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|
 |
|
Female
Wax Moth |
Larger
Male Wax Moth |
Wax Moth
Damage
Galleria mellonella
(greater wax moths) will not attack the bees directly, but
feed on the
wax used by
the bees to build their honeycomb. Their full development to
adults requires access to used brood comb or brood cell
cleanings — these contain protein essential for the larvae's
development, in the form of brood cocoons.
The
destruction of the comb will spill or contaminate stored
honey and may kill bee larvae.
When honey
supers are stored for the winter in a mild climate, or in
heated storage, the wax moth larvae can destroy portions of
the comb, even though they will not fully develop. Damaged
comb may be scraped out and will be replaced by the bees.
Wax moth larvae and eggs are killed by freezing, so storage
in unheated sheds or barns in higher latitudes is the only
control necessary.
Because wax
moths can not survive a cold winter, they are usually not a
problem for beekeepers in the northern U.S. or Canada,
unless they survive winter in heated storage, or are brought
from the south by purchase or migration of beekeepers. They
thrive and spread most rapidly with temperatures above 90°F,
so some areas with only occasional days that hot, rarely
have a problem with wax moths.
Control
and Treatment
A strong hive
generally needs no treatment to control wax moths; the bees
themselves will kill and clean out the moth larvae and webs.
Wax moth larvae may fully develop in cell cleanings when
such cleanings accumulate thickly where they are not
accessible to the bees.
Wax moth
development in comb is generally not a problem with top bar
hives as unused combs are usually left in the hive during
the winter. Since this type of hive is not used in severe
wintering conditions, the bees will be able to patrol and
inspect the unused comb.
Wax moths
can be controlled chemically with naphthalene (mothballs) or
paradichlorobenzene (urinal disks). If chemical methods are
used the combs must be well aired out for several weeks
before use. The use of naphthalene is discouraged because it
accumulates in the wax.
Control by physical means
can be done by
freezing the comb to about zero degrees Fahrenheit overnight
to kill the eggs, larvae and moths.
|
Temperatures Required to Kill All Stages of
Wax Moth |
|
COLD |
HEAT |
|
(F)
|
(C)
|
Time (hrs)
|
(F)
|
(C)
|
Time (min)
|
|
20 |
-7.0 |
4.5
|
115 |
46
|
80
|
|
10
|
-12.2
|
3.0
|
120
|
49 |
40
|
|
5
|
-15.0 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
Note: Use of
naphthalene and/or paradichlorobenzene is at your own risk. No endorsement
is made or implied by KVBA. |
