Inspected today. Took the top off my weaker hive first. Noticed a grub half wrapped in a paper-like material in between two top bars. It's a TBH and it couldn't get in but I was worried it might be a wax moth larva. It was gray, fat, and about an inch long. I dropped it so I don't have a picture. Inspection revealed no kind of damage or other larva but the hive just doesn't seem very strong. Lots of traffic in and out but not much pollen coming in. Neither hive will take sugar syrup so I assume there is a flow. Other hive has built out a whole bar plus the rest of their nuc frames. This hive hasn't even finished it's nuc frames yet.
Any thoughts?
It sounds like a wax moth. photos would help. But if it is only one and it is dead you've got no problems.
by your description of your hive it sounds like they (wax moth larva) don't have any where to eat. I get them on the sticky board under the screen once in a while. We just scrape and kill or take them fishing.
Jim
Those wax moths get into the hives all the time, but a strong hive stays on top of the situation and removes them.
Quote from: watercarving on May 17, 2008, 12:41:50 PM
Inspected today. Took the top off my weaker hive first. Noticed a grub half wrapped in a paper-like material in between two top bars. It's a TBH and it couldn't get in but I was worried it might be a wax moth larva. It was gray, fat, and about an inch long. I dropped it so I don't have a picture. Inspection revealed no kind of damage or other larva but the hive just doesn't seem very strong. Lots of traffic in and out but not much pollen coming in. Neither hive will take sugar syrup so I assume there is a flow. Other hive has built out a whole bar plus the rest of their nuc frames. This hive hasn't even finished it's nuc frames yet.
Any thoughts?
Red Flag, Red Flag, Red Flag!!!!
If you could get a hold of some certan, I would asap, and spray all frames both sides. If your hive is weak as you say this is when wax moth will invade, and when they get a foot in the door, the hive is doomed.
Take action now before its too late!!!
...JP
Here is a youtbube video I did - this should put to rest IF it is or NOT Waxmoth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AS_XtjNMRI
Fascinating vid! :)
John, thanks for posting the video, I didn't have any pics on hand of the nasty lil buggers, Seeing what these little bastages look like is worth a million curse words.
My concern for you watercarving is that you state the hives are weak and this is all the invitation this parasite needs to destroy a hive.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18
This product works, plain and simple and it does not hurt the bees or the honey, etc...
Please look into it.
Wax moths are no joke!!!
...JP