Looks like I have finally experienced Wax Moth.

[RHBee]

I've noticed an increase in activity around one of my colonies. I hadn't noticed any fighting so I ruled out robbing. Well I was wrong, these poor things have about been robbed out. On top of that the bottom medium box is riddled with wax moth.
Tonight I plan to go in after dark and try to salvage what's left.

The only question I have is do the robbing bees go back to their hives at night.

 I ask because last night I was going to simply expose these supers to open air and let them get cleaned out today. But when I opened the lid at about 10pm there were bees everywhere. Unsure weather or not these were the remains of this colony or robbers caught by the darkness.

[BeeMaster2]

You are probably looking at the stragglers remaining from that hive. Bees do not give up easily even when all hope is lost.
Take the hive apart and they will move into one of your other hives.
Jim

[RHBee]

Thanks Jim.  I'll do a through evaluation tonight. Could be that the queen is still alive. I'll let you know how it goes.

[BeeMaster2]

By to tonight, you do mean well before dark?
I try to be out of my hives at least an hour before dark.
Jim

[capt44]

Usually a hive with wax moths was caused by another problem-- a weak hive.

[RHBee]

By to tonight, you do mean well before dark?
I try to be out of my hives at least an hour before dark.
Jim

Nope. I mean night. Like 10pm night. What I saw looks like an emergency situation to me.  I'm working 12hr shifts with a 45min commute. I'll fix this tonight.

[RHBee]

Usually a hive with wax moths was caused by another problem-- a weak hive.

They had 3 mediums of bees. Two with brood, one with mostly capped honey. A larger hive started robbing then I think the wax moth joined in. Not real sure.
These were the least aggressive bees I had.

[10framer]

i'm with the captain on this one.  look a little deeper for other problems.

[Brian D. Bray]

Usually a hive with wax moths was caused by another problem-- a weak hive.

Or leaving the pollen patties on too long, those are always good for drawing ants, small hive beetle, and wax moth to a hive.  Leaving them on to long is like using herring to catch Salmon, darn good odds.

[sc-bee]

So you didn't get hooked up with the Xentari  :(

[RHBee]

So you didn't get hooked up with the Xentari  :(

No not yet been working. This is my first, hopefully my last. I just haven't ordered the BT yet.
Just finished fixing what I could. Not much left. Didn't see a queen. Wouldn't be easy to see anyway by flashlight. New SSB, one medium new, new inner cover. They're sitting on drawn comb, maybe enough food for a couple of days. Only 3 to 4 hundred bees left. Come Saturday I'm going to check one more time for a queen. If none will combine with another colony.
Man, I've seen pictures but reality is pretty graphic. What a mess. Every bit as destructive as SHB.

[sc-bee]

So you didn't get hooked up with the Xentari  :(

No not yet been working. This is my first, hopefully my last. I just haven't ordered the BT yet.
Just finished fixing what I could. Not much left. Didn't see a queen. Wouldn't be easy to see anyway by flashlight. New SSB, one medium new, new inner cover. They're sitting on drawn comb, maybe enough food for a couple of days. Only 3 to 4 hundred bees left. Come Saturday I'm going to check one more time for a queen. If none will combine with another colony.
Man, I've seen pictures but reality is pretty graphic. What a mess. Every bit as destructive as SHB.

Not as messy and putrid as the shb but I agree more destructive as they eat away at your wooden ware :(

[10framer]

Usually a hive with wax moths was caused by another problem-- a weak hive.

Or leaving the pollen patties on too long, those are always good for drawing ants, small hive beetle, and wax moth to a hive.  Leaving them on to long is like using herring to catch Salmon, darn good odds.

ray, did you use any pollen supplements?  you shouldn't have to i have 2 to 3 deep frames full of pollen in almost every hive right now and most of it was collected in the last 2 or 3 weeks.  i'm actually concerned about being pollen bound pretty soon if it keeps up.

[RHBee]

ray, did you use any pollen supplements?  you shouldn't have to i have 2 to 3 deep frames full of pollen in almost every hive right now and most of it was collected in the last 2 or 3 weeks.  i'm actually concerned about being pollen bound pretty soon if it keeps up.

Nope, I don't use them.. I found out about the relationship between patties and SHB last year. The Charleston area is SHB ground zero. I still have about 10lbs of patties in the freezer. I may try them again in the spring. IDK. I'm pretty sure that this hive got weakened one way or another.

[RHBee]

Follow Up Report -- I went through the remaining bees with a fine tooth comb yesterday. I found no queen. I used what comb that I was able to salvage and combined them with another colony. I used no paper,  I simply placed the box on the other colony and put on the cover. I saw no fighting it's like both colonies were happy for the help..
Thanks for the replies and help. You all help with the decision making process. The experience, knowledge and generosity of the members of this forum has been my greatest asset.

[10framer]

i've never used any kind of pollen patties.  i may trap some pollen and feed it back in january to see if it fires up brood rearing but the time for doing that is getting short already.

[sc-bee]

We usually have red maple coming in by Jan. Not much need to feed pollen.

[BeeMaster2]

Congratulations RHbee, You are now a Field Bee. :-D
Jim

[RHBee]

Congratulations RHbee, You are now a Field Bee. :-D
Jim

Thanks Jim, Still don't mean I know anything. I hope with a few more years under my belt beekeeping and learning from the folks on this forum I'll be able to help others to be able to enjoy this passion we all share.