Beaver Beetles

[Acebird]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/msJxx6Y6KqXuCf5B8
My hive was overrun by beaver beetles.  One more pest in FL that attack hives AND EQUIPMENT.

[AR Beekeeper]

Greater or Lesser?

[BeeMaster2]

Looks like greater to me😊

Description
The beaver beetle is an ectoparasitic beetle that is only found on its host species, beavers, and the sole member of the genus Platypsyllus. It is flattened and eyeless, resembling a flea or tick. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Platypsyllus castoris
Phylum: Arthropoda
Order: Beetles
Rank: Species
Kingdom: Animalia

[The15thMember]

That is horrible!  You FL beeks are up to your ears in pests! 

[The15thMember]

The beaver beetle is an ectoparasitic beetle that is only found on its host species, beavers,

Wait, I'm confused.  If they are only found on beavers, how are they in beehives? 

[jimineycricket]

Just one more reason I am glad I live where the air hurts your face.

[AR Beekeeper]

This post is how wild tales get started.

[rast]

I had those same beetles before too, course I'm in Fl.

[Acebird]

I named them beaver beetles because they are eating into the wooden ware.  I didn't know there is actually a beaver beetle.  I am not sure what they are.  The worms look like hive beetles.  I am not an expert on hive beetles because they are not much of a problem up north.  What ever they are they gouged out the wood on the end bars and boxes.

[BeeMaster2]

Ace,
The holes are from greater wax moth larvae. I thought you were posting this as a joke.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

Ace,
The holes are from greater wax moth larvae. I thought you were posting this as a joke.
Jim Altmiller

I did too!  Thanks fir the smile Brian 😊. 

[The15thMember]

Thanks for clearing this up, everyone.  I was extremely confused and was not prepared to let it go.   

This post is how wild tales get started.

SO TRUE.  The beaver hive beetle is a new Florida cryptid. 

Ace,
The holes are from greater wax moth larvae. I thought you were posting this as a joke.
Jim Altmiller

I didn't know wax moth could do that kind of damage to wood! 

[Oldbeavo]

Bit off topic, but you should see what Wax Moth larvae can do to a polystyrene hive, go right through 40mm, 1 1/2 inches of polystyrene.
had to paint inside and outside with water based glue and repaint.

[Ben Framed]

Bit off topic, but you should see what Wax Moth larvae can do to a polystyrene hive, go right through 40mm, 1 1/2 inches of polystyrene.
had to paint inside and outside with water based glue and repaint.

That hurts. Are they a big problem in Australia (where you live)?

[Acebird]

Well I have seen hives up north pretty well infested with wax moth and did not see any wooden destruction.

[van from Arkansas]

Ok, can I post on wax moth, already mentioned,  although the subject is beaver beetle.  Good one Ace.  So if nobody minds?

I would really like to know how wax moth can digest wax and or plastic.  Wax is almost  impossible to dissolve even with strong nitric or sulfuric acid.  To my knowledge only pure ammonia, not what you buy at the store, can dissolve wax.  My concern is this, can scientists use whatever X is in the wax moth stomach (salvia?) that dissolves wax and plastic and use X to get rid of the garbage plastic.  Takes Mother Nature decades, plural, to break down plastic.

I have seen depressions in wood made by wax moth.  How?  I did not think the moth had teeth,  the moth has the tiniest mouth?

There are some very curious features about wax moths.  This is one for Mr, BenFramed or Ms. Member to dive into the data and inform BeeMaster beeks.

A bit off subject, Mr. Ace.  I hope you don?t send me any of those beaver beetles for going off subject.

Health to All.

[Ben Framed]

Ok, can I post on wax moth, already mentioned,  although the subject is beaver beetle.  Good one Ace.  So if nobody minds?

I would really like to know how wax moth can digest wax and or plastic.  Wax is almost  impossible to dissolve even with strong nitric or sulfuric acid.  To my knowledge only pure ammonia, not what you buy at the store, can dissolve wax.  My concern is this, can scientists use whatever X is in the wax moth stomach (salvia?) that dissolves wax and plastic and use X to get rid of the garbage plastic.  Takes Mother Nature decades, plural, to break down plastic.

I have seen depressions in wood made by wax moth.  How?  I did not think the moth had teeth,  the moth has the tiniest mouth?

There are some very curious features about wax moths.  This is one for Mr, BenFramed or Ms. Member to dive into the data and inform BeeMaster beeks.

A bit off subject, Mr. Ace.  I hope you don?t send me any of those beaver beetles for going off subject.

Health to All.

Mr Van, our professor, You have made some very good points. Your interesting thoughts deserve looking into. I bet my classmate is already on it. Maybe others too? 
Ms Member? 🙂

[AR Beekeeper]

It is not the moth that chews the wood, it is the worm.  When the infestation is large, and the worms don't have a lot of comb in which to construct their cocoon, they move onto the wooden surfaces and they chew out a depression in which to anchor the cocoon.

[BeeMaster2]

Van,
I have plasticell foundation that has greater wax moth cut across the cells.
A few of years ago I posted a thread here on BeeMaster that talked about scientists studying using wax moths to break down plastic.
Jim Altmiller

[BeeMaster2]

Here is the link:
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=50029.msg436595#msg436595

Note the sentence that I copied from this link.
The researchers also discovered that by simply having the cocoon in contact with polyethylene, the plastic biodegrades.