Moth control

When you extract the last honey super in August and think the hardest part is behind you, a silent threat starts its campaign: the wax moth (Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella). Quiet, patient and destructive, it seizes any oversight to destroy what took you months to build.

It won’t invade strong colonies. If you see it near the entrance, something’s off: weak colonies, queen loss or poorly stored combs. The larvae don’t feed on pure wax but on proteins — old brood cocoons, pollen and hive debris. That’s why they thrive in dark, used combs.

The most critical time is after the summer harvest, when nectar flow drops, brood nests shrink, and many frames are left half-used and poorly defended. You must remove and store them properly, or they’ll be easy prey. At 30 °C, a full generation can develop in just 6 weeks.

This category includes the most effective tools professional beekeepers use to protect stored frames and support weakened colonies:

• Sulphur strips and discs: for fumigating stored frames in sealed containers. Apply every 3–4 weeks and ventilate afterward. It’s cheap and effective, but remember: sulphur vapors are toxic — use only in well-ventilated areas.

• B-401 (Bacillus thuringiensis): a biological treatment that targets only wax moth larvae and is safe for bees. Suitable for stored comb or weak hives. Some strains are highly effective when properly cultured.

• Belthirul, Cerapol and other insecticides: fast-acting treatments for already infested frames. Useful to stop severe damage in time.

• Manual or pressure sprayers: essential for even product application, especially in stacked supers or large frame batches.

Key tips:

• Never store comb with honey or pollen without preventive treatment.

• Adjust hive space to the actual colony size. Remove and protect surplus frames properly.

• If possible, use cold storage (4–6 °C): it’s the cleanest and most effective method to halt moth development.

• You can also freeze frames at –15 °C for at least 2 hours to kill all life stages.

• Laurel leaves can help repel wax moths, but don’t replace real treatment.

Remember: wax moths are a symptom, not the cause. Their presence usually indicates a prior weakness. Smart beekeepers act before the damage. And here you’ll find the tools professionals use to protect their wax, their combs… and their peace of mind.