What did I see?

[19rabbit52]

I was watching bees going in and out of a hive today. A swarm I caught about June 6th and added bees from a cut-out in early July. As I was watching a white worm or larva about 3/4" long and about as big around as a tooth-pick came squirming out. What could it have been?

[AllenF]

SHB or wax moth.    3/4", I would go with wax moth. 

[vmmartin]

What did it taste like? Strong earthy flavor with a light nutty finish........wax moth.  Crisp vanilla with a hint of liver......hive beetle.
Short of that definitive test, I would agree with Allen.  ;)

[JPinMO]

What did it taste like? Strong earthy flavor with a light nutty finish........wax moth.  Crisp vanilla with a hint of liver......hive beetle.

                  :-X

VM, I'm not too sure about the sanity of some of the folks on these Boards, and you just took the spot at the top of the list!


:lau:

[JPinMO]

rabbit, did this thing squirm out the entrance or was it on a comb?

[RHBee]

I've seen both SHB and Wax Moth. Based on your description I'd go with Wax Moth. 

[BlueBee]

You're in Michigan; it was a wax moth.  It is fun to watch the bees chase them out.

I did some splits the other day and had to resort to using some old frames since I'm completely out of hardware at this point (darn bees :-D).  Anyways, evidently there were some small wax moths getting started in the the old frames.  The bees would grab them in their jaws and carry them away as the worms wiggled about.

[Better.to.Bee.than.not]

SHB have spines along the back, wax moth do not. for pictures and distinctions of each:
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=9335&desc=9

[19rabbit52]

rabbit, did this thing squirm out the entrance or was it on a comb?

It squirmed out on its own and fell to the ground where I turned it into a grease spot.