Wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella) are very destructive as they tunnel and chew their way through stored beeswax combs, ultimately resulting in their destruction if left untreated. Beekeepers require a control for wax moth to conserve their frames during periods of storage.

Healthy, populous honey bee colonies do not tolerate wax moth larvae in the hive. Wax moths are never the initial cause of colony destruction but in weak colonies their larvae can damage combs not covered and protected by bees.

¹ The Varroa mite (Varroa destructor ) is an external parasite of honey bees. It was first discovered in the U.S. in 1987, although prior to this it had been a major problem in Europe, Asia and South America. The mites feed on the blood of adult bees, larvae and pupae.

American foulbrood (AFB) {Paenibacillus larvae) is a bacteria that can exist in a vegetative spore form, making the disease highly infectious. Unlike the other brood diseases, AFB will almost always go on to kill the colony. The spores remain viable for at least 40 years, and can withstand wide variations in climatic conditions - from freezing winters to scorching summer heat.

Species of Australian Native Bees

Most of the 1630 species of Australian Native bees are solitary insects, building nests in the soil, or hollow sticks. Two of the more common species are the Blue-banded bee (Amegilla spp.) and the large carpenter bee (Xylocopa spp.)

When untreated pine is exposed to moisture, various organisms can attack/eat the wood , resulting in what we call 'Wood Rot'. Even in well painted pine, a nail or screw into the timber can provide access for moisture and these organisms. In less than 18 months, your newly assembled brood box, honey super or lid can be reduced to crumbling waste material.

I f you want your hives to last for many years, and ensure a long productive life, the timber must be treated before you paint it.

Why uncap frames

In days of olde, honey comb was simply crushed to extract the liquid honey.

It takes bees a large effort to build the wax comb, and they consume considerable honey to create the wax. Once built, they can fill it with honey in a very short time, and it can be re-used for many years. For this reason, your comb is one of your most valuable resources.

The most efficient method to extract the honey, is to spin it out using centrifical force (see extractors). Each cell is sealed with a wax capping which must be removed before the honey can be extracted, hence the term - uncapping.

Over hundreds of years, people have kept bees in many types of hives, from hollow logs, to baskets and Skeps. The problem was they had to destroy the hive to extract the honey, plus they could not inspect the hive for disease.