Management of pests, diseases and other nuisances

In tropical areas, wax moths can be a serious problem mainly in stored combs mainly. Therefore, to prevent moth attacks, instead of storing the combs they should be melted and stored as wax block. In case combs are stored, they must be inspected regularly during warm weather. Mainly old, hatched combs with pollen are preferred by the moths. In the hive strong bee colonies are able to control the moths.

In case of moth damage, the infested parts should be cut out and the larvae destroyed. If there is a severe infestation, all the wax should be scraped off the frames and burnt. The frames should then be scotched with a blow torch or soaked in hot water containing washing soda or a household detergent. The hive body should also be cleaned up and scotched. Both the larva and adult moth feed on brown combs in weak colonies which do not occupy all the frames and top-bars.

There are also different substances (e.g. Acetic acid or sulphur) that can be used to control wax moths, however, use of these materials depends on availability.

An 80 % solution of acetic acid can be used to control wax moths in stored frames or top-bars. Fumigation with acetic acid will kill adult moths, their eggs and larvae. After the honey is extracted, boxes of frames and top-bars should be piled in stacks, no more than five high. The spaces between the boxes should be taped with paste paper to form an airtight seal. Cotton wool 15 cm by 15 cm or any similar absorbent material soaked in 80 % acid is placed on top of the uppermost frames in the stack before the lid is sealed, using 25 ml 80 % acetic acid per box in the stack. The top of the stack is covered with a hive roof and the stack is left undisturbed for two weeks. The fumigation can be repeated at intervals of 2–3 weeks. Acetic acid must be handled with caution so that it does not come into contact with your skin or eyes. Acetic acid that comes into contact with skin and eyes should be washed off immediately. After fumigation, the boxes of frames and top-bars should be exposed to air for about 2 days before they are used.

The mites attack both the brood and adult bees and feed on the body fluids of the bees and transmit viral and bacterial diseases causing them to become weaker and weaker. It is a devastating pest and can wipe out a colony if not managed well. Bees infested by the Varroa mite have deformed wings or pinhead reddish brown spots. There are patches of dead capped brood, which is sometimes chewed open.

If Varroa mites are suspected, the following actions are recommended:

• Varroa mites show 8 to 10 times more preference for drone than for worker brood. Therefore, remove the drone brood in the hive at the beginning of the season (at least one per month during the first three months of developing the bee colony).
• In migratory beekeeping or in strong colonies the effect of Varroa mites might be reduced.
• In case of severe infestation of a strong colony with varroa, the colony should be divided using the nucleus queen method. Continuous division of the colony reduces the effect of varroa.
• Essential oils (thymol) and organic acids (§lactic acid, oxalic acid, and formic acid) are also compounds found in nature, and some are used in treating honey bees infested with tracheal mites and varroa. However, use of these materials will depend on their availability.

Ants consume the honey and drag the brood out of the hives. Especially ‘safari ants’ can be extremely destructive to bees. Some ants only attack at night and can wipe out a colony.

To control the ants the following actions are recommended:

• Regularly clear all vegetation and weeds under the hive stand.
• Spray the apiary floor with a concoction of ground tephrosia leaves, chillies or marigolds.
• Dust the floors of the apiary with diatomite. Avoid dusting the above ground and hives as the diatomite has potential to harm the bees.
• Destroy the ant nests in the apiary.
• Hang the hives with wire at least 1 to 2 meters above ground.
• You may oil the points where the hanging poles for the hives are fixed in the ground.

American foul brood is caused by spore-forming bacteria and infects larvae that is about 3 days old or less, causing them to die. The dead larvae decays and produces a glue-like smell. American foul brood can be managed by burning the colony, combs and frames, disinfection of beehives and by restricting supplementation by using honey and by not exchanging frames, bars and hives from other apiaries.

This is a viral disease similar in many respects to European foul brood, but it does not produce a foul smell. The larvae die in the early stages leaving a watery sac at the bottom of the cells which turns into leather-like scales. The sac brood can be managed in a similar way as the European foul brood.