Need help with pest ID

[hzxlvf]

Hi all, First year beek here. I pulled my catch board below my SBB and found two "things" I wanted to ID. The first

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/MyLarva

I thought might be a wax moth larva.

The other

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/MyBeetle

Possibly a SHB.

I did a google image search for wax moth and found pictures like this.

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/Waxmoth

I thought Yep wax moth.

Then I did a search for SHB and found pictures like this.

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/SHB

I thought that doesn't really look like my beetle.

Then I found pictures like this identified as SHB larva

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/SHBlarva

I thought that looks like my larva too. Now I'm not sure what to think. I haven't looked in the hive for a week or so because it has been so wet and cool, so I'm not sure if there are signs of either inside. Any opinions?

[ September 28, 2006, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: hzxlvf ]

[PA Pete]

Larva looks to me like a wax moth larva. Beetle doesn't look like a SHB to me, but hard to tell as I can't see the things I normally look for (head and "shoulders" shape, antennae). But the markings on the beetle shell don't look like SHB to me.

[TwT]

Im with Pete, that doesn't look like a SHB, that bettle has marking on its back and a SHB doesn't. the larva looks like wax moth larva..

[Maine_Beekeeper]

hello hzxlvf-
I had a similar "thing" in my hive and did exactly what you did (do a search on "mystery worm" to find the thread) - googled and got confused by the photos, people identified it as possible wax moth larvae.
I found several more over then next week or so as well. All on the sticky board under the SBB.
I ran through the one hive that I found them in from top to bottom and found nothing at all in the combs or frames, nothing on the boxes, nothing on top of the screen.
I think it is wax moth larvae and the wax moths are attracted to the debris on the sticky board.
Don't panic yet, if your hive is strong hopefully they'll take care of it.

[naturebee]

--Hi all, First year beek here. I pulled my catch board below my SBB and found two "things" I wanted to ID. The first

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/MyLarva

Looks like a dime!
I like how you placed the waxmoth larva there for scale.

http://picasaweb.google.com/moredogs/MyBeetle

Looks like a grain beetle often found in the debris at the bottom of a hive or in comb that is stored out doors.

BUT I would NOT count out hive beetle just yet, look above and below the inner cover for HB and in the debris at the bottom, they will scamper away really fast.

Here’s some stuff on HB
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/diseases%20of%20the%20honeybee

[GaSteve]

Wax moth larva tend to be grey whereas SHB larva are smaller and white. SHB larva have little "spikes" on their backs. Also, I believe wax moth larva have leg pairs down the whole length of their body. SHB larva only have 3 pairs of legs up near the head.

[hzxlvf]

Thanks guys, Got a look in the hive yesterday and didn't see any signs of pests. Three day SBB mite count was 36 so I think I'm in good shape as far as pest control so far. Still a little light on food, started feeding.

[Doctus Apis]

It looks like a common meal worm to me. Good for fishing and feeding certain tropical aquarium fish and small reptiles. They are a nuisance in chicken houses as they eat up the covering to the house insulation. Go to any unused chicken house and dig 2-3" in the scratch covering the floor, you should find plenty to compare your photo to. :cool:

Of course, I do not claim to be an Entomologist and may be way off base with my immature insect identification. (If only my text books weren't packed away!!) :mad: