Well, an unhappy second inspection at week four after package installation. Multiple issues encountered. I’ll keep each of these issues in a separate thread for easier future reference and to make it easier for helpful advice givers to respond.
Mold on inside of inside cover.
Used top feeder starting at week one.
I imagine it was the combo of the top feeder and that I covered the hole in the cover with a tile rather than hardware cloth.
Use hardware cloth instead, yes?
But now how do I remediate?
Simply let the cover dry out in place or do I need to bleach it before reusing?
Moreover, what do I use to treat the mold that won’t harm the bees? Vinegar?
For bee health and honey safety, you really don’t need to do anything at all. For appearance, you can bleach it if you like - spray on a 4% bleach solution and then leave it to dry in the sun. Store in a sunny dry place for about 2 weeks, then you can put it back in the hive. Bees tolerate chlorine bleach very well, as shown by their preference for swimming pools! Four percent is a little higher than I would prefer, but most of the chlorine will evaporate off in a few days, and it kills mold very effectively.
Hi J - I’ve gathered that mold is common in feeders & not terribly harmful as long as you keep it reasonably in check. You can scrub the mold stained area on your inner cover with a mild bleach or vinegar solution and let it dry in the sun. The stains will probably remain but this will def kill the spores. I started adding about a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to 1/2 gal syrup & it helps prevent mold, and the lower pH is better for the bees’ digestion anyway.