3-Sep-93 15:51
 
in reply to ... Adrian
 
>         Carbon tetrachloride is very dangerous and likely on the banned
> list in the U.S.  Rick Hough's advice is good - more complete details can
> be found starting on p. 1130 of THE HIVE AND THE HONEY BEE (1992 edition).
 
>                                         Adrian M. Wenner
 
reply to Ed asking ...
>>I have wax moth in my storage facility for research bee hives.
>>Any ideas how to control them?  I am about to try an insecticide
>>bomb!    [log in to unmask]
 
Adrian,
 
Sorry, I apologize for speaking about CCl4 ... (however, it is a tool,
and a lot of tools are very, very dangerous -handyman tools, &c.- ... people
must take care in keeping with this danger)
 
Rick says ...
 
< Most good beginner beekeeping books talk about wax-moth prevention.
< Memory tells me that Paradichlorobenzene (PDB) crystals are generally
< used to store stacks of supers or brood chambers with a pile of PDB
< at the top of the stack.
 
Pay attention also with PDB : this product is not inoffensive .. it is
noticed: "Harmfull. Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other
sources of ignition. Harmfull if swallowed. Avoid contact with skin and
eyes." (safety recommendations) and "Vapors may cause irritation to skin,
throat and eyes.  Prolonged exposure to high concentrations may show
weakness, dizziness loss of weight; liver injury may develop." (Merck
Index, 10th ed., p444) : the popular use let to loss the risk ...
On the other hand, it dissolve itself, not in water (practically
insoluble) but very easily in wax ...
 
About this wax solubility, I remember a study (I am catching
references ...) were the authors mesured the weight of PDB in the wax
after different times of exposure : it was enormous.  And the time to
remove this PCB dissolved into wax is very long according to the
conditions of airing ... but also because PCB diffuses very slowly into
wax : what is entered in 6 months may not get out in 2 days ...
 
And Rick is OK
<  Also, be sure to air out any comb treated with PDB for a
< couple days before returning them to the hives - the bees don't care
< for PDB any more than the moths do!
 
The article recorded cases where bees died after laying supers
and         ... I should say a couple WEEKS ...
 
But the problem remains.  Apparently the infection is serious (Ed raised
the alarm) and the PCB in not suitable to kill a established moth colony.
 
< ...  more drastic measures might be called for ...  said Rick
 
If you can't use CCl4, you may use Carbon Disulfide : it is also toxic
(see below) with an horrible odour.  Contrary to CCl4 which is putting
out the fire, CDS is "highly flammable, it is also very toxic by
inhalation.  Take off immediately all contaminated clothing, don't empty
into drains, take precautionary measures against static discharges"
(safety recommendations) and "poisoning usually occurs from inhalation
but also may be caused by ingestion and skin absorption" (Merck Index p251).
 
Otherwise, I'm thinking the best way is to melt with steam the rest of
the wax and to take care the next time ...
 
As Rick I say you
 
< Good Luck !
 
Jean-Marie
 
 
P.S.
 
A la queue le venin : In the case of ED I should certainly use CCl4
in an open, vented room, as I said in my 1st mail.  I should also
completely empty and sanitized the room where the moth breeding had
occured.
 
 
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 Jean-Marie Van Dyck             email : bitnet    jmvandyck@bnandp51
 B.P. 102                               internet   [log in to unmask]
 B-5000    NAMUR (Belgium)              School Med. - Physiol. Chem. dept
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