What consequence results from larvae spinning cocoons into wooden hive components?
Answer
Permanent physical damage long after the adult moth has emerged.
When wax moth larvae prepare to transition into the adult stage within stored equipment, they spin tough cocoons. This process involves chewing directly into the solid wooden components of the hive structure, such as frame lugs or the hive walls, to create secure, protected chambers for pupation. These chambers are often described as boat-shaped cavities. The act of excavating this material leaves behind actual, irreversible physical damage to the woodenware that persists long after the adult moth has emerged and flown away, serving as a lasting sign of a past, severe infestation in stored materials.
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