Pests of Honey Bees
Damaged combs showing silken galleries
Picture 7 of 15
Wax moth larvae damage or destroy the combs by chewing through the beeswax cells as they feed on cocoons, cast skins, and pollen. They spin silken galleries for protection from bees that will remove the wax moth larvae if they get the chance. Beeswax combs are often reduced to a mass of webs and debris. Wax moth larvae seldom attack new beeswax combs or foundation and they will not feed on blocks of pure beeswax or candles or such items made from beeswax.
![Healthy c-shaped larvae](http://agdev.anr.udel.edu/maarec/wp-content/gallery/normal-honey-bee-development/6.gif "It is important to be able to distinguish healthy brood stages. Healthy worker, queen and drone larvae (grubs) are pearly white in color with a glistening appearance. They are curled in a \\"C\\" shape on the bottom of the cell and continue to grow in size during the larval period, eventually filling their cell.")
