What granular substance found in the comb indicates active feeding by wax moth larvae?
Answer
Frass
When inspecting a hive for wax moth activity, identifying evidence of larval feeding goes beyond just seeing the adult moths or the webbing they create. A key indicator of active infestation is the presence of frass. Frass is defined as the dark, granular droppings left behind by the feeding larvae after they have consumed beeswax, pollen, and honey. Finding accumulations of this granular material throughout the comb structure signifies contamination and confirms that the larvae have been actively consuming resources, necessitating intervention to halt further degradation of the comb.
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