With a crazy, busy summer, and also trying to be less hands on with the hives, I missed noticing that a hive got robbed. By the time I was able to get back to them, wax moths had settled in. After 7 years beekeeping, it's the first wax moth infestation I have had. It was like ripping fabric, as I pulled the frames out. What a mess. And I didn't realize how badly they will burrow into the wood as they make their cocoons. They messed up the frame rests.
That?s a good infestation there Bob. They are very good at turning beehive equipment into wooden sculptures.
Oh man, I feel for you there, Bob. I know exactly what you mean about ripping fabric. :oops: Those little jerks can do a ton of damage.
Sorry to see that, it's hard to look at even from here.
Quote from: The15thMember on October 17, 2024, 10:24:40 PM
Oh man, I feel for you there, Bob. I know exactly what you mean about ripping fabric. :oops: Those little jerks can do a ton of damage.
Me also Reagan. I?ve had that problem before also. What a mesfull inconvenience they make! I can?t remember what time of year it was but the cocoons had larva inside as well in my case.
https://bushfarms.com/beespests.htm#waxmoths
https://bushfarms.com/beeswaxmoths.htm
This is why even quick inspections are so important during flying weather. It takes less than a minute every 2 or 3 weeks to check for eggs with a good pattern and a strong population of bees.
Lesgold. It was a mess. I might as well have done it up right for my first case of moths.
Beesnweeds. Yes. I tried to get by with just a few inspections, and my other hives all did fine, but a quick check every two weeks would have caught this one problem.
Michael. I read the articles on your website. Good stuff. If I had caught the problem earlier, I would have shaken out the robbed hive, and circumvented the issue.
Reply number 1 from one of your past topics concerning wax moths and the type hive you ask about.
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=57666.msg535820#msg535820
QuoteQuote:
Bob I don?t know anything about Layens hives but I have been told a healthy hive will hold off the wax moths if they have a good population. Going by this I can only guess that the wax moths got their foothold (after) the population was not sufficient enough to ward them off? Sorry for your loss on this one Bob.
Phillip
Yes, Philip. I finally got around to cleaning out the hive, and figured it might be a good topic for the general thread.
Quote from: Bob Wilson on October 20, 2024, 04:16:47 PM
Yes, Philip. I finally got around to cleaning out the hive, and figured it might be a good topic for the general thread.
Thanks Bob, and a good topic it is!
Phillip
This year I lost 20 A. Mellifera colonies due to wax moth attack. But surprisingly 38 A. Cerana Indica colonies in the same apiary are not affected at all.
I'm sure the Apis m. hives became weak from varroa before the wax moths moved in.
Sorry to hear that you lost all those hives. I'm still a newbee but It is starting to sink in that some degree of hive loss is part of the program.