Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: annette on July 13, 2008, 03:58:50 pm
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Well this morning I got into my 6 high medium super hive which was my strongest hive. The wax moths got into that hive. I feel so badly that I did not stay on top of this hive.
They had a top super totally filled with uncapped honey 2 weeks ago. I had added another super below that one. The third one down from top had the queen and brood (I saw her). I never looked in the bottom 3 supers just assuming they were also filled up with brood or pollen or honey.
A lot happened in the past 2 weeks. We had record breaking heat and smoke from fires. I did not expect them to be making honey when they had to use all reserves to just keep the temperatures down. I wasn't prepared for the queen to slow down in laying. The population obviously wasn't as strong as I had thought.
Well I removed 3 medium supers (all the bad frames from the wax moths, and empty frames)and crowded them into 3 medium supers and placed the entrance reducer on at 4".
Does anyone have any other ideas I can do to make sure this hive will be ok?? I am a bit emotional right now, having just lost my laying worker hive last week to wax moths.
They have eaten 1/2 the honey already, never did cap it. But they still have lots to eat. I know they still have a queen having seen the larvae this morning.
I thank you all for the help
Annette
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Oh Annette, you have certainly had your trials and tribulations with your colonies. I wish that I could give you some information about that ding dang wax moth, but I have no clue. Keep your chin up, others will chime in on what you can do. I have never had issues with wax moth, so I just don't have a clue what to say. Your weather has been a big hardship for you to work your colonies, sometimes we just can't get in them to do the things we have to do. You must not get too emotional or down about this. Things will always work out, others who have had wax moth problems will be able to help you out, wait.....and still girl, have that most beautiful day, life will be good again for you. Cindi
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Annette, when colonies get that big this time of yr they usually throw off some swarms and unless you are right on top of things, you will have some extra space in there as a result, in the future, try and remove some of those boxes a little sooner.
Best stuff on the planet for waxmoth, get you some quick, but condensing the hive and keeping them strong may hold you over til you get some Certan.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18
...JP
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Try dropping in a mentholated cough drop. It's what I do in the fall to all of my hives and I've never had any trouble since. Literally a Halls is all it takes.
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Best stuff on the planet for waxmoth, get you some quick, but condensing the hive and keeping them strong may hold you over til you get some Certan.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18
...JP
Another option is Xentari,which is much cheaper and possibly available locally
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,13208.0.html
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Annette, when colonies get that big this time of yr they usually throw off some swarms and unless you are right on top of things, you will have some extra space in there as a result, in the future, try and remove some of those boxes a little sooner.
Best stuff on the planet for waxmoth, get you some quick, but condensing the hive and keeping them strong may hold you over til you get some Certan.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18
...JP
I know they did not swarm because I still have my marked queen from last year (yellow dot). I saw her 2 weeks ago and there has not been any queen cells in this hive. Now this Certan is to save the wax combs before I store them or to place in the hive??? Guess I should check out the link and then I will know how to use this product.
I believe the population just went down because the queen stopped laying much due to the horrible drought we are having and those horrendous temperatures the past few weeks. And probably the smoke filled air.
Thanks for the help
Annette
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Annette, when colonies get that big this time of yr they usually throw off some swarms and unless you are right on top of things, you will have some extra space in there as a result, in the future, try and remove some of those boxes a little sooner.
Best stuff on the planet for waxmoth, get you some quick, but condensing the hive and keeping them strong may hold you over til you get some Certan.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18
...JP
I know they did not swarm because I still have my marked queen from last year (yellow dot). I saw her 2 weeks ago and there has not been any queen cells in this hive. Now this Certan is to save the wax combs before I store them or to place in the hive??? Guess I should check out the link and then I will know how to use this product.
I believe the population just went down because the queen stopped laying much due to the horrible drought we are having and those horrendous temperatures the past few weeks. And probably the smoke filled air.
Thanks for the help
Annette
Annette, you can use the certan on an active colony.
...JP
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Best stuff on the planet for waxmoth, get you some quick, but condensing the hive and keeping them strong may hold you over til you get some Certan.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18
...JP
Another option is Xentari,which is much cheaper and possibly available locally
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,13208.0.html
Ok I am understanding that this is to prevent the wax combs from being destroyed while storing. But it is not to use in the hive with the bees!! I will order some just so I can store all those combs I now have due to removing all those supers.
