wax moth

[clover]

Clover here again. I'm so sorry I sent the wild hive message so many times. I'm not quite sure how that happened, but I do apologize.

In preparations for the wild catch, today I went to move some bees I had split from my original colony, (bees who had been doing really well...) out of the nuk and into a deep box. What I found was appalling! A very weak hive, with wax moth having taken over it. There were still quite a few bees, but no queen that I could see. They just weren't strong enough in numbers to fight off the moths. Sigh...

SO...rather then doing what I's originally planned, I did move them into the new deep box, with three frames of brood, food and q cells from my original hive, which was bursting with queen cells, today when I checked it.

ALSO....I had been wondering why so many of the hive#1 girls were hanging outside around the front porch of their house...like LOADS of them. I thought, blondely, maybe the heat? But wait! There's more...When I investigated, I realized that they were actually and fastidiously cleaning the entrance by dining...breakfast, lunch and dinner on wax moth pupae. This group IS strong enough to fend off the enemy, protect the queen, (whom I spotted,) and do the usual work at hand also. No trace of the evil enemy within the boxes, thank God!

Now...all that said to ask: Do I just let them keep eating wax moths? Or what should l I really do about this? And why did the dastardly creatures come to attack MY girls, and how to get rid of them? I took the nuk box and pressure washed it, and, for lack of knowing what better to do, for a start, I put alcohol on any dubious places. Not sure if I should have done that. But the box appears to be clean now. I burned all the crap that was in the frames and honey comb...you know, wax moth stuff. And I let the pressure washed junk go down the ditch. Think they're dead for sure? I really blasted them, after submerging them in water for 1/2 hour.

Please tell me what to do, now that I have more pressing matters than catching a wild hive in a mango tree. Moral of the story: Check your bees frequently!

Thanks in advance.

Clover in the Caribbean

[tecumseh]

the clover of the crib writes:
Now...all that said to ask: Do I just let them keep eating wax moths? Or what should l I really do about this? And why did the dastardly creatures come to attack MY girls, and how to get rid of them? I took the nuk box and pressure washed it, and, for lack of knowing what better to do, for a start, I put alcohol on any dubious places. Not sure if I should have done that. But the box appears to be clean now. I burned all the crap that was in the frames and honey comb...you know, wax moth stuff. And I let the pressure washed junk go down the ditch. Think they're dead for sure? I really blasted them, after submerging them in water for 1/2 hour.

tecumseh: the moths are a constant problem anywhere the temperature does not reach freezing. you will just have to come to the understanding that the moths are there and constantly work to limit their mischef. they will present little problem for vigorous hives (i have some very strong hives here that pollen bound the bottom box and these can present exactly the same problem as a weak hive) but will be a constant problem for nuc and weak hives.

washing will not reduce or eliminate the problems of the eggs left by the moths. if the damage is minor a very strong hive will usually clean up the mess. freezing frames for 24 hours (kills the eggs) is the easiest (for me) to limit this problem. I then fairly quickly recycle these to strong hives for a final cleaning.

[clover]

Cool, Panther of the Night. I got it and THANK you! So....now I guess I have these power blasted moth eggs lying in the ditch along the driveway, waiting to hatch out? Hmmm...Nothing I can do about them, I guess? Gee....Who has room in the freezer for frames?????(I have a family, ;-) )

Comforted to know at least that these things happen and that a strong hive will deal with em. Think I did the right thing by putting some brood, food and q cell frames in the weak hive? How best to de-moth-worm the actual vacated nuc..the wooden box?

Thanks again,

Clover (which actually is my real name...)

[NorthGabee]

I was on a cruise down that way a couple of years ago. Looked like the volcano was about to erupt. Hope your on the good side of the island.:)
Good luck with your bees...........

[tecumseh]

clover writes:
How best to de-moth-worm the actual vacated nuc..the wooden box?

tecumseh: I usually use my hive tool to scrape the cacoons (the burn well in the smoker) and hit the corners with the flame of a plumber (butane) torch.

you did no harm with the power washer and the bugs on the ground will quite well handle what you washed away.

if you keep boosting the nucs with a frame of soon to emerge brood from time to time (maybe one good frame every 10 days or so) and feed (I am not certain if you nectar flow comes and goes or is steady... if steady you likely don't even need to feed) these would be the best insurance againist additional problems.

I keep a freezer in my honey house in which I also store pollen, freeze frames of comb honey (which I sell) and for freezing moth effected frames. all these thing are quite messy and I don't think mizz tecumseh would look very favorable upon me even keeping the freezer in the house.

ps... my name is not actually tecumseh but I have been described as a bit cat like. and clover is a most excellent name for a beekeeper.

[clover]

Well, Tecumseh,

You always come up with the best info. Thanks so much for taking the time. I'm new (obviously, cuz I ask dumb questions!) at this bee keeping. But I have to say it has really grown on me in a short span of time. I have been bitten by the bug, so to speak...;-) The help of all of you guys has helped enormously to build my confidence, so thank you all for your great questions, answers and input. I read lots of threads, when I get time, in order to educate meself ;-)

I do wonder why the rescued hive (from the wax moths) is so alarmingly quiet though, sound-wise. No buzzing. They are in there and busy. But very quiet. Why do you think? Think I did something wrong? I sure hope not!

Re Africanised bees, no ours aren't. They are of the same original U.K. stock that was brought over here 400 years ago with the plantation folks. And we don't have veroa (sp?) either which is a huge blessing. I'll try to remember to get a pic of the hive in the mango tree. By Golly, I'm going to up and try the trap out!

Thanks again to all for such a fab group of beekeepers!

CLOVER

Clover Lea
Montserrat, British West Indies
My Website: http://cloversongs.com
Noah's Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/8852
Price Of Paradise: http://priceofparadise.com
Gingerbread Hill Guest House: http://volcano-island.com

[mike haney]

"I do wonder why the rescued hive (from the wax moths) is so alarmingly quiet though, sound-wise. No buzzing" they are "queenright" and not alarmed because you made all the right moves when you inspected them. put your suit and veil on and bang the side with a stick. they'll buzz right up!

[clover]

You're right. I did NOT have my suit or gloves on and I did NOT have a smoker. You're so smart, Mike! How did you know??????

[tecumseh]

clover writes:
cuz I ask dumb questions!

tecumseh suggest: the only dumb questions are... the ones you should have asked but didn't.

and yes those stinging insects do kind of grow on ya' pretty quick.

good luck...

[mike haney]

You're right. I did NOT have my suit or gloves on and I did NOT have a smoker. You're so smart, Mike! How did you know??????

nothing will make you quite as carefull as knowing you are unprotected in a risky spot. please reconsider your inspection stategy before you have a very bad experience. good luck,mike