[mgolden]

Should comb from a hive that died out from DWV be treated before re-using?

Had a hive die out last winter from what I suspect may have been DWV. Hive had excess varroa over the summer and there were daily crawlers. Hive was fall treated with Apivar in the fall but I waited till fall, as I wanted to harvest what honey I could. Hive died out in December. There was some crapping inside the hive.

I cleaned the frames using a bleach solution. Should anything more be done and can comb be re-used?

 

[Hokie Bee Daddy]

You could freeze it if you want. That would make sure you had no residual wax moth or hive beetle eggs on the frames. If it froze out in December and it looks fine now then you don't need to do that either. It's ready to be used as it is.

 

[JWChesnut]

DWV is everywhere. The issue with Varroa is they are efficient transmitters. DWV is not like foulbroods where you want sterile comb, one should assume it is present, and reduce the vector transmission.

 

[Michael Bush]

DWV does not make spores. It needs living tissue to live on.