But in the case of my bees, just crowding them and reducing the entrance sounds good to you all??????
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Try dropping in a mentholated cough drop. It's what I do in the fall to all of my hives and I've never had any trouble since. Literally a Halls is all it takes.
Where do you drop it??
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Best stuff on the planet for waxmoth, get you some quick, but condensing the hive and keeping them strong may hold you over til you get some Certan.
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=18
...JP
Another option is Xentari,which is much cheaper and possibly available locally
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,13208.0.html
Ok I am understanding that this is to prevent the wax combs from being destroyed while storing. But it is not to use in the hive with the bees!! I will order some just so I can store all those combs I now have due to removing all those supers.
But in the case of my bees, just crowding them and reducing the entrance sounds good to you all??????
You can use it now on the active hive or on frames you will store.
...JP
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It did not say this in the advertising. How do you use this product in the hive????
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It did not say this in the advertising. How do you use this product in the hive????
You mix it 19 parts water to one part Certan in a spray bottle and I pmed you also.
...JP
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Get some BT and use it on the combs.
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Get some BT and use it on the combs.
OK once again, what is BT? Is this something different from Certan?
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Get some BT and use it on the combs.
OK once again, what is BT? Is this something different from Certan?
Certan is a form of BT its all bacterial, try the link Rob sent you if its cheaper and quicker, I got mine from Canada, but its been like 3 yrs since I ordered it. A little goes a long way.
...JP
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Try dropping in a mentholated cough drop. It's what I do in the fall to all of my hives and I've never had any trouble since. Literally a Halls is all it takes.
Where do you drop it??
I usually flick one in the entrance and place one up top under the lid, if you're using a telescoping lid. I've never used it on a hive already infected with them though so I don't know if it will do anything to the burrowing larva. But the adult forms should vacate immediately.
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Try dropping in a mentholated cough drop. It's what I do in the fall to all of my hives and I've never had any trouble since. Literally a Halls is all it takes.
Where do you drop it??
I usually flick one in the entrance and place one up top under the lid, if you're using a telescoping lid. I've never used it on a hive already infected with them though so I don't know if it will do anything to the burrowing larva. But the adult forms should vacate immediately.
Thanks for the info
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Get some BT and use it on the combs.
OK once again, what is BT? Is this something different from Certan?
Certan is a form of BT its all bacterial, try the link Rob sent you if its cheaper and quicker, I got mine from Canada, but its been like 3 yrs since I ordered it. A little goes a long way.
...JP
I just printed out all the information and will try and order tomorrow, plus call around to see what I can do faster. Thanks
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On Beesource, one of our members sells it cheap.
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On Beesource, one of our members sells it cheap.
Can you hook a brother or sister up Ross?
...JP
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On Beesource, one of our members sells it cheap.
He sells Xentari, and unless he has dropped his prices a lot, you can get it cheaper elsewhere.
He use to have it advertised here too, until he got a littler over zealous
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,6102.msg38299.html#msg38299
Your better off to find a distributor locally
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,14183.0.html
$15/lb is sure better than $38.50/lb
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http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php
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I am in the process of registering now on that forum so I can order this stuff. I have not read any posts though about being able to use this stuff in the hive with the bees. It appears it is really for storing the supers. Anyone have any experience of spraying it on the combs and then placing them back into the hives with the bees walking around on it??
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I am in the process of registering now on that forum so I can order this stuff. I have not read any posts though about being able to use this stuff in the hive with the bees. It appears it is really for storing the supers. Anyone have any experience of spraying it on the combs and then placing them back into the hives with the bees walking around on it??
I do, and ask M.B.
...JP
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I just sent him a PM.
But JP you actually removed the frames, then shook the bees off??? and then sprayed the frames both sides and than placed the frames back into hives and the bees just walked all around on them???
I guess my worry is it kills wax moths and some other insects. Why not bees???
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I just sent him a PM.
But JP you actually removed the frames, then shook the bees off??? and then sprayed the frames both sides and than placed the frames back into hives and the bees just walked all around on them???
I guess my worry is it kills wax moths and some other insects. Why not bees???
