Wax moth

[Mikeb123]

found a wax moth caterpillar on the inspection board today. Anything to worry about?

Thanks

 

[Swarm]

Maybe.
Why is the inspection board there? It only serves to collect crap from the hive and encourage the waxmoth.

 

[itma]

Yes, worry about leaving the board in.

 

[Mikeb123]

I was told by a local keeper to keep the board in as an insulator as the temps drop. Are you suggesting keep it on the omf all year round? how does it encourage the was moth if it's in?

Thanks

 

[oliver90owner]

Err, what drops on the board?

I leave mine open year round unless the weather is gratingly cold in the depths of winter and even then not completely closed.

 

[Queens59]

If you are checking for varroa drop have the board in while treating to check levels - then take it out when complete. When it is really cold as in minus and dropping...then put the board in...but it isn't cold yet - just cool.

 

[itma]

Unless your apiary is very exposed to the wind, the board is just for varroa checking.

The sole exceptions, I'd say, are when treating with Thymol products (like Apiguard) requiring restricted ventilation and possibly briefly in the spring to try and help kick-start brooding. And some would put it in for the first few days after hiving a swarm, believing the darkness helps in reducing absconding.

For winter, feed the hive full with syrup. Then keep the crownboard hole tight shut and the floor open. Put some insulation above the crownboard. Read this forum for more detail, its been gone over rather a lot!

 

[Mikeb123]

thanks all, great help

 

[BeeJayBee]

I was told by a local keeper to keep the board in as an insulator as the temps drop. Are you suggesting keep it on the omf all year round? how does it encourage the [wax] moth if it's in?

Hot air rises, it doesn't sink so the mesh floor won't have much effect unless there's turbulence. Think of a diving bell, which is almost the same principle.

Leaving the inspection tray in means there's an area of debris that the bees can't clean up. Check this thread http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=359904.

 

[Chris Luck]

We get anywhere between -10C and -20C here in winter and I leave the OMF open with no problems...

....and a wax moth caterpillar on the board should be a good sign, it means the bees are doing what they should be doing and ejecting them.

Chris