NEGLECT your BEES & PAY the PRICE | Bee Hive Dead Outs (Nasty)

[@brucesbees]

Honestly I really did not want to do this video. It is somewhat embarrassing and discouraging for me when these kinds of things happen. But I thought it was important to share it with you. Obviously I need to do better. What kinds of strategies do you utilize to control this type of issue?

[@tedkraft6416]

Bruce, I think the only thing anyone can do is get into the hives routinely and observe them daily. Nothing to be embarrassed about. These things happen and it really sucks. Posting it is a good thing and provides us all an awakening that we sometimes need. My only concern would be how those hives are handled once discovered. I think I would have gone out there with large plastic totes and plastic garbage bags to pack them up and get them out of the bee yard and as far away as I could to prevent any from reinfesting. Someone recommended chickens - likely would have been a good choice for me. I got into my hives last week after being away for about 2 weeks. Noticed a higher than usual presence of beetles and deployed the roach baited traps and swifter sheets. Will check on Sunday to see how things are going.

[@nathando2998]

Screened with tray bottom board and food grade diatomaceous earth in the tray will solve SHB problem AFTER they get in the hive, use a trap to catch the beetles BEFORE they get in the hives. For trap I just use soda bottles and cut couple 1in holes on the side. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3m4nn5riNGtjrc kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqTUlnh7fNuSgK8

[@gregwaskom552]

The beetles only take over weak colonies.

[@sidelinerbeekeeper]

I try to learn from my mistakes now to prevent it from happening again seasonally. My problem the last few years has been dearth. When the dearth comes, in goes entrance reducer to stop any robbing. The strong will pick on the weak. Any with queen issues like queen replacement are the first to get robbed. The ones alive and packed with honey are probably the ones robbing, fooled me thinking there was a flow. I now feel feeding is so important to keep robbing from happening and to keep brood rearing going for stronger colonies. This year I was still late, I have found 2 on the brink of starvation and one dead from starvation, others are shutting down brood rearing. Obviously you have a major beatle problem more so than mites, I don't have beatles but I would stay on top of it since it happens every year around this time. Like Ian said, the bees will let you know if you have too many.

[@brucesbees]

True. Thanks for sharing!

[@primitivedaisy]

Thanks for sharing the good with the bad, and giving us an inside look at what those nasty bugs can do to our hives.

[@wallacebeehives-donnawalla9856]

Thank you for sharing Bruce. It is an important lesson for us all.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

So sorry to see this happen. Thanks for showing to us what can happen to a hive an also thank you for being man enough to show the good an the bad of what can happen if it gets overwhelming to take care of them . I really enjoy your video’s. The good an bad .

[@mattsara2802]

Thanks for sharing this with us. Vary crazy how fast they can take over. Hope you can get them under control.

[@brucesbees]

I think I am on it for the most part. The towels and blasters usually do the trick. I just didn’t get on it soon enough. I might lose a few more but hopefully have pretty much put a stop to it.

[@l808b]

Chickens love the hive betel larva! I put the frames an bottom board in the chicken coop an they will take care of them before they can complete the cycle in the ground.

[@marcusjordan2518]

Incredible what hive beetles can do to a hive.

[@thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924]

You are absolutely right. When we don’t get to them we do pay the price in hive beetle country. I have adopted your blow torch trick and used it a few times. Works better than a hive tool. Stay safe

[@mrtraumaboyy4098]

Wow!! Thank you so much for sharing this Bruce!!

[@bruceandhisbees1770]

Hi Bruce, I appreciate you doing this difficult video. I really liked the way you are using your beetle blasters: I have pretty much phased those out after I spilled the oil a few times. Cheers, Bruce

[@brucesbees]

Yes. It really works though it is not the approved method. It seems many times the most effective methods are not necessarily the ones that are commonly known. Thanks for checking in!

[@texascountry23]

This is reality an what sometimes can happen in bee keeping. Thank you for doing video cause as a new bee keeper I need to see all the good, the bad, an ugly. I experienced small hive beetles on my 3rd hive. So I know the feeling

[@Sunset4Semaphores]

Thank you for sharing this. Bad information related to bees is critical. I know hobby bee keepers that fight this all the time. It is extremely demoralizing for them. It is a fact of life keeping bees in the southeast.