Because only specific organisms like waxmoth larvae are affected, bees are not affected, BT is also used to control other larvae such as those from certain caterpillars and is used in overhead spraying from planes successfully for many yrs without harm to desirable insects like butterflies.
Do a few searches, the information is there.
...JP
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OK!!
Meanwhile, I checked on this hive again today and they are doing much better. They are looking really good and I found the queen and she is laying really great now. Found many, many frames of fresh eggs and larvae. The bees are moving all around the hive now (before when the wax moths were in there, the bees were all crammed in on one side of the hive.) and I only found 1 frame with a wax moth larvae which I cut out with my hive tool.
I believe this hive simply had way to much room to protect for the population. What a lesson I have learned from this.
For now on, if I keep adding supers on top, then I must check down below and see what is happening in the supers down below. If they are empty, I must remove them or reverse them.
Thanks all. I am now waiting for that product which will be good to have on hand.
Annette
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OK!!
Meanwhile, I checked on this hive again today and they are doing much better. They are looking really good and I found the queen and she is laying really great now. Found many, many frames of fresh eggs and larvae. The bees are moving all around the hive now (before when the wax moths were in there, the bees were all crammed in on one side of the hive.) and I only found 1 frame with a wax moth larvae which I cut out with my hive tool.
I believe this hive simply had way to much room to protect for the population. What a lesson I have learned from this.
For now on, if I keep adding supers on top, then I must check down below and see what is happening in the supers down below. If they are empty, I must remove them or reverse them.
Thanks all. I am now waiting for that product which will be good to have on hand.
Annette
Annette, that's fantastic news. Usually when you find waxmoths its too late for that hive, you must have caught them before things went past the point of no return, hurray for you!!!
...JP
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I hope and pray this is true!!! I will keep checking on them every few days to see.
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If you only have a few frames of bees then you need to reduce the hive down until you only have that many in it (or only one box). if you get down to one box and they still can't cover all the frames, then remove any combs and put in empty frames for the rest so the bees don't have to guard it. Freeze them all, or treat with Bt. But you still won't get it under control until you only have the number of frames the bees can COVER.
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On Beesource, one of our members sells it cheap.
He sells Xentari, and unless he has dropped his prices a lot, you can get it cheaper elsewhere.
He use to have it advertised here too, until he got a littler over zealous
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,6102.msg38299.html#msg38299
Your better off to find a distributor locally
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,14183.0.html
$15/lb is sure better than $38.50/lb
Only if you didn't have to buy 5lbs at once. Although it would definately be worth it if a few of us went in together on it and split it, since it apparantly comes in five 1lb packages already, would be easy to do.
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since it apparantly comes in five 1lb packages already, would be easy to do.
I got mine as one 1lb. package, and I know a few others that did too. Call and find a local distributor or inquire at a local ag store and see if they can get it. You can definitely get one 1lb package. Worst case you can mail order from a reputable seller like here -> http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/xentari-bt-p-31.html
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If you only have a few frames of bees then you need to reduce the hive down until you only have that many in it (or only one box). if you get down to one box and they still can't cover all the frames, then remove any combs and put in empty frames for the rest so the bees don't have to guard it. Freeze them all, or treat with Bt. But you still won't get it under control until you only have the number of frames the bees can COVER.
I don't think enough can be said about what Michael is saying. I know that bees must be able to cover many frames in their colonies to look after things. I have made these mistakes. Important to not have a colony too filled with frames and areas where the bees cannot look after. Follow his advice, it is good advice. Have a most beautiful, wonderful day, this is the life to live. Cindi
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Today I finally got caught up with my posts here and I believe that I will need to bring this hive down again to perhaps 2 medium supers until the wax moths are under control.
I went up to see how they were doing today and found a few wax moth larvae on the frames on the edges. I cut them out with my hive tool, but I can see that this will be an ongoing problem for a while.
I tried to register on Beesource to order that stuff, but having difficulty getting onto this forum. I used to be able to get on it, but not now. I do not remember my password or anything. I tried to re register, but keep getting e mails telling me to go to a certain link to register and when I get there, it starts all over again asking me the same questions. I will have to try again and see what I am doing wrong. I need to order this Bt stuff and spray it on the frames or I may continue to have trouble.
