What kind of combs Wax Moth atract to?

[rand]

Hi, Maybe i should know this allready after 3 years of beekeeping but i don't


After my last extraction this season i let the bees rob all the honey left in the supers
and i took them dry from the field to store them to the next season.

I noticed that wax moth atracted to dark combs and i didn't see
this nasty butterfly on white-yellow combs at all.

1. Does it allways like this and wax moth never live and eat in white-yellowte combs?

2. What Wax moth interest in dark combs (pollen, propolis,,,,) ?

3. How much time should i leave the combs in -5 celcius degrees freezer
so the wax moth eggs will be dead?

Thanks alot.
Randi

[Shazam]

I think they like the protein from the left behind molt, thus their going into the brood frames.

[sqkcrk]

The kinds w/ pollen in them.

[Joseph Clemens]

Around here they eat any comb with beeswax in it. White/yellow, dark, pollen, brood, honey, etc.

[KQ6AR]

A lot of people say their honey super frames don't get bothered by the moths. Where I live they will breed in supers that where only used for honey.

[ChickenChaser]

3. How much time should i leave the combs in -5 celcius degrees freezer
so the wax moth eggs will be dead?

Thanks alot.
Randi

I try to keep them in freezer at least 48 hours.

[Tim Bates]

I try to keep them in freezer at least 48 hours.

Do you normally scrape the frames to get the webs out or just let the bees clean them?

[rand]

Thanks for the replies.
I am a little confused now, as i understood from the answers in some areas the wax moth eat brood frame,
in others just what was honey frames and there are situations that the wax moth eat every kind of frame.

I have allot of wax moth around and hot climate so its hard to handle.
I am freezing the frames for 24 hours, but noticed that is not enough. i will
try 48 hours as ChickenChaser offer.

Thanks alot,
Randi

[sqkcrk]

How do you know you have a lot of wax moth around? Are they eating up your stored honey comb? I don't think freezing combs will keep wax moth from messing them up afterwards. What is attractive to them will still be there.

What about storing them w/ moth crystals on them? That usually keeps them away. I also know people who stand their deeps on end on pallets open to the air and the light. Might not be very easy to do w/ shallows or mediums, but you could figure out a way, I imagine.

[ChickenChaser]

Do you normally scrape the frames to get the webs out or just let the bees clean them?

I use plastic foundation so if it is a small area, I scratch out the "track". Large areas I have scraped down, but most cases I just replace the entire frame.

[ChickenChaser]

I don't think freezing combs will keep wax moth from messing them up afterwards. What is attractive to them will still be there.

I agree with Mark - freezing combs before storing works. However, unless you keep them in the freezer, other measures will be needed to prevent re-infestation.