Making Small Hive BeetleTraps with the "FatBeeMan"

Don the "FatBeeMan" shows you how to make a cheap and effective trap for the small hive beetle

[@chappy726]

Love this guy!!! Quick, practical, and CHEAP ways to get the job done. Subscribed

[@loveserick]

FatBeeMan You are a Genius, I spent all day looking for a solution to a hive beetles and your political traps are the awesome way to deal with them. Thanks.

[@poprocz]

Excellent and free info. Thank you Fatbeeman and camera dude.

[@honeybacres]

Thanks for showing us how you do this. I have just made my own top bar hive and I reckon these will be just right for me to control hive beetle in it.

[@brugdealer]

I love you, Fat Bee Man! You are so smart! I love your ideas and will use this!

[@TheCaracatusPotts]

I'm tickled pink to advise that as a Wanna bee Hedger, I was able to show this video to my local beekeeping supplier, here in Oz, who was suitably impressed, both by my research in finding the vid, and your nifty idea for beetles (I got the impression he thought the US didn't have beetles, only mites). Either way, this great little idea will be at the forefront of my pest eradication when I finally get set up. Thanks for such an educational video.

[@jayrobertson1689]

oh yea! thanks,I bet that works pretty good,and cheap you know I love that,keep em coming

[@normabowman-bell193]

Thank you, Fatbeeman.You're awesome.

[@fineshooter]

@TheJacquster well why worry about marring the bottom boards? if not stapled down the bees move it out or can get boric acid all over bottom boards not good for bees to eat.that's why I use Crisco to seal ends till SHB's eat there way thru it.

[@darrelpelham]

now that is information! Thanks Don!

[@LikodsaPayag]

Thanks for teaching us sir' it helps a lot...

[@eisbar3664]

Thank you!

[@TheJacquster]

Hi Don, thanks for getting back with me! Another question: The only thing I don't like is having to mar the bottom board with staples. do you have another suggestion for keeping that bait secured? What if you didn't secure them - what would happen? Thank you --- please make more videos - you are wonderful!

[@cmpollardjr]

Great video. Thanks!! Just discovered these beetles in my hive. I will be making this trap today.

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did it work?

[@Jamesfoleyjr]

This will save your Hive, I just lost mine yesterday from the dang Beatles

[@Hitchhiker1947]

Great Channel, And Great Videos

[@fineshooter]

@TheJacquster I only use 1 on the bottom board but if you have lot use 1 in supers but staple it to a frame. Don

[@chipfriday8166]

I've seen the individual cd case where the tabs are broken off to permit entry. That size seems much more reasonable to crawl into than the cells of the Coroplast.

[@DixieGirl9876]

Graet video,my great uncle uses those signs also,but he uses Combat ant killer,(in the syringe) posion in his,been bee keeping for 45+ years.Will give the boric acid a try.I know it works for roaches.

[@fineshooter]

@wondering1956 yes you could use them but seems counter productive

[@Classicalguitarist22]

@latedinner no apparently, he said the way the trap works is the beetles eat their way in through the crisco, and the bees keep them holed up in there and they eat the acid.

[@fineshooter]

super demo and cheap to treat

[@ukewarrior]

The actual name of the plastic is: coroplast. If you can't find if for free via expired roadside signs, all you need to do is find a sign shop. They will sell you 4 x8 foot panels for about $15. Also, boric acid is available from any hardware store under the trade name of : RoachPrufe. It's also available from amazon for $9: just search on: Roachprufe.

[@tludolph18]

Awesome thanks

[@fineshooter]

I use no screened bb's staple it 1/2 inch from rear on bottom board. Don

[@Westernwilson]

Hey Don, thanks for the video. Are you still finding these traps are your best strategy, or have you changed your approach since posting this in 2009?

[@linmars2888]

what do you do when the Crisco melts and the boric acid leaks out?

[@Fentanyl3]

Vegetable shortening, the plastic sign is 3/16 corroplast typically

[@b8hovenusa]

I have a screened bottom board. Where else can I put them in the hive then?

[@natalee79]

The beetle larvae made a home in the beetle traps that you advised would deter them. There was literally hundreds that made the trap their laying quarters! I did the traps EXACTLY as you instructed but had no luck what so ever!?

[@cotteeskid]

Interesting info. Thanks. I wonder if you just had to change them more frequently than the time frame he mentioned.

[@b8hovenusa]

Where do I put this if I have a screened Bottom board. Same place?

[@DOGALR]

how would you install ,your beetle bait, on a screen bottom board, inside the hive? or on bottom side of screen out side of hive?

[@chrisboggsfmc1]

Greetings FatBeeMan. Have enjoyed many of your videos, and have a question on this one. Can you place the beetle trap in the top of the hive for ease of installation, and checking rather than the bottom? Thanks

[@brickmason13]

I was asking where to put these traps on a screen bottom board hive???

[@dougfeick5342]

how would one secure the trap on a screen bottom board?

[@Misssssysparkles]

i dont know if i like all that chemical in the beehive ive been using 3 aluminium traps with some olive oil in them but then i dont have as many hive beetles or as many hives

[@GPischner]

What if you use a screen bottom board?

[@fineshooter]

@loveserick some times what is free works best. that is why I am doing in detail all my videos and selling e books. Don

[@TheJacquster]

I'm putting you on my FAVORITES! Basically, do I need only ONE trap per bottom board, or more? You showed just one on your bottom board - Want to make sure....

[@utubeqwert]

Can I use oxalic acid instead of boric?

[@roymurray331]

Where do you buy your boric acid

[@Fentanyl3]

Mr. BeeMan, where do you buy the bulk Boric Acid?

