Moth Ball Smell

[spencer]

I sold 2 nucs this weekend and asked the guy for new frames, with foundation, in exchange for the ones that came in the nucs. I notice that these new frames reek of moth balls. I left them outside for the last couple of days and they are still strong. I actually had to move them when my family wanted to eat out on the deck last night. Should I just pitch these frames or will they eventually air out. I also think this will make me rethink the whole exchange frame thing when selling nucs.

[Flyman]

Some literature says they would be OK within 24 hrs. However, my experience says that the bees will bug out (so to speak) if the smell is too strong. The best advice I read was allow 2 weeks from discontinuing PDB till you use the frames. Don't worry, they will be OK. It will just take a little time. This assumes the person really used PDB and not naptha. Naptha doesn't go away as quickly (if ever).

[spencer]

Ok, thanks. I'll let them air out for a couple of weeks and check them again.

[Kieck]

Naphthalene and para-dichlorobenzene (PDB) smell pretty different, in my opinion. If the frames smell like "mothballs," they were probably stored with naphthalene.