How to handle EFB equipment

[hummingberd]

Coming out of winter, I had 3 healthy strong hives. AFter about 7 weeks of straight rain, I discovered that all 3 had EFB. I treated, but they have only gotten worse. I've got them down to one colony now, but they're still dwindling.

What do I do to the left over equipment. I've got 3 nucs that I need to add boxes to. I have some frames of drawn out, but completely empty wax. Is it ok to put those frames on top of the nucs?

Do I have to do all new wax?

What about frames of new wax that is not drawn out, but was in the infected hives?

Thanks.

[Tim B]

some folks say that fumigating with glacial acetic acid will kill the bacteria. 100 ml of 80% acetic acid. You can order it online. It isn't too expensive. Glacial acetic acid is 100%. Soak a rag in 100 ml, seal the super in a bag, wait a week and you're ready to go. It is interesting to note that the bees are really attracted the combs after the treatment. I supered a swarm on infected, treated combs in april and have seen no signs of efb so it might work.

[Tim B]

You could probably spray Clorox on foundation and frames. Clorox kills about everything.

[wildbranch2007]

what are you treating with?

[Keth Comollo]

If they continue to dwindle I suspect you lost a queen or two. Have you seen a queen or signs that she is laying?

[hummingberd]

Treated with Terramycin. The frames I want to reuse were not on when I treated.

I had all my queens, and they were laying. But they just aren't recovering. Small patches of brood, with mostly healthy bees. But just not enough.

[odfrank]

I melt them in the solar melter, hot pressure wash them and soak them in bleach water, or toss them out. Time is money and renovating probably costs me ten times more than a new comb and does guarantee them to be sterile.

http://www.beedata.com/data2/pam_foul_brood.html

[hummingberd]

Great advice, odfrank. Thank you!