[@brucesbees]

This is true. Thanks!

[@firekrys]

How do you keep the beetles on the ground from getting into your other hives next to them?

[@brucesbees]

That is a challenge. And probably a big part of my problem. I just load the hives up with traps and beetle control methods and hope it works. I might look into other solutions in the future (nematodes etc)

[@danielhowiesr.2593]

New beekeeper this past year(2021). I obtained my first nuc in 2020, and everything looked good for the first year, but in 2021, my hive swarmed and I began to worry. I opened the hive, and it looked exactly like one of your destroyed hives, with the beetle larva rampant! Also had the web material from the wax beetles. I was about sick to see the destruction, and took all the frames out and scraped and cleaned everything from hive. I will get another nuc this late winter or early spring. I was disappointed and wondered if beekeeping is not my gig, but I am not throwing in the towel this quick! Going to try it again with a little more work on my part.

[@brucesbees]

That is the attitude you have to have. Don’t give up! If you can afford it I would recommend getting two colonies so you can compare and learn faster. But if not able just don’t give up! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3vMYmV6i8R7m7M

[@AndrewAHayes]

What do the Dixie towels work?

[@brucesbees]

Yes they work well. The beetles get caught in them and die.

[@tommartins712]

thanks for posting this. not what you want to happen, but, sometimes it does...

[@MERRLINN]

What does the towels do for hive beetles?

[@brucesbees]

The beetles get caught in them and die

[@MERRLINN]

@@brucesbees thanks

[@12ArmyNavy12]

I can understand your embarrassment, but I am also thankful to see how bad the SHB's can get. I hope I learn well from your video. Again Thanks.

[@michaelpariera4328]

What is the name of the stuff you put in the bettle trap?

[@brucesbees]

Advion

[@HERBALNATUMAN1]

What is that stripe full of beetles, where do I get them.

[@brucesbees]

Dixie disposable towels (H700). You can get them online. Some people use swifter sheets to accomplish the same thing.

[@hollyshields5390]

I certainly appreciate you sharing!

[@silver_inferno]

How do you treat for the beetles ?

[@brucesbees]

I use Beetle Blasters and Dixie H470 disposable towels. And this year I have started using grub ex around the hives.

[@brucesbees]

There are some videos on the channel about it.

[@charlesoneill466]

Thanks for showing this video. It would have been part of the story you might have preferred not to tell. I think you are right on regarding what happened. Queen events. Left hive with too much hive to guard.

[@jasonscruggs986]

Which advion do u buy I looked up on ebay was couple different types just want to make sure I order right one. Thanks

[@jasonscruggs986]

Any recommendations?

[@homerbloodysimpson]

What's the strips of towel do? I mean are they sticky or something?

[@tedkraft6416]

Those strips of towel, some of us us swifter sweeper sheets instead, entrap the beetles in the fibers of the material. The bees usually don’t get stuck in them, but once in a while one might. The beetles just get tangled up in them and die. They work well.

[@hopesadler4000]

Great video Bruce. Stuff happens and just have to move on. I took your roach gel tip from another video but probably used to much but made sure bees couldn't get to it. I treated 20 hives today and only saw a beetle in 2, so feel fortunate.

[@brucesouthernsassapiaries8316]

I have started to put affected frames from a slime out into a deep tote box and fill it up with water. It drowns the larvae, beetles and wax moths and helps to wash out any remaining pollen. It helps to salvage comb.

[@brucesbees]

Hmmm. I like that idea.

[@smidee1]

Ok I get what your doing for honey bees but what do you do for native bees?

[@brucesbees]

Not sure what you mean. The native bees pretty much take care of themselves. We have a lot of bumblebees and others around here that seem to do just fine.

[@smidee1]

@@brucesbees honey bees are now out numbering native bees. Each bee species has their who job to do. I thought the great die off of bees was just about honey bees but I was wrong it’s about native bees over honey bees. What I have found is if you take logs place them on there side and drill different size holes then this well give them a home and help pollinate other flowers that honey bees do not touch.