Annette
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Annette,
Call this number, 800-6-VALENT (682-5368) or go to the website http://www.valent.com/distributors/WTB.asp?industry=2
There is a good chance you can get it locally.
BTW, keep it in a mouse proof container. I had mice chew right thru the foil bag to eat it. :-x
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Annette,
Call this number, 800-6-VALENT (682-5368) or go to the website http://www.valent.com/distributors/WTB.asp?industry=2
There is a good chance you can get it locally.
BTW, keep it in a mouse proof container. I had mice chew right thru the foil bag to eat it. :-x
I called them and they asked me to leave a message which I did, but they never returned my call. I got the phone number off that web site.
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OK, just got onto the beesource forum and I am on my way to purchasing the powder.
Thanks for the help
Annette
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since it apparantly comes in five 1lb packages already, would be easy to do.
I got mine as one 1lb. package, and I know a few others that did too. Call and find a local distributor or inquire at a local ag store and see if they can get it. You can definitely get one 1lb package. Worst case you can mail order from a reputable seller like here -> http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/xentari-bt-p-31.html
Ah, ok, good to know.
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The guy from beesource already mailed me out the stuff and hopefully I will receive it soon. I squeezed them down to 2 mediums supers today and hopefully that will help. They really do have a good population and It would be hard to bring them down anymore.
I have been going in every few days and cutting out any infestations I find. They are also patrolling and pulling them out as well.
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If your using SBB, you might want to check under them. This becomes a safe breeding haven for wax moths with all the food they need falling from the sky. They are poised to expand into the hive whenever there is an opportunity. Another negative of SBBs.
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I have to make a comment that is slightly off topic, but I feel compelled to speak. I was using screened bottom boards, but went back to solid bottomboards because I use oxalic acid vapouring for mite kill. I have never looked back. One nuc that I had made I had to use a screened bottomboard on because I had run out of solid ones.
When I was working the hives last week, I found several earwigs on the top of the inner cover on all of them. I squish them, there was a very minimal amount. There was no earwigs inside these 9 colonies. The nuc, which is now a big, strong colony, which had the screened bottomboard on was another story!!! It was disgusting.
The outside comb was inhabited by hundreds of earwigs. Dreadful and I had a field day shaking these little pukes out all over the grass. Another good reason to also keep the grass short around the colonies. I killed most of the earwigs. Not a doubt in my mind that the screened bottomboard was the culprit for the infestation of ear wigs that the colony obviously had not noticed or with simply co-habiting with. Which, by the way, strikes me as rather odd. I thought for sure that they would have removed these nasty little critters.
Anyways, to make this long story short (oh dear, I do so ramble, now don't I?), this colony now has a solid bottomboard. I will not use screened bottomboards ever again, this was a testament as to my preference. Period.
Now I am hearing that wax moths can hide under the screened bottomboards. Even more testament of not using them. To each their own.
My Husband spent long hours converting all my bottomboards to screen bottomboards last year. He just shakes his head when I asked him now, when he can find this time, to re-convert them to solid. He has done this to a few and has done a marvelous work and a wonder. My hat off to this fine man. Have the most wonderful day, love our life, live it to the fullest that you can. Cindi
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If your using SBB, you might want to check under them. This becomes a safe breeding haven for wax moths with all the food they need falling from the sky. They are poised to expand into the hive whenever there is an opportunity. Another negative of SBBs.
OK I will take the hive apart and check under the SBB and see what is going on there, as well. I will try anything at this point.
I understand your feelings Cindi, but right now, I really love the SBB. This is the first time in 3 years that I have had any trouble with the wax moths. I feel good about letting the mites fall down naturally through the SBB. To each his own.
Annette
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With Annette's hive stands, there's not a confined space under the hives in which the wax moths could breed though, it's just open air under there.
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I have a pretty even mix of both solid (converted to feeders) and SBB. I like them both. The solid I like because I'm too cheap to buy feeders :) and the SBB I like because of the ventilation and the ability to monitor mites. Not to mention that they stay dry no matter how much it rains or how much the stand settles. I only have the trays in in winter and wax moths have never been a problem. In a feral hive the whole bottom of the hive is always full of detritus which is always full of wax moth larvae. It doesn't cause a problem.
