mouldy wax

[darren64]

I looked in the brood box today and the frame near the hive wall has gone mouldy on the outer face and there was two big slugs,can anyone explain why?,I have a wire mesh floor,and its the frame nearest the entrance.

 

[REDWOOD]

Is the colony small and have not been able to defend against invaders, do you have an entrance block on

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

Are you absolutely sure it was slugs and not wax moth larvae?

 

[VEG]

Have had a few slugs in my colonies this year I just flick them out.

 

[beebreeder]

Put them on the hive roof birds pick them up quickly

 

[darren64]

Are you absolutely sure it was slugs and not wax moth larvae?

definately slugs,they were 2 1/2 inch long and slimey

 

[richardbees]

Assuming you're on omf floor, reduce the entrance - and try wrapping some copper wire round the legs of the hive stand or scattering some 'slug pellets' around the apiary.

Garden centres sell copper strips for slug deterrents

 

[BeeJayBee]

... or scattering some 'slug pellets' around the apiary.

We have hedgehogs that enjoy eating dead bees, so maybe slug pellets might not be a good idea?

 

[Hivemaker.]

We have hedgehogs that enjoy eating dead bees, so maybe slug pellets might not be a good idea?

I doubt if your hedghogs venture as far as Yorkshire

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

I doubt if your hedghogs venture as far as Yorkshire

Just because we have a tough reputation doesn't mean our hedgehogs won't succumb to Metaldehide poisoning come spring. Stick with the copper wire idea D. It needs to be kept clean or the slugs will just slide over the dirt. Salt around the stand will make a barrier in dry weather(or replace every day) or buy pellets based on ferric acid until you can get the copper organised. Talk to a friendly electrician about getting some scrap wire in exchange for honey.

 

[REDWOOD]

Beer slug traps, what a way to go

 

[Hivemaker.]

Just because we have a tough reputation doesn't mean our hedgehogs won't succumb to Metaldehide poisoning come spring.

I agree Margaret, and think of what the poor slugs must go through...slugs have feelings too i would imagine....some people will readily kill a slug, yet go nuts at the thought of killing badgers.