Small Hive Beetles
The SMALL HIVE BEETLES ARE HERE!!!!!!!
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANY BEETLES COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY or your not looking.
One way to find these pests is to move the bees down from the top super by smoking or fuming. then take it off the hive and slam it down on a solid flat surface. ( I use the flat bed of my truck.) Then pick the box back up and look under it. Your looking for small dark brown or black bugs about 1/4" or so around. You can smash them with a hive tool or something hard. These bugs are fast but it is surprising to me how slow they are in cooler weather (less than 68 degrees).
These pests seem to be held in check by the bees in a strong hive. Weak hives seem to have problems with them. I also have seen a difference between the hives that are in the shade and the hives in full sun. Some of the hives in full sun have been without any beetles.
At one of my locations I have bees in two different places. One place has tall trees on three sides and one place has only tall trees on the south side they are about 50 feet apart. The hives with less trees only had 4 or 5 beetles, that I've found, the other hives had 25 or 30 beetles.
They also seem to like the top part of the hive. I'm not finding them in the middle or bottom of the hives. Keep in mind I have Screen bottom boards.
I understand that in other parts of the USA the biggest problem with these pests have been in the honey house. Be sure you extract as soon as possible. (within 3 days) Also, DO NOT leave your capping's sitting around. The beetles are most likely in them and could lay eggs there. Melt them or Process them as soon as possible.
The way these pests operate is they enter an empty cell and cut a hole into the next cell that is full of honey and then deposit eggs inside that cell. There have been as many as 300 eggs found in one cell. In a few days these eggs hatch and become larva or worms and tunnel through the honey comb making a BIG MESS, ruining everything, destroying honey and hive.
I understand that they can't take the cold. They must be kept warm by the bees. So if the bees die in the winter the beetles do too. Not that this is any consultation.
I am aware of only one approved treatment for these pests. Checkmite strips. Consult the instructions.
I've heard of a treatment that is not approved, but some beekeepers are using it. It has worked in killing the beetles and doesn't seem to bother the bees. Basically you get some plastic cardboard (like political signs) and cut them into 2" by 5" pieces so that the holes are across the short side not the long side. Buy some COMBAT roach bait in the syringe. Squirt some into every 4th or 5th hole.
Make sure to clean the cardboard off with a paper towel so that none of the bait is where the bees can get to it. Place one on the top bars and one on the bottom board. The holes are too small for the bees to enter and are just the right size for the beetles to hide in. I have heard that the beetles try to hide from the bees and that this really works well.
Leave in for about a week and then discard.
Good luck.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANY BEETLES COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY or your not looking.
One way to find these pests is to move the bees down from the top super by smoking or fuming. then take it off the hive and slam it down on a solid flat surface. ( I use the flat bed of my truck.) Then pick the box back up and look under it. Your looking for small dark brown or black bugs about 1/4" or so around. You can smash them with a hive tool or something hard. These bugs are fast but it is surprising to me how slow they are in cooler weather (less than 68 degrees).
These pests seem to be held in check by the bees in a strong hive. Weak hives seem to have problems with them. I also have seen a difference between the hives that are in the shade and the hives in full sun. Some of the hives in full sun have been without any beetles.
At one of my locations I have bees in two different places. One place has tall trees on three sides and one place has only tall trees on the south side they are about 50 feet apart. The hives with less trees only had 4 or 5 beetles, that I've found, the other hives had 25 or 30 beetles.
They also seem to like the top part of the hive. I'm not finding them in the middle or bottom of the hives. Keep in mind I have Screen bottom boards.
I understand that in other parts of the USA the biggest problem with these pests have been in the honey house. Be sure you extract as soon as possible. (within 3 days) Also, DO NOT leave your capping's sitting around. The beetles are most likely in them and could lay eggs there. Melt them or Process them as soon as possible.
The way these pests operate is they enter an empty cell and cut a hole into the next cell that is full of honey and then deposit eggs inside that cell. There have been as many as 300 eggs found in one cell. In a few days these eggs hatch and become larva or worms and tunnel through the honey comb making a BIG MESS, ruining everything, destroying honey and hive.
I understand that they can't take the cold. They must be kept warm by the bees. So if the bees die in the winter the beetles do too. Not that this is any consultation.
I am aware of only one approved treatment for these pests. Checkmite strips. Consult the instructions.
I've heard of a treatment that is not approved, but some beekeepers are using it. It has worked in killing the beetles and doesn't seem to bother the bees. Basically you get some plastic cardboard (like political signs) and cut them into 2" by 5" pieces so that the holes are across the short side not the long side. Buy some COMBAT roach bait in the syringe. Squirt some into every 4th or 5th hole.
Make sure to clean the cardboard off with a paper towel so that none of the bait is where the bees can get to it. Place one on the top bars and one on the bottom board. The holes are too small for the bees to enter and are just the right size for the beetles to hide in. I have heard that the beetles try to hide from the bees and that this really works well.
Leave in for about a week and then discard.
Good luck.
Labels: small hive beetles
posted by Tom Thornton at 1:10 PM
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