wax moth?

[rookie2531]

It has been getting chilly here at night and last night, I went out to close the Ipm bottom boards. It was dark so I had to bring the flashlight. I noticed a moth crawling around the entrance trying to get in. The girls were guarding the entrance pretty heavy. But this moth really wanted in. The girls would scare it off and it would run a few inches but come right back. Now this hive has many more bees in it but it is queenless, than the one right next to it. The one next to it had zero girls guarding the entrance and it has a queen. No guards,no moth trying to get in. Guarded to the gill, trying to get in? I have seen this same looking moth before during the day, during a split and googled pictures of the wax moth and it didn't look the same but after witnessing this event, it must be. Why didn't the girls just jump on it and kill it? They obviously wanted it away from the entrance. Can't they kill without stinging?

[GSF]

They can bite it up pretty good and I imagine kill it.

[RHBee]

Wax moth are ever present. They fly at colder temperatures than our bees. A strong hive simply drags out the larvae and cleans up any damage caused. Weak hives get overwhelmed.

[mikecva]

I do not need PETA on my case but I say if you see it again - kill it yourself. I prise my bees a lot more then wax moths.  -Mike

[rookie2531]

Oh, I would've killed it, but I was outside the kennel and also it was weird but to see the bees crawling so quick at night, they probably would have stung me if I got my hand that close to them. I didn't have anything to use. The hives are inside a caged area to help keep them safe.