For most hive pests no products exist that may be used in the hive. What works is exclusion, not killing.

Why chemistry is not the answer here

What kills a pest insect kills bees. Insecticides at or in the hive are not an option.

In addition, fat-soluble substances accumulate in wax and return to the cycle through foundation.

What does work

• Mouse guard: Complete protection against the commonest winter problem, fitted before the cluster forms
• Reducing the entrance: Against wasps, hornets and robbing; the area to defend shrinks
• Beetle traps: Traps inside the hive the beetle can enter but the bees cannot
• Entrance guards where invasive hornets occur
• Electric fencing against large mammals
• Water barriers under stand legs against ants

The measure that covers everything

Strong colonies. A strong colony defends itself against wax moth, wasps, ants and hive beetle without any intervention.

Pests in a living colony generally indicate weakness, not the pest. Uniting therefore comes before control.

Stored comb

This is where the real wax moth problem lies. The protection:

• Cold storage or freezing; the safest method and free of residues
• Light and air: Frames spaced apart in a light room
• Take dark comb out of circulation

Chemical products for stored comb leave residues in wax and are unnecessary where cold storage is possible.

About traps outside the hive

Sugar-baited traps are not selective and catch honey bees and beneficial insects. They do not replace reducing the entrance.

Reporting

The small hive beetle, Tropilaelaps and invasive hornets are notifiable in many countries.