I just looked in my bee hive and I have a bad infestation of wax moths. What do I do now. Just start over? I looked and did not find a queen. But I am new to beekeeping might not know one if I saw it. I do still have some bees though not as many as a couple days ago, and could not find a swarm. So now what do I do? Thanks. Susan

-- (mdefran@cei.net), June 28, 2000

Answers

Susan, We are not professional beekeepers (not even proficient amateurs) but we have had your problem. The only cure we found was to start over with a new hive. Don't even try to separate the worms from the foundation and reuse it. I'm going to bet that your bees didn't swarm. I'll bet your queen died and the hive has been going downhill for some time. Years ago, we could set up a hive and get by with opening it up every couple of months. Lots of honey and few problems. starting about 10 years ago, all that changed. Mites, beetles, etc. (mostly from foreign sources) mandate that you open up your hives at least once each week and keep them medicated. It got to the point that the stuff I was putting in the hive made me afraid to eat the honey. I now have 10-15 hives put out but they are for decoration only. I used to capture 1-3 swarms per year. I haven't spotted an italian honeybee in the wild or in my orchard for 5-7 years now. They can't survive in the woods anymore. A real shame. I really enjoyed my bees. They are a lot more fun to be around than people. Bees are industrious, gentle and predictable. Really miss 'em. Good luck, John and Pat

-- John and Pat James (jjames@n-jcenter.com), June 28, 2000.

I went by my bee hive last evening and could not believe my eyes. A new swarm had moved in. I have been opening the hive daily and cleaning out any moth larve that I found. I still had a few bees but not many. I had salvaged a few frames from higher in the hive that weren't too damaged by the moths and put them in my brood chamber for the few bees that had been left. I also had prayed about my bees a lot and apparently the good Lord was listening. It is late here for a swarm but the man I got mine from said he caught two swarms this weekend. But the bees seem happy and I am estatic and greatful. Hows that for a happy ending?!

-- Susan (mdefran@cei.net), July 04, 2000.

Susan, just so you know, when you check on your hive, you don't have to actually see the queen to know she's there and well -- check for freshly laid eggs. Once in a while you might have eggs from laying workers and that would deceive you, but usually if there are eggs in the frames, your queen is there and doing her job.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 05, 2000.