Help Identifying A Pest By Its Disturbance

Bee_Mojo · 2025-09-17T15:28:07-0400

I'd appreciate help with identifying the culprit of this disturbance in the attic of my TBH. The wax/propolis between the bars is being dug out and tiny black droppings (~0.05" in length) are being left behind. However, no pests are visible from this viewpoint.

I first noticed this disturbance six days ago in these same two locations. At that time, I used a stiff toothbrush to brush away the loose wax/propolis/droppings from in between the bars. This picture was taken today, six days later.

ETA: Scale is inches.

Thanks so much!

Snarge · 2025-09-17T17:10:23-0400

Welcome to Beesource!

It’s most likely Wax Moth frass from tunneling larvae which consume wax, pollen and other hive goodies. They produce silk webbing, too. You’ll see straight lines in the cell cappings which indicate their tracks.

Bee_Mojo · 2025-09-17T21:36:40-0400

Thank you for your reply, Helen -- and for the warm welcome!

Oh, drat.. I was really hoping that this isn't due to wax moths. Fortunately, there aren't any webs, so it's early.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

Ryan Williamson · 2025-09-17T22:07:27-0400

It's likely nothing to worry about. They are in every hive and do a good job cleaning house in areas the bees can't control

A Novice · 2025-09-17T23:40:36-0400

It looks like your hive does not allow the bees to patrol the space above the frames.

So you would expect pests to congregate there.

As long as there is no food for them, it shouldn't matter much.

I suppose the moths lay their eggs on the seams between the frames or top bars, and the larvae work their way down.

Bee_Mojo · 2025-09-23T16:09:56-0400

Thank you, A Novice. Good points.

Although my bees can patrol the space in the attic, they do not. My previous colonies had patrolled the attic area.. every colony is different!

I'll be checking that area more often.

David Lewis · 2025-09-20T19:53:43-0400

I'm not a TBH keeper. I'm a LLH keeper. I haven't seen or noticed this on my inner cover boards. Noticing the pictures you included I'd recommend using your hive tool to scrape the sides of the TBs to remove any buildup so they're tight when pushed together to reduce the excrement. My bees propolis the h out of my inner cover boards and I have to scrape them all the time.

Bee_Mojo · 2025-09-23T16:25:43-0400

Thank you, David. Good point to scrape the Bars better; I'd previously thought that the bees were doing a good job of sealing up the small gaps between the bars, when actually the wax/propolis seal had become food for the wax moth larva. The wax/propolis seals were soft enough to just press together when putting the Bars back after inspections, but I'll be scraping them going forward.

sylvia · 2025-09-20T20:08:24-0400

It's wax moth poop. It's no big deal, really.

Sylvia

Snarge · 2025-09-23T17:05:47-0400

Having been inside a TBH yesterday, it’s tricky for the bees to protect above the bars. You can’t get them tight enough to prevent Wax Moth from squeezing through the tiny gaps. It’ll always leave this area - above the bars - unprotected and vulnerable. It’s a TBH’s Achille’s heel.

As long as the colony can keep them corralled at the periphery of the broodnest, it’s really no big deal. They’ll live alongside each other without any major problems. Just don’t give the bees excess comb to patrol.

In this particular Top Bar Hive, Wax Moth had burrowed into the insulation above and had also plastered cocoons on both Divider Boards, at each end. There was significant damage to the wood in places. We removed 3 Bars of excess/unnecessary comb which will be frozen for 48 hours and then sprayed with Bta (XenTari).

Snarge · 2025-09-23T19:36:18-0400

Snarge said:
Having been inside a TBH yesterday

I should add I wasn’t actually inside one. Although we eradicated ~100 Wax Moth, this small colony was still strong, keeping the comb-munching critter outside the broodnest area. What would have indicated a colony in disrepair would have been the unmitigated presence of Small Hive Beetles. An overwhelming number of these can signal a colony’s impending doom and slimeout.

Not my photo, but an oozing mess of slimed comb.

Help Identifying A Pest By Its Disturbance

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