Beekeeping Means Controlling Small Hive Beetles

Beekeeping has many pests that can destroy your hive and small hive beetles are one of them. Let's talk about some ways to control SHB.
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[@frankslaman3950]

I’m not sure whether my chickens or the weather can take credit, but in 5 colonies I’ve not seen one hive beetle.

[@beek]

You are so lucky!

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

I had hives in chicken coop with same results. No beetles to speak of

[@Beeyond-the-lake-honey-co.]

No mention of peppermint. Oil, extract, or candy.

[@LairdKenneth]

Yes, I have heard good things about peppermint, the SHBs simply hate it and leave. What say you, Dave?

[@jimjim7708]

small vacuum might work easier than smashing

[@jeremiahyeo5863]

I find that a more convenient way of smashing the hive beetles when you pull out your screen board - is have one of those large rectangular Tupperware containers. You just tap the screen board on its side onto the Tupperware container and all the hive beetles fall right off. Then I put a lid on that container so that I can go either smash them somewhere else or feed them to my chickens. Watch those chickens go crazy! This way it’ll eliminate the chances of these sequestered hive beetles being able to climb back up into one of my colonies. Plus you don’t end up losing them in the grass or losing them to climbing all over the outer cover and finding a way back in.

[@toadrepublic]

David, I am a first year beekeeper, and my learning curve is steep. However, you have an uncanny way of producing videos that address every one of my questions. Thank you very much for doing what you do, and keep up the great work.

[@beek]

That's very encouraging. Glad you enjoy my channel.

[@44thala49]

Two beetle barns on bottom board, another on the top bars in the corner of the box baited with Syngenta roach gel. Your beetle problems will be over. The beetles can get inside but the bees can’t. I’ve never seen one die outside the trap; they all die inside. When it’s hot you have to replace the gel about every two weeks because it will harden, but you’ll get 99% of them in the first week anyway, and it won’t be long at all until you won’t see them at all.

[@bjornstacy9590]

I haven't really seen any in the two hives with the bee guardian entrances, but I just rehoused a feral hive from a popup camper and they are infested with hive beetles, however I haven't seen any mites with the feral hive and very few in my other two hives, so it seems Hive beetles will be my biggest nemesis in Florida

[@marionberrybees2318]

David, there's a hive tool that have the j hook and the traditional hive tool bend. I love this tool a lot. Also the straight side have a long tapering. Marion

[@LaFontaineBeeFarm]

Thank you for the video we have one little smaller hive with 6 full frames installed Nuc in April had some rain along the weather was not that god I was gonna to use formic pro treatment on them our weather is wet and it’s not hot the instruction says use with at least 7 full frames shell we proceeded with the treatment or still dangerous with that little bees in deep brood I’m going to add another brood box with empty frame s expend them and suppers and then in 3 days treat them with only one pad at the time for 10 days then another 10 days this out first year we have another 2 nd hive with strong colony and I though to add one brood frame to them but it mind to take some time and we need to treat them soon!

[@scotthenderson4376]

I tried the guardian entrances and the beetle traps. CD's and barn and the bee's just sealed the traps. The entrances didn't 100% stop them but might have kept them in low numbers. This year I used Swiffer sheets only and I do see some here and there but not many maybe a dozen on a big hive and the number in the sheets are high to many to count. I think I'll stat with the sheets

[@KerthStocker]

I use a dustbuster and vacuum them up. Start with the frames and then get the lid and inner cover. Any bee you might get can be turned loss.🐝

[@beek]

nice

[@hannasbees]

Great video!! Looking forward to seeing you at the North American Honey Bee Expo! Will you be selling any Beek Sqaud stuff there?

[@beek]

That's the plan!

[@jasonhillyer664]

Hello Dave, I am located in Decatur just west of you. I am a new beekeeper and I was given a hive last week full of bees, when the weather was very hot last week I took the top cover off to take a peek and noticed I have a lot of hive beetles. How can I take care of them with the weather now little to cold to open the hive?

[@shawncoleman8530]

I'm testing the "murder sauce" in my hives, the beetles have been really bad this year so far. I hope it works

[@o.l.stegersgarden]

Excuse this off the subject question. I'm building a top bar hive with untreated pine. Will it hurt anything to use Behr water sealer on the exterior or a stain to help preserve the hive. New beekeeper here so I'm trying to get info everywhere I can. Thank you.

[@jessicafairfax_Bens_Bees]

I've used the Thompson water sealer on my hives and haven't had any problems with the bees. Just give them a few days to dry well before using them on the hive. And you will have to reseal them after a couple years. Paint will last longer and protect the wood better.

[@marionschuller4902]

When do we remove the oil trap for the beetles? Do we leave it on all winter? We are in Ontario Canada

[@ToBeeOrNotToBeHoney]

I am lucky that our winters reduce the population of SHB so it is not an issue. But it also means that we have a much shorter season than most areas that do...

[@beek]

It helps but SHB overwinter in the winter cluster with bees

[@reginageorge6303]

Can you take a bucket of soapy water out to the hive to drop the beetles in? This is how we get rid of Japanese beetles and would cut down on smashing time / escaping.

[@danglasscock4273]

And I thought I was the only one who loves smashing those hive beetles!!!

