[Deb H.]

I've had wax moths, mites and a little Nosema, but I've never seen this. I'm cleaning out my hives, getting ready to get some bees for the year (I lost my hives last year). Almost no honey or brood. Expected to find a bunch of wax moths, but gratefully I have not. However, the cells, both honey super and brood chamber have lots of this pure white, granular substance that can be knocked out of the frames. Has anyone else ever seen this. It doesn't look like any granulated honey I have ever seen, although if it is sweet, I wonder if it could be hummingbird food that the bees took over the winter? Anyway, I'm very appreciative of any advice anyone can give me.

I live in Concord, CA.

 

[Vance G]

It very well could be granulated sugar or honey crystals. hard to say without seeing it and your taste test goes along with that guess. It won't harm your bees and your part of the United States might have wax moths or Small Hive Beetles. Get those frames back on a strong colony or freeze them and bag them tightly for storage until you put them back on bees.

 

[NewJoe]

could be white mold

 

[Michael Bush]

Either way it's nothing to worry about...