[@flyingham2640]

I wonder if a strong salt solution would kill the larva. Kinda like when we were kids and put salt on slugs. First year back I hope I don't get a chance to try it this year.

[@brucesbees]

I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe so!

[@andrewlee4722]

Bruce, that k you for making the videos. I appreciate that you showed the good and the bad. That's just life sometimes. Question for you though, is it considered a dead our or more if an abscond? Not trying to split hairs, just curious since I didn't see a lot of dead bees. Thanks again

[@brucesbees]

In truth probably more of an abscond.

[@stevecrapo507]

Wow Bruce. I don’t know how you do it all. It sounds to me like your bees would be a full time job. I really enjoyed the video. I learn so much from them.

[@honeyspicealaska3448]

So sorry for your hives. I'm glad I dontbhave to worry about beetles in Alaska, though we have our own problems to contend with

[@brucesbees]

Absolutely. Every location has its own problems to deal with. I imagine the cod weather really becomes an issue up there.

[@KajunHomestead]

can you make a video on checking the beetle towels and baited traps

[@brucesbees]

I will try to remember to do that. Thanks.

[@DavidClunie]

@@brucesbees also what do the towels do? Are they treated with something? Do the Beatles just eat then and die? Is it just the "smell" that drives the Beatles off? Just want to understand what the towels actually do and how they do it! 😁

[@brucesbees]

The beetles get caught in the towels and die. No added chemicals in the towels. Their legs just get caught in the fibers.

[@DavidClunie]

@@brucesbees wow that's awesome! I saw the one towel you pulled off and it was covered! So effective it would seem as long as you keep up on your hives. Again thanks for this type of content helps everyone and the expectations of keeping bees and the struggles to do so!

[@tomasjosefvela1]

Thanks for sharing, that's gotta be tough to deal with but I'm sure it saved many people from the same.

[@russellkoopman3004]

Sure glad we don't have SHB in MN. YUK!! Don't beat yourself up too much. We all get busy sometimes and don't get everything done that we should. You have learned a lesson and that is important. I started the spring with 7 hives and sold off some to get down to just 4 hives - that's enough I thought. 4 months later I'm sitting with 10 and more honey than I can sell. It can be hard to keep the numbers down where you are not stretched too thin. You worked so hard. Hope you can sell some hives and keep the videos coming.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the support. Yes I have become a bit overwhelmed. I am going to have to either get more efficient or downsize a bit.

[@timfaulkner4587]

I keep a tutane torch for the hive beetles if they are that bad. I’ll lay the frame on the lid so the ones on the underneath can’t escape and torch it

[@robertgodfrey3202]

Good job

[@christianshannon3943]

A heavy duty shop vac would make a quick cleanup of those larvae . I know a friend that had a couple hives that was taken over by hive beetles. His shop vac (5gallon) did the trick fast . He then used diametacious earth to sprinkle all around the ground where the larvae were .

[@christianshannon3943]

Diatomaceous

[@zetectic7968]

What a sad occurrence! I bet once the SHB get a foothold they will multiply quickly. I hope that you can get on top of this & get better results next year.

[@brucesbees]

Yeah me too. I just got behind.

[@jeffcotton2235]

The are nematodes that you can buy to treat the soil around the hive that kill the pupae of the hive beetle when they burrow into the soil. Jason Chrisman has had good success using it.

[@brucesbees]

I probably should check into that.

[@officer3054]

To get rid of hive beatle larva on the bottom board i use a blow tourch and toast them then throw them in a plastic gallon bag and trash them.

[@russellkoopman3004]

BURN baby BURN!!!

[@avocado5170]

I don't know if this would be effective for you, but have you tried vacuuming up the larvae and gunk with a shop vac with a bit of soapy water at the bottom? Be able to suck up beetles and larvae on the spot for hives that haven't died out yet and help clean up those who have. I have no idea if it would help but KZbin has sent me down a rabbit hole of yellow jacket removals, and they often use a shop vac and soapy water,, so hopefully it would help you too in these cases

[@brucesbees]

Hmm. Interesting idea. Thanks!

[@brucesbees]

Would definitely get rid of the larvae and beetles.

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

Bruce, try moving your hives into full sun, I have noticed that most of my beetle infested deadouts generally happen in shaded colonies for some reason.

