So today my goal was to thoroughly look through the hive and then replace a my bottom brood deep ( just he box) for various reasons. In the process of trying to unstick the box from the bottom board it, of course all slid off the cinder blocks. On the top of the cinder blocks ( under what would be the front of the bottom board I found about 20 to 30 big maggoty-looking (sp?) larva or bugs of some sort all in a couple of clusters.
They are about 1/4" to 1/2" long and 1/8" wide, kind of a buff color and look like puffed rice.
Any idea what they might be?
Thanks.
likely wax moth :)
If wax moth, how do I get rid of them if they are not in the box itself and before the get inside?
If they are under and outside the hive, you can use anything to kill them. I would just torch them, but I am cruel like that. You can use bt to kill them and I will not bother the bees.
What is "bt"
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the oldest bacteria used for natural insect control. It consists of a spore, which gives it persistence, and a protein crystal within the spore, which is toxic. That toxic protein differs, depending on the subspecies of Bt producing it, yielding a variance of Bt toxic to different insect species. The toxic crystal, when ingested by the appropriate insect pest, blocks the system which protects the pests stomach from its own digestive juices. The stomach is penetrated, and the insect dies by poisoning from the stomach contents and the spores themselves.
Quote from: AllenF on August 03, 2010, 05:55:47 PM
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the oldest bacteria used for natural insect control. It consists of a spore, which gives it persistence, and a protein crystal within the spore, which is toxic. That toxic protein differs, depending on the subspecies of Bt producing it, yielding a variance of Bt toxic to different insect species. The toxic crystal, when ingested by the appropriate insect pest, blocks the system which protects the pests stomach from its own digestive juices. The stomach is penetrated, and the insect dies by poisoning from the stomach contents and the spores themselves.
That is the best most direct explanation I have ever seen, you should send it to some companies that sell it to use, most use explanations that only confuse...very good indeed.
Oh, forgot to add, I vote for torching as well, does the inner soul good. ;)
They hate the light and die quickly if you just scrape 'em off onto a nice sunny patch of ground -- and watch 'em squirm (very, very fun).
I can not take credit for the "best most direct explanation" above. I stole it. But only because I could not say it myself. I guess if I was still in school, I should have given reference. And on the torch, it also works on SHB, maggots, fire ants, wasps, and most any other type of critter I deem a pest. It kinda smells like victory.