In which location do wax moths generally cause their most catastrophic damage?
Answer
Stored beekeeping equipment
The most devastating impact of the wax moth infestation occurs when beekeeping equipment, particularly supers containing valuable used brood comb, is left out of the hive and placed in storage. This environment inherently provides the ideal conditions for the pest: darkness, warmth, and a complete absence of defensive bee activity. Unlike an active colony where worker bees identify and eject larvae, stored supers offer an unattended feast. The larvae exploit this vulnerability, accelerating their lifecycle and completing multiple generations rapidly, leading to severe material degradation where the comb has been consumed.
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