I have a hive that has one deep,one medium and one more medium for feeding. The deep is full of brood and honey, but the medium has just a few frames of honey ( that's why I am feeding them).I was in the hive last night and found a wax moth in the feed area. The hive is not very strong and it's late in the season. I need to feed the bees because of the lack of honey. Does any body have any suggestions? P.S. I live on the coast of Texas so the winter is mild normally.
Thanks for all of ya'lls help, Kevin
I'd keep feeding them or, better yet, combine them with another hive if you have 'em. If weather allows, I'd also do quick search and destroy any wax-moth and larvae you can find... might help some.
-John
You say they are not very strong. If you only have 5 frames of bees in the brood box and the other frames just have a few on them, you need to remove the medium, freeze and save the honey frames for feeding back to them as needed. I am assuming the top medium is just an empty box to cover a feeder. And yes, I have used med. frames in a deep for feeding in the winter. Consolidation of bees is the best defense I have found for most intruders. From your description, it sounds like you found a moth in the top box, the bees may have kept it run up there. It only takes a about a week for the worms to ruin a weak hive. Keep a close eye on it. I have moths and SHB here year round. Just remember moths won't/can't take over even a 2 frame nuc if there are enough bees to patrol it. As long as the queen is laying well, I prefer consolidation to combining.
Consolidation of bees is the best defense I have found for most intruders
I am getting into the hive in the afternoon and see. I like the idea of condensing them. Thanks
Great notes, Rast! Learning....
Quote from: rast on November 03, 2009, 09:21:06 PM
You say they are not very strong. If you only have 5 frames of bees in the brood box and the other frames just have a few on them, you need to remove the medium, freeze and save the honey frames for feeding back to them as needed. I am assuming the top medium is just an empty box to cover a feeder. And yes, I have used med. frames in a deep for feeding in the winter. Consolidation of bees is the best defense I have found for most intruders. From your description, it sounds like you found a moth in the top box, the bees may have kept it run up there. It only takes a about a week for the worms to ruin a weak hive. Keep a close eye on it. I have moths and SHB here year round. Just remember moths won't/can't take over even a 2 frame nuc if there are enough bees to patrol it. As long as the queen is laying well, I prefer consolidation to combining.