What is the destructive consequence when wax moth larvae tunnel through and consume stored comb structure?
Answer
It causes stored combs to collapse, rendering them unusable
The act of tunneling by wax moth larvae, driven by their consumption of beeswax, has severe structural consequences for stored honeycomb frames. As the larvae bore through the hexagonal wax cells to access the stored contents, their activity weakens the overall architecture of the comb. This structural compromise, often exacerbated by the creation of webbing, eventually leads to the physical disintegration or collapse of the stored combs. Once the comb collapses, it is severely damaged, preventing its reuse for storing honey or for supporting a future colony, thus representing a significant loss of valuable beekeeping equipment and product.
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