How to prepare wax moth tincture
Wax moth tincture is a valuable beekeeping product, but it is necessary to prepare it correctly, because there are several nuances that need to be taken into account. Let's look at how to prepare wax moth tincture.
What larvae are needed to prepare wax moth tincture?
To prepare a wax moth tincture, you can use the larvae of both the large wax moth and the small wax moth. Wax moth larvae are biologically very fragile material. Heating the larvae is unacceptable, so an alcohol tincture of wax moth is used. Wax moth tincture is prepared at 10, 20, 25% concentration.
To prepare a tincture from wax moth larvae, they are collected before pupation occurs. Old larvae, already ready for pupation, do not secrete enzymes and do not digest tuberculosis bacteria, but young wax willow larvae, during the period of full development, digest them well. Scientists recommend using young larvae of 1.0-1.5 cm in size, no more, to prepare wax moth tincture.
The process of preparing wax moth tincture
The collected wax moth larvae are placed in containers made of glass or dark glass food grade polymer material. Containers filled with larvae are placed in a refrigerator at a temperature of minus 6-10°C and stored for no more than 30 days. If it is not possible to store and transport them frozen, wax moth larvae are filled with ethyl alcohol (70-96°).
Method for preparing wax moth tincture according to the method of F. D. Karneev
Method for preparing wax moth tincture according to F.D. Karneev’s method: pour 5.0 g of young wax moth larvae into a glass jar with 50.0 g of alcohol. Insist for 5-8 days.
Method for preparing wax moth tincture according to the method of A. F. Sinyakov
Method of preparing wax moth tincture according to the method of A.F. Sinyakov: 20.0 g of larvae in a glass jar are poured with 100 ml of alcohol and kept in a dark place for 7-9 days, shaken daily. Then the tincture must be filtered, and the tincture of wax moth larvae is ready for use.
Wax moth tincture is non-toxic, effective, compatible with the use of other medications, stores well, the shelf life of wax moth tincture is up to 3 years.
