Wax moths

[Bob Wilson]

With a crazy, busy summer, and also trying to be less hands on with the hives, I missed noticing that a hive got robbed. By the time I was able to get back to them, wax moths had settled in. After 7 years beekeeping, it's the first wax moth infestation I have had. It was like ripping fabric, as I pulled the frames out. What a mess. And I didn't realize how badly they will burrow into the wood as they make their cocoons. They messed up the frame rests.

[Lesgold]

That?s a good infestation there Bob. They are very good at turning beehive equipment into wooden sculptures.

[The15thMember]

Oh man, I feel for you there, Bob.  I know exactly what you mean about ripping fabric.    Those little jerks can do a ton of damage. 

[Terri Yaki]

Sorry to see that, it's hard to look at even from here.

[Ben Framed]

Oh man, I feel for you there, Bob.  I know exactly what you mean about ripping fabric.    Those little jerks can do a ton of damage.

Me also Reagan. I?ve had that problem before also. What a mesfull inconvenience they make! I can?t remember what time of year it was but the cocoons had larva inside as well in my case.

[Michael Bush]

https://bushfarms.com/beespests.htm#waxmoths
https://bushfarms.com/beeswaxmoths.htm

[beesnweeds]

This is why even quick inspections are so important during flying weather.  It takes less than a minute every 2 or 3 weeks to check for eggs with a good pattern and a strong population of bees.

[Bob Wilson]

Lesgold. It was a mess. I might as well have done it up right for my first case of moths.
Beesnweeds. Yes. I tried to get by with just a few inspections, and my other hives all did fine, but a quick check every two weeks would have caught this one problem.
Michael. I read the articles on your website. Good stuff. If I had caught the problem earlier, I would have shaken out the robbed hive, and circumvented the issue.

[Ben Framed]

Reply number 1 from one of your past topics concerning wax moths and the type hive you ask about.

https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=57666.msg535820#msg535820

Quote:
Bob I don?t know anything about Layens hives but I have been told a healthy hive will hold off the wax moths if they have a good population. Going by this I can only guess that the wax moths got their foothold (after)  the population was not sufficient enough to ward them off? Sorry for your loss on this one Bob.

Phillip

[Bob Wilson]

Yes, Philip. I finally got around to cleaning out the hive, and figured it might be a good topic for the general thread.

[Ben Framed]

Yes, Philip. I finally got around to cleaning out the hive, and figured it might be a good topic for the general thread.

Thanks Bob, and a good topic it is!

Phillip

[BiggBees]

This year I lost 20 A. Mellifera colonies due to wax moth attack. But surprisingly 38 A. Cerana Indica colonies in the same apiary are not affected at all.

[beesnweeds]

I'm sure the Apis m. hives became weak from varroa before the wax moths moved in.

[Terri Yaki]

Sorry to hear that you lost all those hives. I'm still a newbee but It is starting to sink in that some degree of hive loss is part of the program.