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Your first signs of having wax moths can be these webs on the combs. |
The wax moth larvae look like this. They cause all the damage. |
This is an example of damage the larvae can cause in your wooden boxes. |
The larvae feed on the protein provided by the old brood
and remnants of bee's pupa. They will not eat the wax but do destroy
it. They are a pest in warmer weather and weak hives as well as empty
hives and stored frames.
The life cycle of a wax moth is the same as a honey bee:egg larva pupa(cocoon) adult
It’s the larva that causes the damage, not the adult!
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Wax moths lay their eggs in old frames that have had brood in them.
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To be sure every wax moth egg and
larvae is gone from the cracks and holes in old frames it is a good idea
to use a small butane torch. Adult supervision is required! |
Jessie chose wax moths as her subject to prepare a talk
to the other Liberty 4-H Beekeepers. She took all of the pictures of
the wax moth damage and larvae used on her poster and this web page. The
information is also from her research. |
Here Jessie is showing the group how to make a wax moth trap from a soda bottle.This was part of her prepared talk.
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Use a wax moth trap to catch the adults.
Directions for Trap:
Cut a 1 1/4 inch diameter hole in the side of the bottle, just
below the shoulder of the neck. Fill with the following mixture:
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Ingredients for a Wax Moth Trap
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup sugar (any type)
1 banana peel
put mixture in a 2 liter bottle and add water up to 75% of the bottle. |
Hang by a string with the noose opposite the hole. Place trap near hives or stored equipment. |
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