Hi, can anyone help me with problem?
We have found this grainy substance around the flow frames. Is it SMB related or evidence of other pests?
We do have some SHB but not many were seen on the last inspection. This grainy substance has increased since then.
Any help in identifying it and how to I get rid of it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Kathy
It could be SHB or wax moth larva trails through the wax and propolis that the bees had used to seal the gap between the frame and the box. Really nothing to worry about if that’s the case as long as things are good on the inside. If you only see it on the outside then the bees are probably doing a decent job keep the inside pest free and tidy.
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Hi, thanks for your reply - what a relief!
Inside the hive all seemed to be in order when we last looked.
Do you think we should lift out the frames and clean out all this mess?
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As long as you think it’s not a monumental amount inside the box, the bees will clean it up over time if it’s in their way. I’d think it would be enough to run your hive tool along the metal strip there and scrape away the stuff on the outside. That way, you won’t accidentally brush any into your jars when you harvest - or have to look at it in your harvesting video 
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If you think the particles extend inside the Flow channel, you could wrap a damp cloth (even cheesecloth - nothing too bulky) around the flow key. Secure it well with elastic bands, then gently push it into the Flow channel to pick up the wax crumbs.
If you don’t want to do that, you can always filter any wax particles out of the honey after you have harvested. It is easy to do in the kitchen. I just use a small kitchen strainer in the top of a large capacity, wide mouth mason jar. I haven’t had to do it with Flow honey, but have done it many times with spinner-extracted honey. Very easy.
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It looks normal to me, just some kind of crumbly propolis mixture the bees used to fill the gap between the Flow Frames and metal strip. I suspect you wouldn’t find it inside the honey trough at all, but sometimes wax debris can fall into the base of the trough but this seems to only happen sometimes.
Thanks Eva, I plan to visit the hive tomorrow and will clean up as you suggest 
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Hi Dawn, I don’t think it is in the channel but there does look to be some honey/nectar dips in it. I will check tomorrow- thanks for your cleaning tip!
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Hi Bianca, thanks for the support. It is comforting to know that it is not out of the ordinary ( I was worried it may have been some kind of waxy egg pest mixture 
).
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HI Dawn! “waving”
How goes your apiary? I’ve not seen you on the boards in a while but then my visitation has been spotty. At any rate I always love your commentary.
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Hiya @Martha! 
Bees are doing well. One hive got nasty - queen superseded and now producing semi-africanized offspring. We requeened a month ago with nice mated Italian queens from Olivarez, so everything should gradually settle down. Flow supers are on, but we haven’t had much rain this Spring, so we will see how they do for honey.
Good luck with your Russians. Nice to see you posting again.
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