>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