Slugs in hives

[Bumble]

Checking the fondant situation today, one colony had a large slug stretched out along the crown board between each frame. That's at least 8 slugs in one hive - I couldn't see the whole length of the frames because there's fondant on top of the crown board. (Won't do that again!) The slugs are huge, probably about 6 inches long.

I'm guessing they got in through the entrance, while the bees weren't looking.

I decided to leave them, until it's warm enough to meddle with inside the hives, but now I'm wondering if I should have made the effort to remove them today.

[gavin]

I'm not sure that they do any harm but it certainly has a yuck factor to find them in there. By the time you put supers on they'll be elsewhere. I pick them off when I find them but I'm sure that they find their way back.

[Bumble]

I'm glad it's nothing too unusual. Hopefully they will go away on their own.

I've seen tiny ones before, but never these giant ones. I think they're Leopard or Tiger slugs. The yuk factor is around 150%!

[Ely]

I found a dead snail entombed in wax at the bottom of a frame last year. I guess it was moving that slowly the bees built around it hehe

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[Silvbee]

Checking the fondant situation today, one colony had a large slug stretched out along the crown board between each frame. That's at least 8 slugs in one hive - I couldn't see the whole length of the frames because there's fondant on top of the crown board. (Won't do that again!) The slugs are huge, probably about 6 inches long.

I'm guessing they got in through the entrance, while the bees weren't looking.

I decided to leave them, until it's warm enough to meddle with inside the hives, but now I'm wondering if I should have made the effort to remove them today.

You might want to look at the hives ventilation as slugs and snails need it damp to survive. Condensation may be buildling up in the hive hence so many slugs.

[Bumble]

It's a poly hive with an open mesh floor, on an open stand about 18 inches high. Polycarbonate crown board with fondant above. Good top insulation.

It's been very wet, much of the ground is waterlogged but there isn't anything we can do about it. Slugs are about the only thing we've managed to grow in the past twelve months. There's no point in trying to move them elsewhere, everywhere within miles is wet.

In this situation would you increase ventilation by raising the crown board?

@ Ely - waxed snails. Would there be a market for those?

[Dark Bee]

.................................................. ........@ Ely - waxed snails. Would there be a market for those?

Call the product "Escarcot Cire" and yes there will be a market for them

[austintexasbeewrangler]

slugs and snails need it damp to survive

I have noticed, even in the heat of Texas, our honey bees benefit most in full sun. Perhaps moving the bees to a brighter location. This is challenging, as you must keep in mind the circumference bees travel. I always pitch my langstroth hives slightly forward to help with drainage of water.

[The Drone Ranger]

I have noticed, even in the heat of Texas, our honey bees benefit most in full sun. Perhaps moving the bees to a brighter location. This is challenging, as you must keep in mind the circumference bees travel. I always pitch my langstroth hives slightly forward to help with drainage of water.

Hi there
Down in texas you might have more to worry about than slugs though
Are the africanised bees gradually working their way up from the south and causing you problems ?

[Mellifera Crofter]

I have noticed, even in the heat of Texas, our honey bees benefit most in full sun. ...

Yes, I've noticed that. Up here on my hill I had to choose between wind or sun and chose the first. I now think I should move them towards the sun and just keep the the hives nearer to ground level to protect them from the wind or keep the varroa trays in. The trees only provide wind protection from one direction anyway.

The occasional slug is not a problem. I've seen them turned into 'biltong' (or jerky). Made me wonder whether they were stung to death.
Kitta