I was doing a mite count today when I came across 2 grubs stuck to the sticky board. It was a tannish color with a darker head. I also noticed in one area on the stickyboard, that had a pile of debris, like chewed up comb. Mixed with that was some small dark poop. Do I have wax moths? Should I go in and remove them? If so, how?
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"To bee or not to bee, that is the question"
I see one every now and again when checking for mites. These are probably the rare few that fall through the SBB before the bees got to them to haul them out. I'd say if the hive is strong, the bees will keep them cleaned out. If the hive is weak to the point where they can't keep up with the wax moths than you probably won't be able to either and they will take over if you don't do something like combine them with a stronger hive or add more brood and bees from another hive. That is short term. Long term you'd have to address why they became weak to begin with.
If you can not keep the tray clean there will be moth larva growing on them, usually near the track along the edge. This time of year I don't keep my trays in and the debris falls through.
If your hive is strong there are no problems with wax moths.
All hives have some wax moth larvae somwhere, on the bottom board, in the debris. It's normal. A lot of them in the combs is not normal.
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