We are plagued with an abundabce of wax moths in this part of the country, one of my hives has them. Was out last night after dark and shined the flashlight into one of my hives and what do I see but a couple of moths looking back out at me. The girls were running them off, watched for a little and it appered that the moths were being evicted.
Question in my mind is why not mount a bug zapper in the bee yard, put it on a timer or a photo cell so it won't be on during the time the girls would be flying but at night when the moths are out. Thoughts/ideas/comments?
Make a wax moth trap out of a two liter pop bottle!!!
How do you make one?
http://www.beeworks.com/informationcentre/wax_moth.html
Could just throw some Halls in the entrance and in the attic. I don't know if it will stop them after infesting the hive but it seems to keep them out.
As much greif and mess as those things have caused me, it would bring me great pleasure to sit and watch them die in a bug zapper.
Quote from: MrILoveTheAnts on September 19, 2007, 12:32:46 AM
Could just throw some Halls in the entrance and in the attic. I don't know if it will stop them after infesting the hive but it seems to keep them out.
Are we talking halls as in the sweetie?
Yes the stuff for a sore throat. I believe it acts like a moth ball and seems to work.
ok, but wont it attract ants?
I suppose, but ants won't kill off your hive over the winter.
In either case I already have tons of ants in my hives.
Prenolepis imparis and Camponotus species go inside top feeders. Crematogaster sometimes use the attic in the hive as a nesting site (one of many spread out among dead wood structures). And Temnothorax even nest in small cracks in the wood, though the average colony of those is less then 100 ants and they're tiny.
Quote from: Michael Bush on September 18, 2007, 11:38:21 PM
http://www.beeworks.com/informationcentre/wax_moth.html
Interesting article. Claims top entrance hive are more susceptible to wax moths.....