[Hoxbar]

I have a simple question. Can you get an infestation of wax moths in an established hive? I thought you could only get wax moths in an empty hive.

 

[baldwinbees]

they'll go in a queenless hive

 

[NasalSponge]

If it is weak....yes.

 

[peacekeeperapiaries]

they will move into a weak hive

 

[Hoxbar]

Thanks, a friend of mine said she had wax moths in her hive. She has no brood or eggs in her hive. Since the queen is dead, my friend is planning on combining this infested hive with a string hive. She is going to us the "newspaper" method.

 

[theriverhawk]

Most hives have some moth presence. The difference is that strong hives tend to control the larvae. They stink and kill them. A weak hive is lethargic and will not attack the larvae, thus it's sadly easy for wax moths to take over a weak hive. I speak from exprerience.
Couple of summers ago, I extracted and left one already kinda week hive too low on honey. Came back to a month later and the hive had been overtaken by moths. It was a nasty scene.