As many of you know, I had one hive going into Winter and it didn't make it. I have cleaned all frames of burr comb, weighed all frames and cleaned all hive bodies and stuff - sealing the box for a short while with two outer covers, one on top and one on bottom.
My other hive, which absconded in September showed no signs of wax moth THEN (I really looked everywhere in the hive and I made the error of leaving the hive open HOPING a swarm might move in (there was some stores left after all). Well, today I opened that hive up for the first time and was shocked at the amount of wax moth larva, inch thick like a blanket filling the inner cover and almost 2 inches of COMPOST at the bottom of the hive - wow! What destruction, all comb was gone off the plastic foundation.
QUESTION: does anyone use an old hive with worn frames and old foundation with bits of honey or whatever as a SACRIFICIAL HIVE to lure wax moth from other hives in your yard or do you think this is crazy?
I can see both sides of this issue and I seem to lean toward the sacrificial IF wax-moth is an issue - at least they have a place to easily habitat where they aren't hurting anything and can be removed and controlled as needed.
Any ideas - thanks.