[@repetebytheminute]

Have you tried the "Murder Sauce" Small hive beetle recipe? Red food dye, diathermanous earth and Crisco

[@shawncoleman8530]

I'm testing it in my hives right now. Applied it this morning. I hope it works

[@gbullys6315]

🤔 what about a Mouse sticky Trap with a piece of pollen patty àt the top the box mind you were the bees can't Enter the top .I've noticed them at the top the box more so .

[@claythomas7982]

What about Top Bar hives

[@captdawn]

Where did you find the doll house sized supers?

[@beek]

My Friend Brian makes them. He’s with the stream team or his website is: thecastlehives.com/

[@jessicafairfax_Bens_Bees]

That does look like a fancy bottle of Olive oil. Better make sure you get that back to Sherri!

[@beek]

I have got to get that filled back up!

[@toursandknowledge]

Informative 🫡

[@beek]

Thanks

[@brianw.520]

You have a friend...I've been guilty of killing a bee with my hive tool going after a beetle....

[@jcwarner5207]

I bring a bucket with soapy water and just dump beetles in the bucket. Easier than trying to smash them, also because they will fly away if you aren't fast enough.

[@beek]

good idea

[@kevinhoward4245]

Keep a strong hive and dont give them more room then they need

[@zigmanpietrowski3166]

Not hot in ct

[@tracyblevins8634]

Man that was a little to much fun 🤣

[@maxpower1337]

🐝❤

[@TheAciddragon069]

could you smear a thin coating of Vasaline on that bottom board to catch the beetles?

[@richardfeldt9641]

Had 6 hives lost them all to the beetle😮

[@beek]

That's frustrating and had to be a big mess. Sorry to hear that.

[@leeroynedsupaul]

Please I would like to know more about the hive beetles where do they reproduce from, in the ground or in the hive

[@e.l.1303]

Probably both, but definitely in the hive.

[@keithpadbury9818]

hive beetle reproduce in both soil and hive. Adult beetles lay eggs in the hive. The larvae feed on honey pollen and grow inside the hive. When the larvae (maggot) is well grown it exits the hive falls to the ground then burrows into the soil where it pupates and turns into an adult. Adult beetles can fly 5 miles to enter a new hive.

[@charliegioe3158]

Davit what does sheets do you have a chance of catching mites on it? Also, I was kind of wondering that I ask you a couple of days ago and it’s been still on my mind Charlie PA looking forward to you live stream tonight.

[@sharonc.2207]

I use the dry swiffer sheets. Would not think they work at all for mites

[@MattWelling]

David, have you tried an IPM bottom board that comes with an oil tray for small hive beetle? Dadant makes one.

[@beek]

Many many years ago I ran the West beetle oil tray below my hives. Man that was so long ago!

[@abstract1dea]

I saw one beetle and I smashed it with my finger. My traps have all been empty. Maybe because I'm new and they haven't found me yet. Looking forward to seeing you again next year at the expo.

[@richardrbrynerjr.7912]

How many beetles does it take in a hive too make beetle juice?

[@beek]

Good movie

[@jeremiahyeo5863]

3 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

[@jessicafairfax_Bens_Bees]

😂 Can't wait for the sequel to come out

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

Why not treat the soil and interrupt the beetles reproductive cycle? The more hives together the more beetles you will have coming out of the soil. Nematodes in the soil can be used to interrupt beetle reproduction. Most people treat the beetles in the hive and not the soil.

[@jpettymd]

I have mine in a rather wooded shaded area and have seen some. My questions is, if you see just a few is that a big deal? Do you only need to worry if it seems heavily populated? I have the oil traps I am about to put in just in case. Thanks!

[@HUNZY-qo3cv]

I had like 20 or 30 beetles today. Smushed half of them. I took off extra super i was hoping they’d draw out. Put grub X down two weeks ago hopefully they get gone. Probably need to freshen my beetle traps with more oil.

[@beek]

Yup

[@altaylor293]

In the small compartment in the center of the beetle jail you can put a small piece of pollen patty or some apple cider vinegar which are attractants to the beetles.

[@JClockwork13]

I have been contemplating getting the Beetle Buster bottom board. Just seems like a lot of money for each hive. Anyone else use them? Are they worth the cost? The other thing is the anti-beetle entrance reducers. Waste of money?

[@lynnehrhart5789]

I hate them. I now bring tweezers to grab them, then drop them into soapy water. Smashing them is so satisfying. Middle Tennessee here.

[@noparking4020]

I use swiffer sheets, diatomaceous earth for bottom tray, and a salt solution to spray the ground under neath, seems to work

[@davbzz]

Swiffer pads work good for me. I get the non-scented ones and put the edges so the lid holds them in place so the bees won’t pull it out.

[@jamesjutte6119]

we use Diatamacias earth in the traps. It works great

[@Pegasus209]

Here's a couple of tips for the beetle blasters: 1. Put some pollen patty in the center chamber to attract the beetles. 2. Use a pencil soldering iron to make the slots 50% bigger. I've seen lots of beetles too big to get into the traps.

[@anthonypeterson3112]

Zero small hive Beatles here so far

[@beek]

I'm so jealous!

[@anthonypeterson3112]

trade ya some mosquitoes for a few Beatles, although with the drought, there weren't many of those this year either