These eggs are then glued together and adhere firmly to the surface on which they are laid (Akratanakul). .
Wax moths pose one of the greatest threats to weaker bee colonies. These moths are most frequently found invading the honey combs of beehives in the southern United States. This is because the warmer climate and higher temperatures are ideal temperatures for them and allow them to live for extended periods of time (Shimanuki 1980). In weaker colonies the wax moth will attack the hive when the combs are left unattended or are weakly guarded. This results in further weakening of the hive. Wax moths can have many different effects on the hive that cause them to degrade and sometimes become destroyed. The hives become weak and low in numbers because of starvation, excessive swarming of moths or they simply cannot effectively guard off the hive against the moth infestation (Taylor et al. 1989). This can ultimately result in the death of a hive if not caught shortly after the laying of eggs. .
On occasion, wax moths will attack a healthy, strong hive but will ultimately have no effect on the hive because they are usually destroyed or removed by the adult bees. In heavily populated hives the most common place where eggs are laid is within the cracks between the hive body and the bottom board. However, in certain circumstances, a wax moth will go un-noticed and burrow between the hive mat and the top bar of a frame; here they will not cause any damage. However, in weakened and abandoned hives they are often found within the hive where they are properly sheltered.
The wax moth is most often destructive to combs that are stored in the dark, warm and poorly ventilated places (Shimanuki 1980). This is because the wax moth is nocturnal and therefore will become more active during the darkness of night time (Sommerville 2009). The wax moth digs its way through the hive into the combs leaving them a mass of webs and debris.