, specifically around $0^ ext{F}$ (or $-18^ ext{C}$) for a duration spanning several hours. This method is highly reliable for sanitizing stored materials before they are reintroduced to active colonies.
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