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I wasn't trying to say it caused the problem. I have had wax moths being raised under the SBB and others have mentioned it as well. It did not cause me a problem because the hives where strong and kept them from advancing. I suggested it in this case since the hive is already weak and has been infested, if she is continuously inspecting and cutting out wax worms, I think it would only be prudent to check under the SBB as well.
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The thing you may not understand about her setup though, is that unless she has the sticky board in, there's nothing under the screen for about a foot down to the ground, and it's open on all sides. I only know this because of her hive stand design... which I don't believe allows for any safe haven for wax moths (unless it's that small groove where the sticky board would slide in on... or unless the sticky board was left in).
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The thing you may not understand about her setup though, is that unless she has the sticky board in, there's nothing under the screen for about a foot down to the ground, and it's open on all sides. I only know this because of her hive stand design... which I don't believe allows for any safe haven for wax moths (unless it's that small groove where the sticky board would slide in on... or unless the sticky board was left in).
No, the thing is YOU don't understand. Don't take this as harsh or demeaning, but this is yet another discussion that shows you have never owned bees. Wax worms build webs and can actually bore through wood. Although they prefer confined spaces, mainly because of light, they can and will take up residence out of the bees reach on the bottom side of a screened bottom board if the conditions are right. Now I'm not saying it happens a lot, but it does happen. I have had them build cocoons right in the corner where the mesh and wood meet. Since Annette seems to be having a continuous battle with them, I just thought it would be worth checking, that's all. If they aren't there then great.
This is the danger when someone well read tries to give advice to others when they have no practical experience. There is a big difference between book smart and real life experience.
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Hang in there Annette!
You'll see a lite at the end of the tunnel soon! Then you can show us what works if we have the moth problem later!
Does anybody have a picture of a wax moth to put here by any chance?
Well, I guess i could google it.
your friend,
john
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It comes down to hive strength and hygenic behavior of said bees.
I'm using bottomless hives and top entrances without screens but do use mite boards to reduce the entrance or monitor mite load. I have not experienced any wax moth, earwig, ant, SHB, or othe rinvasion pests. The bees festoon below the hive from the slats of the slatted rack on real hot days.
BTW, I have yet to find a single mite. I didn't have any before the prolonged winter starvatiion and certainly don't have any now.
One thing I've learned is that you can prove and disproved something scientifically depending on how you access the data, so I take most single season studies with a minute grain of salt. A multi-seasonal study, using the exact criteria each season, would be more believeable but those types of studies usually don't get funded because the results take too long. The shorter the test period, the more suspect the results.
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Thank you all for the concerns. I will take all this advice to heart. Will check in a few days under the SBB to see if anything is there. Yes there are grooves where the tray slides in and I noticed that I had trouble getting that tray in a few days ago when I wanted to do a mite count. Perhaps there is something there. Doesn't hurt to look.
I appreciate all the help here from everyone.
Take care
Annette
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Actually another wonderful thing about a SBB is you can put a tray in and come back in a couple of days and tell so much about what is going on. If there are wax moths there will be those little square ended wax moth feces pellets on the tray. If they are eating, you'll have those rough pieces of wax they chew off. If they are building comb you'll find those nice flakes of new wax on the bottom. If there are Varroa you'll find some of them. A nice window into what is happening.
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>Actually another wonderful thing about a SBB is you can put a tray in and come back in a couple of days and tell so much about what is going on.
This really works---I use mine to monitor my hives activities and not just the mite.
Corinne
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This thread has become very interesting. I have comments to make about the screened/solid bottomboards, again. As mentioned, I am using the solid bottomboards, for reasons I won't mention again. I am fortunate that I live in a climate that does not have those extremely high temperatures, as so many of my forum friends have. Our temperature in summer rarely will get over 27 C (80F), we average moreso around 25 C (27). I have colonies that are all very, very strong, and I have not seen any bearding, due to heat related issues. Once I had festoons hanging around the upper entrance, I posted a picture of this. THis was a direct result of a colony that was proceeding with swarming, which I intervened with a cut down split, (I had to split the cut down split a couple of weeks ago, gangbuster colony).
