I just got my first ever wax moths in my stack of brood comb. I caught it early as I noticed a few extra moths in the garage. So far I have been able to wash the frames free of the larva and Il be either rendering the wax on the couple bad ones, the rest I'm about to go plunk on top of the supers of the active hives and let them have at em. Little monsters.
If i leave it in the sun a few days or maybe cook them in the oven with just enough heat to kill stuff, i know the bees clean but will the clean the silk left behind?
I got only one hive and yesterday wow full of worm but guess why the entire swamp moved I was able to get them and I placed in another beehive so far good
Remember too, Wax Moths often transmit viral pathogens so is not worth taking risk by reusing frames. Obviously it's important to clean hives thoroughly to rid of smell and viruses.
The good lesson is don’t try to re-use contaminated frames, eventually is going to attract more pest on the future, due sent, some bee keepers try to re use jonk equip with bad results. But tell me future, the box is salvageable? Just wash it with soapy water and desinfect with some Clorox?
Agreed, bleach is a good idea if you don’t know why they died, will kill most bacteria or fungi. For known losses particularly when it’s a hive that just went queenless I tend to use extreme hot or extreme cold as a key to reusing any equipment which may have moth eggs on it. You can freeze infested frames and combs in a bag in a home freezer. The cold will kill eggs, moth larvae and the moths themselves by creating ice crystals is their cells. I tend to do this for frames they haven’t got to yet but which are likely to harbour eggs. The badly damaged ones go into my wax steamer. This is a good ol’ Thorne special, a wall paper steamer piping into a hive lid that goes onto the brood box, a mesh, metal floor and bucket. Afterwards it’s pretty much sterilised and ready for reuse, though it might need a scrape to clean off old bee cocoons.
I just installed my two nucs on Tuesday and when I checked my flow hive bottom drawer there were little black pellets of poop the thickness of pencil lead. I posted on Facebook and some suggested wax moth larva , others said cockroach, and others said earwig. I wasn't planning on doing my first hive inspection untill Sunday when its supposed to be warm. Is it possible for a fresh nuc to have wax moth larva? I used brand new black heavy dipped acorn on the sides of my 5 nuc frames. Everything i have read about wax moths seems to deal with stored equipment and or dying or dead hives. Thoughts?
Except AVOIDING - HOW TO? Can't leave out in sun - they are in box. ? Well, I have them in Owl Box, Trying to clean but Not wanting larva to Escape to Ground. Maybe go to Lake and clean in H2O. Fish will eat. Fed Lizards here, but must watch All are eaten. my first Owl Box and I had Bees. =( No, Moths.
Ok, so what you're really sharing, is what happens to a hive when the bees are gone AND more important than that, what happens when a keeper is not vigilant and fails to manage the apiary correctly. You've served as a launching pad for countless wax moths by not tending the hive. Always always know what's going on with your bees and please don't become this guy.
We cannot be in our hives every day and unfortunately a hive can go downhill very fast. In fact I have seen hives collapse in one day and you have this mess within two days. Especially with hive beetles and hives that are attacked by robbing.
Really respect the candidness in teaching us about the mistakes.
I just got my first ever wax moths in my stack of brood comb. I caught it early as I noticed a few extra moths in the garage. So far I have been able to wash the frames free of the larva and Il be either rendering the wax on the couple bad ones, the rest I'm about to go plunk on top of the supers of the active hives and let them have at em. Little monsters.
I think they charge 2.50-3 bucks for a new frame at my local bee keeping place and definitely see the value in replacing the foundation. Good call.
If i leave it in the sun a few days or maybe cook them in the oven with just enough heat to kill stuff, i know the bees clean but will the clean the silk left behind?
I got only one hive and yesterday wow full of worm but guess why the entire swamp moved I was able to get them and I placed in another beehive so far good
Remember too, Wax Moths often transmit viral pathogens so is not worth taking risk by reusing frames. Obviously it's important to clean hives thoroughly to rid of smell and viruses.
"Didn't get to IT soon enough". What could you have done earlier?
The good lesson is don’t try to re-use contaminated frames, eventually is going to attract more pest on the future, due sent, some bee keepers try to re use jonk equip with bad results. But tell me future, the box is salvageable? Just wash it with soapy water and desinfect with some Clorox?
I would soak it in bleach and rewax it in the spring
Agreed, bleach is a good idea if you don’t know why they died, will kill most bacteria or fungi. For known losses particularly when it’s a hive that just went queenless I tend to use extreme hot or extreme cold as a key to reusing any equipment which may have moth eggs on it.
You can freeze infested frames and combs in a bag in a home freezer. The cold will kill eggs, moth larvae and the moths themselves by creating ice crystals is their cells. I tend to do this for frames they haven’t got to yet but which are likely to harbour eggs.
The badly damaged ones go into my wax steamer. This is a good ol’ Thorne special, a wall paper steamer piping into a hive lid that goes onto the brood box, a mesh, metal floor and bucket. Afterwards it’s pretty much sterilised and ready for reuse, though it might need a scrape to clean off old bee cocoons.
Couldn’t you wash the frame and add some wax foundation to it?
I just installed my two nucs on Tuesday and when I checked my flow hive bottom drawer there were little black pellets of poop the thickness of pencil lead. I posted on Facebook and some suggested wax moth larva , others said cockroach, and others said earwig. I wasn't planning on doing my first hive inspection untill Sunday when its supposed to be warm. Is it possible for a fresh nuc to have wax moth larva? I used brand new black heavy dipped acorn on the sides of my 5 nuc frames. Everything i have read about wax moths seems to deal with stored equipment and or dying or dead hives. Thoughts?
7 years ago... $2 imagine.
Except AVOIDING - HOW TO? Can't leave out in sun - they are in box. ?
Well, I have them in Owl Box, Trying to clean but Not wanting larva to Escape to Ground.
Maybe go to Lake and clean in H2O. Fish will eat. Fed Lizards here, but must watch All are eaten. my first Owl Box and I had Bees. =( No, Moths.
Ok, so what you're really sharing, is what happens to a hive when the bees are gone AND more important than that, what happens when a keeper is not vigilant and fails to manage the apiary correctly. You've served as a launching pad for countless wax moths by not tending the hive. Always always know what's going on with your bees and please don't become this guy.
We cannot be in our hives every day and unfortunately a hive can go downhill very fast. In fact I have seen hives collapse in one day and you have this mess within two days. Especially with hive beetles and hives that are attacked by robbing.