>Well, I have gotten SOME advice. Still nothing real
positive.....
>Still waiting for ideas.
Mike:
Here's a non-conventional treatment for wax moths, but natural. An
insect specific virus which infects only wax moths (doesn't harm bees,
birds, humans, etc) exists. You can find it in the literature under
Galleria mellonella Nuclear Polyherdosis Virus (GmNPV).
This virus is completely safe, as this and related viruses have been
assayed for their effects on humans, etc., for over 30 years. I have
been told, through casual conversation, that in some areas where wax
moth is prevalent, beekeepers routinely "dust" this virus over their
hives to weaken and decimate the population of wax moths, and even
prevent infestation in otherwise weakened hives. Unfortunately for
your bees, however, it may bee (whoops) too late for the first
season's hive after detection and before primary treatment (because,
as you've heard from everybody and their brother, wax moths usually
settle in after the colony has been weakened by some other ailment.)
As for a source, well, here's a caveat: If it's a commercial hive, the
product of course has to be registered. A similar product, which will
also kill wax moths, is AcNPV, or ACAL, and registered formulations of
this virus are available.
In any case, much effort would have to be put behind this approach,
and for that reason I don't necessarily recommend it. But sometimes
when there's nothing left to do....
If you decide to pursue this course of action, I would recommend
contacting the USDA's head bee pathologist, Dr. {Shiminugi?} in
Bethesda, MD., for more information.
Good luck, no matter what happens.
Mike
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