Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I notice my hive was leaking honey. After opening it I saw webbing and caterpillars. Suggestion on how to save my hive?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gys5tfe8r36se ... h.jpg?dl=0

Wax moths destroy comb that is not protected by the bees. Frames with active wax moth larvae activity should go in the freezer for 3 days to kill eggs and larvae. Examine your hive to determine if you need to reduce the size by removing one or more supers. Any frames you remove should go to the freezer to kill wax moth and/or SHB.

After that,get some BT and spray all the frames. Member Zulu, AKA Rick cockcroft, and Member Keith Elkes at Beez Needs have it for sale.

I detest those disgusting wax moths, especially in the larval stage. Yuck! :p
I'm curious. If cedar-lined closets prevent moths, why don't cedar hives do the same?

Most hives are pine or cypress. I don't know of any cedar hives and I am not sure how the honey bees would like the cedar. I have heard of people putting cedar chips below hives in an attempt to prevent small hive beetles. I don't know whether it works or not, but I doubt it would prevent wax moths from flying into a hive that had unprotected comb available for egg laying.

Thanks, Rob. Yeah, I see what you mean. I wonder if honeybees dislike cedar trees in general, if cedar chips beneath the hive(s) would bother the bees, and if using cedar chips actually results in fewer SHB and/or wax months. Do you know? Anyone?

When I was a teenager in the 60s i knew of several cedar trees that were home to bee colonies. I helped do a removal a few years back of bees in a cedar log.

That's good to know, Mike. I may try an experiment based on that. Thank you!