[@rudolphdavis2387]

WOW..That all i can say Bruce hope you can fix the problem or have time from August to December is the month most critical time for beekeeper.

[@kentmeredith2945]

Well that was interesting! We don’t have SHB in Utah. I have always been jealous of the amazing honey crop y‘all can get in the southeast compared to our scanty little bit in the arid west. But seeing what you’re dealing with-maybe we don’t have it so bad!

[@brucesbees]

I think each place presents its own challenges. Bee basics are the same but beekeeping is regional.

[@CastleHives]

Oh man, bummer this happened. But, folks need to see this end of Beekeeping. It's not always bright sunny days and rose petals to walk on. 🐝🐝

[@brucesbees]

Yep. Really didn’t want to do this video. It’s actually a little embarrassing that I let it get to this. But felt it was important. It is possible to get so many bees that it is hard to keep up.

[@brucesbees]

Not one of my finer moments. But real world stuff.

[@CastleHives]

@@brucesbees It definitely is. That is why i stay with the number I'm at. I'd love to expand out to 20, 30, 40, etc etc. . But the time involved is what I do not have.

[@joer5627]

@@CastleHives I’m with you. I had 3 3 frame queen castles and several other 3 frame Nucs along with my others. Wound up with 18. Nope, to much like work.

[@floridasilkies3645]

Wow! That's crazy but my chickens would love to eat all of those larvae. That would be one way to clean up most of them.

[@86offroad]

Thanks for sharing. Luckily we do not have hive beetles here in Ontario, Canada. Im sure only a matter of time though.

[@donbearden1953]

Bruce, I’m sorry they got you like that! I think that’s the worst that I’ve ever seen. Harbor Freight has a propane torch for under $30 that you can connect to a 20lb tank like you use on a gas grill and you could wipe them ougg to on the bottom board. Of course you would need to be careful around the good hives. A small 1lb propane torch would work also but those 1lb propane canisters could get pricey. Have you thought about pressure washing those plastic frames and rewaxing the foundations on them? That could save you a few bucks instead of buying new ones and I’m sure you have plenty of wax. Thanks for the good bad and this one is the UGLY!

[@brucesbees]

Those are all great ideas. I should get a blow torch. One of the smaller ones could help me get my smoker lit and kill these larvae. I just never can seem to remember to get one. I have recycled some frames as you say with a pressure washer and wax but I just seem to have issues finding the time. When I ring into this kind of situation I am usually so aggravated at myself and tired that I just want to be rid of the problem. But the wise thing to do would be to reuse them for sure.

[@donbearden1953]

@@brucesbees Bruce, I use a small one to light my smoker and I have roasted SHB larvae with it but I’ve never had them like you showed in your video. You can buy a torch on Amazon and let them deliver it.

[@donbearden1953]

@@brucesbees Bruce, you put a jinx on me or I did myself. The day after I watched this video I found one of my hives almost this bad! It was the worst that I have ever had but I only have hives at 2 locations. It had been exactly 10 days since I checked the entrance and the hive was strong with lots of activity. I lost 4 frames of comb and I took the propane torch to the bottom board and even the comb on the frames. Hopefully neither one of us will loose another hive this year.

[@joer5627]

If you raise bees this will happen to you. I was feeling bad as well. Between seeing grandkids and other stuff I was out almost 10 days. Smaller colonies were nailed with SHB & wax moths. Beetles have been crazy this year. Multiple beetle blasters were in all boxes which may explain why most were seen on inner cover. I may try a bug zapper to see if it helps control wax moths. I’ve not been able to tell if nematodes helped me a few years ago. Well, we will all keep after those pests. Congrats on an exceptional honey harvest

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for checking in. It really does happen, probably to most people. But most only talk about the good stuff. This is reality. I simply have too much to do. I either need to become more efficient or downsize. Will get it figured out. Just have to keep plugging…

[@davidbutton8497]

Neglect all things and this happens we should not start what we can’t finish 🔥⚔️🔥 🐝

[@thatguy3456]

The beetle prefer bee bread I believe. I am a northern beekeeper but this is what Kamon said.

