What is this please?

[Mandeville]

Any ideas?

Someone suggested it mught be due to wax-moth larvae, but that was just from my verbal description.

There was a moth in one of the hives between the boxes and the lifts, but Mr M squished it before I could have a look at it!

Thanks Mandy

 

[drstitson]

wax moth

 

[grizzly]

Looks like one of the burrowing little buggers to me, with a bit of luck the bees will turf them out for you, next time run your hive tool over, you might expose one.

 

[Mandeville]

Thanks

Grizzly - do you mean I should open the cells beneath the white stuff ? (It looked like tissue paper)

 

[thurrock bees]

Thanks

Grizzly - do you mean I should open the cells beneath the white stuff ? (It looked like tissue paper)

scrape away the cappings with your hive tool and you should find a greater wax moth under. ive noticed quite a few this year

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Open up with your hive tool and have a look-see.

 

[grizzly]

As above Mandy.

 

[Heather]

tweezers and hoick it out

 

[melon]

If you scrap away the cappings and don't see the wax moth, tap on the side of the frame with your hive tool a few times, and the caterpillar will probably peep out at you. Catch it and squish it or feed it to your chickens if you have any.

 

[Mandeville]

Thanks everyone

I didn't know that wax moth was a prob during the active season but I do now! I'd thought it was just stored comb that was attacked

I'll oik out any nasty little caterpillars in future (don't have chickens but they can go on the bird table). Should I do this as a matter of urgency or will my next weekly inspection be soon enough? Is there anything else I should do??

Mandy

 

[psafloyd]

If you scrap away the cappings and don't see the wax moth, tap on the side of the frame with your hive tool a few times, and the caterpillar will probably peep out at you. Catch it and squish it or feed it to your chickens if you have any.

I did this last year in my practicals and it worked well. Amazing how nosey these little buggers are.