Eek! One of the benefits of living further north, never seen or had wax moth, either in hives or in my stored combsWax moth larvae?
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Eek! One of the benefits of living further north, never seen or had wax moth, either in hives or in my stored combsWax moth larvae?
Why did give space underneath vs above? Do you switch boxes around later when queen moves down to lay?Its been a week since first inspection so checked both hives yesterday. One of them has 6 frames of brood in all stages (literally no space on these frames) so added space for these under the brood box. There is a good amount of pollen and some nectar as well. On the second hive there are still 3 frames of brood but these are now full of brood as opposed to a week ago when it was more like an egg shape brood pattern, but lot larger, in the middle of the 3 frames. Stores and pollen also present.
What a cheek in a box full of bees, god knows the damage he would have done!!!yes .. Greater wax moth by the look of it.
Eek! One of the benefits of living further north, never seen or had wax moth, either in hives or in my stored combs
I know I couldn't believe my eyes.Eek! One of the benefits of living further north, never seen or had wax moth, either in hives or in my stored combs
I thought I might do the same as our boxes at congested with stores but we replaced a few with foundation and put a super on, hopefully we have done the right thingWhy did give space underneath vs above? Do you switch boxes around later when queen moves down to lay?
Why did give space underneath vs above?
Yep! I never had them until a couple of years ago. It's a real problem down at the farm. They even eat into the poly hives!Wax moth larvae?
I was a bit surprised ... either the bees have too much space to defend, the colony is small and weak, or that wax moth larvae has been feeding on the hive floor on cappings and they have ignored it ... a strong healthy colony will normally deal with any wax moth invasion and you will not see developed larvae of this size alive in the colony .. and indeed visible on the frames. I'd be keeping a close eye on what's going on here. I hate wax moth and they really are a problem down here in the South where the warmer climate and lack of winter frosts of any real nature actually favours them. I am very careful with my anti-wax moth precautions in my stored frames ... and space in occupied hives that matches the colony size.What a cheek in a box full of bees, god knows the damage he would have done!!!
I agree we had a bit on one of our stored frames as well, we'll definitely be treating the frames before next winterI was a bit surprised ... either the bees have too much space to defend, the colony is small and weak, or that wax moth larvae has been feeding on the hive floor on cappings and they have ignored it ... a strong healthy colony will normally deal with any wax moth invasion and you will not see developed larvae of this size alive in the colony .. and indeed visible on the frames. I'd be keeping a close eye on what's going on here. I hate wax moth and they really are a problem down here in the South where the warmer climate and lack of winter frosts of any real nature actually favours them. I am very careful with my anti-wax moth precautions in my stored frames ... and space in occupied hives that matches the colony size.
That's exciting a new bee shed, could we see a picture?Took delivery of the new bee shed - then started filling it. The shed has vent gaps beneath the roof for a free flow of air and Gavin (the shed builder) was concerned that the bees might get in and be a nuisance - When tidying the other shed I asked myself why have I kept all these three and four inch offcuts of woven mesh from all the OMFs I've made over the years. this evening I discovered the four inch wide pieces, cut in half fit perfectly over the front gap with enough extra meat to staple into the frame below, and the three inch pieces could have been custom made for the back wall.
Once all the honey is shifted into the shed, then all the other unmade frames, flatpacked boxes, foundation etc, I'll have room to make some more floors and top up my hoard of mesh offcuts once again!!
Added box under as we will have a few coldish days this week. This us just a contingency if they run out if space between two weekly inspections. The next step will be depending on next weeks inspection and weather forecast.Why did give space underneath vs above? Do you switch boxes around later when queen moves down to lay?
Don’t you just feel wonderfully vindicated when you actually use something you hung on to “as it might be useful” ?Took delivery of the new bee shed - then started filling it. The shed has vent gaps beneath the roof for a free flow of air and Gavin (the shed builder) was concerned that the bees might get in and be a nuisance - When tidying the other shed I asked myself why have I kept all these three and four inch offcuts of woven mesh from all the OMFs I've made over the years. this evening I discovered the four inch wide pieces, cut in half fit perfectly over the front gap with enough extra meat to staple into the frame below, and the three inch pieces could have been custom made for the back wall.
Once all the honey is shifted into the shed, then all the other unmade frames, flatpacked boxes, foundation etc, I'll have room to make some more floors and top up my hoard of mesh offcuts once again!!
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