Glossary
A detailed examination of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) lifecycle and its relationship with honey bee colonies. Understanding the wax moth's biology explains why strong colonies are immune to damage while weak colonies and stored equipment are devastated.
The adult female wax moth enters hives at night and lays eggs in cracks and crevices, particularly in areas the bees cannot easily patrol. Each female lays 300-600 eggs in her 1-3 week adult lifespan. Eggs hatch in 5-10 days, and the larvae immediately begin feeding.
Larvae are the destructive stage. They tunnel through beeswax comb, consuming wax, pollen, cocoon casings, and larval skins. They leave behind a trail of silk webbing and frass (excrement) that creates the characteristic web-covered, destroyed appearance of moth-damaged comb. Larval development takes 5-8 weeks, after which they spin tough cocoons and pupate.
Strong colonies are the best defense. Guard bees at the entrance prevent adult moths from entering, and patrol bees within the hive locate and remove eggs and young larvae. Wax moths are not a problem for healthy, populous colonies. They are an indicator of colony weakness, not a cause.
For stored equipment (the primary vulnerability), protection requires either freezing (48 hours at 0 degrees Fahrenheit kills all stages) followed by sealed storage, or chemical treatment (PDB moth crystals in stacked supers). BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) applied to stored comb provides a non-chemical biological control option.
Wax moths do not kill healthy, strong colonies. They destroy comb in colonies that are already weak, queenless, or dead. Wax moth damage is a consequence of colony weakness, not the cause. Maintaining strong colonies is the complete prevention strategy.
Freeze all frames for 48 hours to kill moth eggs and larvae. After freezing, store frames in sealed containers or tightly stacked supers with no gaps. Check periodically. In warm climates, add PDB (paradichlorobenzene) crystals to stacked supers as moth deterrent, airing frames for 24 hours before returning to hives.
Mildly damaged comb (some webbing, no structural damage) can be cleaned up and reused. Simply cut away damaged areas and allow bees to repair. Severely damaged comb (structural integrity compromised, extensive tunneling, heavy webbing) should be melted down for wax rendering rather than reused.
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