Cedar Super Wood?

[Davzbeez]

Can supers/hive bodies be made out of cedar? I am going to make my own supers this winter.  I wanted to use cypress as I understand it is very impervious to weather.  The prices are to high for me however.  I do have a ready supply of cheap cedar lumber available.

[Michael Bush]

Cedar makes perfectly good supers.  It's more expensive than pine, which makes just as good of a super.  I like to use the cedar for tops and bottoms which get more weather, but I have made boxes out of scrap cedar from construction sites.  They work fine.

[Apis629]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doen't ceder have a sent that usually repels moths?  Could that possibly aid in prevention of wax moth infestation of stored supers?

[Michael Bush]

>doen't ceder have a sent that usually repels moths? Could that possibly aid in prevention of wax moth infestation of stored supers?

That's the theory, and no it doesn't.  But it does make nice boxes.

[Apis629]

oh, ok...'twas a thought...

[davew26]

Cedar has been used for a long time to stuff dog bedding.  It does a good job of repelling ticks and fleas.  Have you noticed a reduction of Varroa mites in your cedar supers?

Thanks

[Michael Bush]

> Have you noticed a reduction of Varroa mites in your cedar supers?

I haven't noticed any difference in wax moths or varroa in cedar boxes.