Wax Moths, Ants...Am I Defeated?

[DeederV]

I need some advice. I'm still learning and didn't realize several months ago that my hive had become queenless while I was away on vacation. I requeened and they seemed to accept her, but she didn't seem to be laying very much. Then about a week ago I realized they had been invaded by wax moths. Clearly the hive became weak from my failure to recognize the queen loss and get her replaced quickly. I removed the frames that were clearly 100% destroyed and cleaned out the others and the hive walls as best I could, but today I started finding dead bees on the landing area. When I opened the hive there were worms and stringy stuff everywhere. To top it off, there are ants by the zillions.

It's my only hive and I'm hoping someone can advise me - how should I proceed? Is there ever a time when it's appropriate to purposefully shut down a hive (and if so, how does one do that)? In other words, I am being cruel by letting this continue? Should I leave them alone entirely, or get out there daily and try to scoop out the worms? Use mothballs? Right now there are two full-size supers and one honey super - what if I condensed it to just one so they can better manage the space?

I feel postively sick about this but I want to make sure that I learn from it. Thanks for any guidance.

[BjornBee]

Take the hive about 100 feet from the hive location. Put a one box hive at the original hive location. Shake the bees frame by frame away from the hive and let them fly back to the "new" hive. Look for the queen as you pull each frame. If you find her, place her in the new hive.

Take any good frames of comb and honey frames and place them in a freezer. You can add threm back to the hive as they build up. (Unfrozen of course)

Also, take some steps to deal with the ants, so they are not a continual problem.

Feed the new colony.

I would try to save the colony. I never give up. Giving up is for losers. We have too many of them in our society as it is. Be strong. Don't cut and run. You can do it!

I sometimes combine hives, which is part of beekeeping, but you dont have that choice. Next year get a second hive. It helps with the many problems you will encounter in beekeeping. It gives you more choices and flexibility.

Good luck.

[Craig W.]

"cut and run".... now where have I heard those words before?

[db_land]

DeederV, follow the great advice from BjornBee plus take great pleasure in utterly destroying the webbing, worms and cacoons. Also, I would reduce the area that the bees have to patrol using follower-boards (movable partitions to replace the outside frames). I would reduce it so that evey comb has bees on it. The mild climate year round in LA makes this a winnable situation as long as you have a few hundred bees and a good queen. Good luck.

:cool:

[DeederV]

Thank you so much - I will follow these directions carefully. I love my girls and will do whatever I need to. Thanks!

[DeederV]

One last question - if I do not find the queen, should I order another?

[jamiev]

This thread gives me confidence as I think I have wax moths in one of my 3 hives I will NEVER cut and run.

[AstroBee]

If you don't have a couple of nucs around, now is probably a good time to get some. They are great for times like these when you need to significantly reduce real estate. The follower-board suggestion is good, but nucs are more versatile.

[iddee]

Ditto Bjorn

If you don't find the queen, look for a pile of bees on the ground or a nearby bush. She will be in the group.