I have heard from a material number of local beekeepers about the preponderance of wax moths this year decimating their colonies. And I guess that makes sense...the winter was mild and beneficial for our bees so why would it not be so for the other bugs that threaten our colonies?
Awful and evil creatures...
At our hive visit to Arcadia Farm we tried to take a bit more honey, and replenish the bees of a colony that died earlier this year. We found one hive that had been obliterated by wax moths, but successfully did the walk away split on the dead colony. We will visit again in three weeks to see how (and if) the new queen emerged and began laying.
Here is the video:
Hope you checked for drones prior to this! Drones were kicked out here in Charlotte last week of August.
ReplyDelete-J.P.
J.P. we have drones in Maryland still, I haven't seen any in mine but I have in a friend's hives, so there are still some around, but definitely not as many as there used to be!
ReplyDeleteJeff, thanks for the great pictures of the wax moth damage, especially the underside of the lid. The traps I use for the wasps and hornets also catch a great deal of moths, you may want to try them.
Are you worried about those pollen patties? The SHB laid eggs in the protein patty I gave my smallest hive last year.
Yeah, we do have a problem with those damn beetles when we use pollen patties in rural environments, but I think in this case the benefits outweigh the risk. We also have some beetle blaster traps in these hives for support.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see your wasp traps!
Jeff
http://suburbanrancher.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/happy-bees-and-more-hornet-trapping/
ReplyDeleteI used cider vinegar this year. I have a lot of yellow jackets, European Hornets, Bald-Faced Hornets and wax moths in the traps now.