[@rpeebles]

Did you see the black soldier fly on the hive at 2:40? They don't bother beehives but are attracted to nasty smells (dead stuff and wet feed) where they lay their eggs near the nasty. I raise black solider fly larvae for my chickens and learned quite a bit about them. FYI, I lost 3 weak hives this year and had the SHB larvae inside. Very wet year here in Texas and SHB are really bad. I did find out that chickens absolutely LOVE shb and shb larvae and wax moth larvae. I wished I didn't know that though. :)

[@brucesbees]

Hmm I interesting. It’s been pretty wet here too. Maybe that contributed to the issue. You’re right about the chickens. They do love larvae of any kind. Anything that is or looks like a worm!

[@thatguy3456]

Check those mites, it is so important.

[@AKshooter100]

I keep my hives higher off the ground and keep the grass down and have never had a hive beetle issue.

[@brucesbees]

Where do you live?

[@AKshooter100]

@@brucesbees Southeeast Louisiana, not far from New Orleans.

[@brucesbees]

So probably a very similar climate and conditions as me. I am glad you are able to control the beetles. I usually don’t have problems this bad or with this many hives but I just got behind this year. Thanks for checking in!

[@AKshooter100]

@@brucesbees I have had other people ask me what I do to control them, i do nothing. I keep my hives higher off the ground, weed control and screened bottom boards.

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@AKshooter100 Do you think that by having the hive higher off the ground that this allows something to eat the shb?

[@Bourbonsouth47]

Love your videos but you seem to have more hives then u can handle might be time to slim down & the roach bait is 100% the way to go I was stunned at how quickly it kills the SHB

[@brucesbees]

Yes I either need to become more efficient or downsize it seems. We had such a successful honey season this year that I got behind honestly. It was by far the most we’ve ever had. Will regroup and see where to go from here.

[@Bourbonsouth47]

@@brucesbees I know you'll figure it out I've got 10 & it's all I want I couldn't keep up with more plus work fulltime I'd like too but I know better lol

[@ShugPhD]

Damn! Makes me extra eager to check the nuc we hived a swarm we caught in. Only 2 frames of bees and half of the third frame in there was beginning to ferment plus 5 or 6 beetles we saw and killed in there... Replaced it with a foundation and added a bit of Swiffer sheet, the first of the new brood should be emerging any day now so hopefully I can keep them under control until they're strong enough to do it themselves. No beetle larvae yet but the assumption is eggs were causing the fermantation

[@brucesbees]

Hope you can keep them at bay!

[@sbhomestead69]

OMG burn it, burn it all! I am so glad we don't have that kind of crap in Northern Idaho. We get some earwigs and some snow but damn. Burn it, burn it all. So sorry for your loses.

[@brucesbees]

I burned what I did not think was worth saving but most of the boxes etc are fine.

[@mayan9458]

I think hive beetles are just as bad as mites. Every one always says that hive beetles won’t kill a strong colony and that may be true but they will sure make it so miserable for them they won’t want to stay. Managing SHB needs a lot more research. We are using napkins to catch them for Pete’s sake. And we have to result to pesticides. I have hive beetle bottom boards on several and use diatomaceous earth and that helps a lot but there is still loads in the hives right now. All my hives have awesome bee numbers too but they still can’t keep the beetles out. We need better control measures.

[@Rinahugo]

When you recommend product or use products in your prestation, consider naming them under "Show More". Is this the correct spelling of Avieon?

[@brucesbees]

Advion. Not sure what you mean “show more?”

[@Rinahugo]

@@brucesbees Just under your video description is "Show More". It is for extended descriptions that don't in the space provided.

[@brucesbees]

Ok thanks. There is plenty of room for this info in the description. I just hesitate to have a super long description. But maybe I should add them in there. Or in the show more section. I just forget or get overwhelmed sometimes. Thanks for the suggestion🙂

[@Rinahugo]

@@brucesbees We newbie's search for all info and details we can find.

[@tprater65]

Instead of burning those wood frames, take out the foundation and leave them in full sun for a few weeks. All larve will be dead or gone. Then drop them into a bleach water container and clean them up. Or…you can box them up and send them my way. 🤣

[@1FishinAddict]

Man if you got a few chickens around, they’ll have a feast!