With my solid bottomboards I can also monitor mites using a sticky board. I have a black mesh that goes over the sticky board and I simply insert it in the front of the colony and push it into the hive. Works well.
The wax moth.....back to what the thread was originally about. Yes....when I got that used equipment there was a massive wax moth issue. All the frames were frozen, the boxes scraped and sprayed with a weak bleach solution. I saw wax moth larvae in those boxes, inner covers and lids in the weirdest places and they can really hide very well. But I believe I got them all.
About the boring into the wood. Yes, they can do that too, I witnessed that. Holes straight into the wood and reasonably deep "tunnel" shaped borings. I was so intrigued by this, I took a picture.
Also, just for interest sake, I am putting a picture of some of the inner covers. They are made from what it looks like to me as pieces of wood, not the typical piece of plywood, interesting to say the least. Beautiful, most wonderful day, love our lives, so worthy to live. Cindi
The inside of this box was particularly bored out with the worm
(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5677/waxmothtunnelskf8.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
The inner cover, must old as time itself
(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/648/innercoveroldstyleqg4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
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Also, just for interest sake, I am putting a picture of some of the inner covers. They are made from what it looks like to me as pieces of wood, not the typical piece of plywood, interesting to say the least.
(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/648/innercoveroldstyleqg4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Hey, they look like some of my covers :-P Some of them are probably 40+ years old and haven't been painted in 25yrs. Who said metal tops won't last :shock:
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Rob, yep, yep, so they are old like yours. I guess that was the method that the covers were made 'in those good ol' days". These are not painted, the metal is still 100% good. I wonder why people paint inner covers, that doesn't make any sense to me, the metal protects the wood, hmmm, strange things done in the midnight sun. Beautiful and most wonderful of these days, Cindi
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What's your humidity like up there?
Down here it's rare that we drop below 95% humidity in the summer... and covering unprotected wood with metal is a great way to have the wood fall apart in your hands after just a few years. Guess it goes back to the whole, what works for one beek doesn't work for another thing...
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Does anybody have a picture of a wax moth to put here by any chance?
I don't have any pictures of the moth, but here is one of the worms.....
(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/photos/d/873-2/IMG_1478_1_.jpg)
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Here's a pic of the moths. It is NOT my pic... I just googled it.
(http://www.kanawhavalleybeekeepers.com/images/waxmot4.jpg)
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That's a good picture, especially since it shows the feces (black spots). it is peculiar because they don't have the common rounded shape, but have distinct ridges down them. You can often spot a small area of them on the SBB insert long before you notice any damage in the hive. A small quantity is nothing to be alarmed by in a strong hive, as the bees will keep them in check. But in a weak hive it is a good heads up.
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So lets say you find some from a carni hive at the height of their colony size that year, would you be at all concerned about them due to knowing that even though the colony is strong now, their numbers will soon decrease, and will eventually decrease down to a small cluster? Or is the fact that the hive is otherwise healthy, (and assuming that you manage the space appropriately), enough to ensure the moths won't become a problem?
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There are two genera (or maybe more) in the classification of the wax moth, AKA, the bee moth. The Lesser Wax Moth is smaller and is the subfamily of the Greater Wax Moth. My encounter with Wax Moth here has been very obviously, the Lesser Wax Moth. It would appear that the Greater Wax Moth is about 1 inch, compared to I would say 1/2 inch in size. I googled some information if anyone would like to go to these sites. Some interesting stuff. This is a nasty critter, not a doubt in my mind, something that I surely hope that you all can keep under control, should the bees not. Stored equipment is particularly prone to infestation. The infestation that I saw when I got the used equipment from my bee pal's shed surely made my head swim. Have a wonderful day, enjoy it to its fullest. Cindi
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/greater_wax_moth.aspx
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/lesser_wax_moth.aspx
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There are some great videos on that site Cindi.
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So lets say you find some from a carni hive at the height of their colony size that year, would you be at all concerned about them due to knowing that even though the colony is strong now, their numbers will soon decrease, and will eventually decrease down to a small cluster? Or is the fact that the hive is otherwise healthy, (and assuming that you manage the space appropriately), enough to ensure the moths won't become a problem?
By the time the bees reduce their numbers, it is too cold for wax moth.