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Wax Moths: A Beekeeper’s Nightmare and How to Defend Your Hives
As a beekeeper, one of the last things you want to discover in your hive is an infestation of wax moths. These destructive pests can wreak havoc on your colonies, causing significant damage to the comb, honey, and even brood. In this post, we’ll explore the different types of wax moths, their life cycle, signs of infestation, and most importantly, how to prevent and manage these unwanted intruders.
Table of Contents
Types of Wax Moths
There are two main types of wax moths that beekeepers should be aware of:
Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella): Larger and more destructive, the greater wax moth is notorious for causing severe damage to bee colonies. They can quickly overrun weak hives, eating through wax and leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Lesser Wax Moth (Achroia grisella): While smaller and less damaging than their larger relatives, the lesser wax moth can still create significant problems if left unchecked. They prefer to target weaker colonies and can damage both the comb and the hive’s structure.
Both species target weak hives, especially those that are not regularly inspected or maintained. It’s essential to understand their life cycle and signs of infestation to defend against them.
The Wax Moth Life Cycle
Understanding the wax moth’s life cycle is crucial for preventing and dealing with infestations. Like most pests, wax moths follow a specific life cycle that, when disrupted, can help reduce their impact on your hives.
Egg Stage: The cycle begins when adult moths lay eggs in the crevices and hidden areas of the hive. These eggs are typically laid at night, making it hard to spot the early stages of infestation.
Larval Stage: Once the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge and begin feeding on the comb. This is the most destructive phase of the wax moth life cycle. The larvae burrow through the wax, consuming honey, pollen, and even brood. Within a few weeks, they can destroy frames and compromise the hive’s structure.
Pupation Stage: After feeding, the larvae pupate by creating silken cocoons in the hive. They often pupate in hidden corners, making it hard for beekeepers to detect the infestation until the damage is already done. These cocoons are very hard and are difficult to remove from boxes and frames after the fact.
Adult Stage: After pupation, adult moths emerge and continue the cycle by laying more eggs in the hive. This repeating cycle can cause ongoing problems if not addressed quickly and efficiently.
Signs of Wax Moth Infestation
Recognizing the early signs of a wax moth infestation can save your hive from severe damage. Here are some common indicators that wax moths may be present:
Webbing in the Comb: One of the most noticeable signs of wax moth activity is webbing in the honeycomb. The larvae spin silk as they move through the hive, leaving behind a trail of web-like material.
Tunnels Through Wax: Wax moth larvae burrow through the comb, creating tunnels as they eat their way through the hive. These tunnels can cause structural damage and make it harder for the bees to use the comb.
Damaged Brood Frames: Wax moth larvae can also destroy brood frames, which are essential for the colony’s development. If you notice chewed-through frames or damaged brood, wax moths may be to blame.
Frass (Dark Excrement): Another telltale sign of wax moths is the presence of frass, or dark droppings, left behind by the larvae. These droppings are often found near the tunnels and webbing created by the larvae.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to act quickly to prevent further damage.
How to Prevent Wax Moths
Prevention is the best method for dealing with wax moths. By keeping your hives strong and healthy, you can create an environment where wax moths are less likely to thrive. Here are some key prevention strategies:
Keep Hives Strong and Healthy: Wax moths are more likely to invade weak or stressed hives. Ensuring your colonies are strong, with a healthy queen and ample worker bees, is your first line of defense. Strong hives can defend themselves against pests like wax moths.
Regular Hive Inspections: Regular inspections allow you to catch the early signs of wax moth infestations before they get out of control. Check for webbing, tunnels, and damaged brood during your routine hive checks.
Reduce Hive Space: Wax moths thrive in unguarded spaces. Make sure your bees are covering all frames by reducing unused space in the hive. If the colony is not large enough to patrol the entire hive, removing extra frames or supers can help.
Remove and Freeze Unused Frames: Freezing frames is an effective way to kill wax moth eggs and larvae. Before storing unused frames, place them in a freezer for at least 48 hours. Be aware that some types of wax moth eggs can survive freezing, so it’s important to inspect your frames regularly.
Maintain a Strong Queen and Colony: A strong queen ensures a thriving colony, which is less susceptible to wax moth infestations. Requeen weak colonies if necessary, and reduce the size of the hive to make sure the bees are consistently filling and guarding the frames.
What to Do After an Infestation
If you discover wax moths in your hive, it’s important to take immediate action to limit the damage and prevent future infestations. Here’s what you should do:
Reduce Hive Space: If your bees are not covering all of the frames, reduce the amount of space they need to defend. By giving them less space to patrol, you make it easier for them to protect the hive from intruders like wax moths.
Remove and Freeze Infested Frames: Take any infested frames out of the hive and freeze them for at least 48 hours to kill the larvae and eggs. This can help stop the life cycle of the wax moths and prevent them from spreading further.
Check for Queenright Status: Weak hives are more vulnerable to wax moths, and one of the leading causes of hive weakness is a missing or failing queen. Ensure your hive is queenright, and requeen if necessary to restore the colony’s strength.
Increase Inspections: After discovering wax moths, it’s important to understand why your colony was weak in order to let the wax moths take over. Make sure to inspect your hives more frequently to monitor for any remaining signs of diseases or other pests like varroa mites, that are making your colony weak.
Storing Frames to Prevent Wax Moth Damage
One of the best ways to prevent wax moth infestations is by properly storing your frames when they’re not in use. Here are some effective storage methods:
Freezing: As mentioned earlier, freezing your frames is a reliable way to kill any eggs or larvae. Store your frames in a freezer for at least 48 hours before putting them into long-term storage.
Using Moth Crystals: Moth crystals, made from paradichlorobenzene (PDB), can be used to prevent wax moths from laying eggs in stored frames. These are not moth balls. Be sure to use PDB crystals that are specifically labeled for use with bees, and follow all safety precautions when using them.
Exposure to Sunlight: Leaving frames in direct sunlight can help prevent wax moth infestations. Wax moths do not like sunlight and are less likely to damage your frames if left outside where all of the sides are exposed to light. However, the wax moths still can destroy your frames that are left outside, but they are less likely to, if left in the sun.
Airtight Containers: Storing your frames in airtight containers can help prevent wax moths from accessing them. Make sure the containers are sealed tightly and stored in a cool, dry location.
Conclusion
Wax moths are a common problem for beekeepers, but with the right prevention strategies and quick action, you can protect your hives from these destructive pests. By keeping your colonies strong and healthy, regularly inspecting your hives, and properly storing your frames, you can minimize the risk of wax moth infestations and keep your bees thriving.
Remember, wax moths are like the roaches of the beekeeping world—they target weak colonies and can quickly take over if you’re not vigilant. When we have a few roaches in our homes, we will take care of them. But if we are on vacation, or if we were sick in bed, the roaches would get out of control. This is a similar situation for the bees. If they are a strong colony, wax moths are no something you should be terribly worried about. With regular attention and care, you can keep the wax moths at bay and enjoy the rewards of a healthy, productive hive.
For more general information on common pests that threaten bee colonies, check out our Knowledge Base for helpful tips and insights. This post dives deeper into wax moths, one of the many challenges beekeepers face.