[@warangel80]

Soapy water might kill those hive beetles?? Idk. If not, a propane torch sure would

[@brucesbees]

Maybe so. The torch would for sure. I should probably get one!

[@daveupton8625]

Get yourself chickens they would love those larvae clean that hive up so quick.

[@FullFrontalInvestigations]

Have to take the good with the bad:)

[@Rinahugo]

Why burn plastic frames? Just power wash them or freeze them and power wash. Consider spraying the dead-out bottom boards with PAM and install a few Swiffer's. Reassemble the hive. Maybe you will attract the mature battles you missed and possibly attack new mature beetles in the apiary or new beetles arriving. I am new to beekeeping and have not had a dead-out to test this method.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the suggestion. I probably should clean and recycle. And I do that with the ones that are salvageable, but it is tedious and tie consuming and just easier to throw away and start with new frames.

[@researcherAmateur]

You just need to move plastic out of wood and let the wax moths do their job on the plastic. You will not see the difference betwine those and new ones after the moths

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

That's awful. I use a torch to kill those nasty things. Sorry you had such loses. Beetles are no joke!

[@3Beehivesto300]

Beatle revenge! I shake everything into a rubber made tote and haul to a big asphalt parking lot. Then I dump in the middle of the black and let them try to crawl to a safe place as they cook.

[@brucesbees]

Yeah they don’t do well on hot black surfaces in the sun. They are really not very tough in the elements. I like to watch them cook as well.

[@SA-xj1cs]

Carry a propane torch with you and torch the Beatles and worms on the spot

[@brucesbees]

No doubt. I need to remember to do that.

[@simmonsjn8]

chicken food man. that looks like great chicken food!

[@GoneWildKennels]

You need to donate some of your hives to Bob Binnie and his 👩‍🏫 prof’s they would be all over that im sure ?

[@44thala49]

When you lifted those bottom boxes that would have been a chicken’s wet dream come true

[@brucesbees]

For sure! They love that kind of stuff.

[@AllanGyllingOlsen]

Great…

[@eddevault4604]

That had to be months of not tending….I’ve not seen a hive beetle all year in my 50 hives….you have to keep the Larvae from getting into the ground….then they won’t pupate into hive beetles and return to the hives….That is years of letting the beetles multiply ….you have to be vigilant….not simply saying the beetles are not too bad and ignoring them….

[@brucesbees]

I definitely let these get out of control. Obviously I have not been vigilant enough. But no matter how vigilant I am on this area there will be some beetles. I guess it would be possible to prepare the ground etc and avoid a majority of the beetles but I am not sure how to do that with the multiple yards I have, some of which are on pallets and moved from time to time. I also have some locations that do not have the same issues as others. Would love to hear your strategy for keeping the larvae out of the ground. If it’s simple and feasible maybe I can give it a try. Where do you live Ed? Are you in the south?

[@D4m4g3d]

need some chickens for them larva

[@gilsonleandro8532]

Coloque tradução para q eu e outros d países d ferente consiga entender seu vídeo. Grato

[@researcherAmateur]

Wax moths would make those plastic frames look like new. They clean everything. There is no difference betwine those and new ones. You just need to wax them again

[@Guitar2Man1963]

You needs chickens to eat the beatles and larvae

[@rickhermann7639]

you need an ant eater

[@wadebarnes6720]

Too bad you don't have any chickens or a friend that raises birds

[@brucesbees]

My family has some chickens but I was quite a ways away. I ended up dumping them in the pond for the fish.

[@gregwaskom552]

Keep your hives strong. Then this wont happen. You have just been neglecting them.

[@brucesbees]

That’s exactly what the title says lol.

[@americanrambler4872]

All of the edits are distracting. I will try to watch all of this video.

[@brucesbees]

Still trying to figure out the balance. Most people don’t want to watch a 40 minute video. Thanks for watching. I tried to include what I felt like people would want or need to see.

[@EverydayKindaGuy]

Chicken fodder.

[@taylorboysoutdoors]

Shoulda took a herd of chic chics

[@brucesbees]

Yes! They would have loved it!

[@sylviafoust9545]

This is so terrible to see.