Break open stuck frames?

[omnimirage]

I've had these nucs for about nine months, I captured them as swarms. Whenever I go to check on them nowadays, I haven't been pulling out the frames, as they've been stuck together. I've been nurturing these swarms from a weak state, and haven't wanted to disrupt their environment due fear of harming them, particularly the queen. However, they're much stronger now, and I'm unable to actually look at what's going on. Here are some photos of them:

https://imgur.com/a/6h6Vy

I spotted a worm crawling on top of the second hive when I opened it. I'm not sure, but it looked similar to a Wax Moth I once saw.

What should I do now? Should I go seperate the frames and check out what's going on?

[apisbees]

4 frames in a space that should have 5 frames. Is the bottom solidly attached? if it is turn the nuc upside down and pry or unscrew it Turn the nuc back over and cut the comb at the sides of the supers turn the nuc back upside down. To avoid crushing bees place a 3/4" spacer under the nuc side and a 3/8" piece across the top bars to support the frames so as to not crush the bees. Press the frame end bars down on both ends till the top bars are resting on the 3/8" strip. then lift the nuc super off all the comb.
clean up the nuc replace the bottom if solidly attached, Then pry each frame off to the side and smoke, shake, or brush the bees off the frame and then cut the excess comb away and clean the combs up as best as possible The bees will recap any of the cells that get opened. Add a 5th frame to the nucs If you are going to keep them in it for your winter. Or place a follower board along side the fast frame.
Your season now is like our mid October. Depending on climate, honey flows, for where you are I would be tempted to leave them till spring before attempting to do anything with them now. If a queen gets damaged is there enough time for them to raise a replacement and get her mated? The bees like it to be quite warm before they will produce wax readily also to repair any damage. any comb you remove or trim down will be taking away from their winter stores.
I think if you try to clean these up in your fall of the year you may be doing it a month and a half to late in the year. proceeding now you may do more damage than good.
All that being said I do not know what your climate is like and how your flows are. so proceed with caution keeping in mind what the consequences for the bees will be

[Perry]

There is really not going to be an easy way to do this I'm afraid. Time and a lot of patience (and smoke).

[LazyBkpr]

What Apis said...   It was my thought to pull the frames out together as well..   I have a filet knife thats about ten inches long I can use to cut burr comb away from sides etc before pulling frames. I can also use it to shave down comb that they build out into the space the next frame should occupy.
 

[omnimirage]

Today I did some reading into Small Hive Beetles, and I noted that their maggot form looks much like the wax moth worm, and I can't particularly tell them apart. I became concerned that my hive, the one I saw a worm in, could have more worms in there, so I decided to take out the comb that was attached to the hive. Most of the comb on the sides was full with honey. Removing it was a little difficult, and a number of bees unfortunately drowned doing so. I got the fifth frame in, but it's very packed. I saw no signs of any disease, the bees look strong and healthy. I've noticed that the comb hasn't been drawn well, I figure due to the poor spacing. Winter is approaching, but winters in Adelaide aren't particularly cold, they rarely go past freezing point even during it's peak. It's still plenty warm and strong here. Here's a photo of it afterwards:

http://imgur.com/zQmhiXj

Ended up putting that honey comb in the bucket to extract. I think my move tomorrow is to return and do whatever I need to do to space out the frames properly. I might have to shave off a bit of honey comb. I'm concerned about drowning the queen bee or whatever though.