[@MrJbrountas]

The material he's using is called chloroplasts it's available at sign shops if you want to purchase it

[@curiosoneee]

where do you find boric acid ?

[@platedheart]

do you think i can use bacon grease?

[@b8hovenusa]

where does one buy Boric Acid? Pharmacy?

[@wildcat19671]

the whole idea of a screen bottom is to let the beetles fall through, I would find another place to attach it or put a board under the screen an inch or so down but not touching the hive body anywhere that way the beetles cant crawl back up but still find the trap when they fall through the screen.

[@shaunhume5334]

Definatley going to try this... What is crystal exactly i'm from RSA so not to sure what kind of product that is????

[@nevinyoung]

It is not "crystal" it is "Crisco" which is a brand name for a vegetable shortening in semi-solid state, sort of like lard but vegetable based. I am sure you have vegetable shortening of some brand or other wherever you are?

Nevin Young so you can use roach proof stuff with boric acid to correct?

[@TheCaracatusPotts]

Sh*t!! That first line should have read: "Wannabee Newbee". But it's still a great idea. Thanks again.

[@fineshooter]

still using them today.if it works why fool around more. Don

[@freekansee]

Hi Don Hi Guys the beetle arrived in Italy ... so europ will be facing the same as Australia and The US I have question Boric acid can be bought but critical I dont know what to use we dont have vegetable equivalent to lard could peanut butter or something else do ? I want to set up traps in the drawers of my hives as I have imported from Italy so far no larvae signes apparently beetles could be there I need to check asap before winter could you telle me their behavious in winter =?

[@jimcollins3246]

I assume lard works as well as Crisco

[@jett888]

Does this work on Politicians too? :~} Thanks for this! We don't have many hive beetles in San Diego- but we do have wax moth.

[@shannonswyatt]

Boric Acid is available lots of places. Check google. Don, I hope you have recovered from the recent attack on your hives. I was thinking about trying these on the follower board of a top bar hive. I was also wondering if you have tried attaching it to the inside of a super?

[@eberntson]

Don't bees access the Crisco? If they get through it can't the bees access the boric acid?

[@fineshooter]

it is a cooking grease

[@fineshooter]

I buy from the chem store on line

[@fineshooter]

easy Norma got big nuff head now========lol Don

[@beebob1279]

Is boric acid legal to use on hives in the U.S.? Even though I understand the beetles die and stay in the slots of the sign it is a concern of mine. Thanks for the response. I've also heard that oxalic acid isn't approved in the U.S. for use either as a dribble or a vapor. Any comment on this? thanks.

[@ninja2134]

Well Bob I did some follow up with the EPA Pesticides Division and asked them about the legality of using Oxalic acid in my hives. Here is their response: "We have responded to your inquiry. Thank you for your follow-up question. While the agency does regulate the sale and distribution of unregistered pesticides, it does not regulate the personal use of unregistered pesticides. There may be unidentified hazards associated with the personal use of products that are not registered pesticides, but it is not a violation of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act for you to personally use the chemical. However, since bees produce honey, there may be food or other consumer product purity considerations under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act if you sell honey or any other hive products. It is also worth noting that this response only addresses federal laws and regulations. You might consider contacting your state pesticide regulatory agency to ask if any state laws apply." So it appears that there is no federal law that prohibits using it in my hives. I also inquired into the food, drug and cosmetic act and there were no established requirements regarding oxalic acid. I have also contacted my own state regulatory agency, but have not yet received a reply from them.

[@beebob1279]

FreakyScaryChannel got news for you. Alfred's comment is about oxalic acid, and not boric acid. You must be on acid yourself if you can't tell the difference between the two. If you read the response by the EPA, a person can use this for personal use. He can't sell the honey because now it's not for personal use. No, I'm not an attorney prick or a brainless sheep. Not using breathing apparatus is very dangerous while using oxalic acid. It causes damage to the kidneys. Do you know what a kidney is? Probably not since you don't know the basic differences between oxalic acid and boric acid. There are serious legal implications to using an non approved product in a hive if something happens. I would love to use oxalic acid for mite control. It's cheaper which is likely the reason why it's not permitted. The chemical companies don't want a cheap and effective method for controlling the mites. Where I need to spend a few dollars per hive I can treat for pennies on the hive. But, again the legal issues if someone buys my honey and something is wrong? I'm in trouble. As for boric acid and small hive beetle control. This is a great idea. I've got political signs ready to be cut up and used. The problem is I would never use it with honey supers on the hives. Never saw boric acid being approved for small hive beetle control in beehives. You never know what might happen. I would chance it (maybe) in my queen rearing yards only because it's not messy like the oil traps out there. You can call me paranoid, but better safe than sorry.

[@FreakyScaryChannel]

Bee Bob "Is boric acid legal to use on hives in the U.S.? Even though I understand the beetles die and stay in the slots of the sign it is a concern of mine. Thanks for the response. I've also heard that oxalic acid isn't approved in the U.S. for use either as a dribble or a vapor. Any comment on this? thanks." Bobby, Is this or is this not your comment...?

[@beebob1279]

FreakyScaryChannel The issue is legality. If that boric acid gets into the food product and someone gets sick, then it's the beekeeper's neck on the line. You want to get sued then use it and see what you lose when someone gets poisoned. You don't have to be nasty.

[@ninja2134]

oxalic acid is now approved for use as a mitricide in honey bee hives in the US. I don't know about boric acid... Never used it not sure what I wold use it for.

[@RummelsdorfLabs]

Thats what i meant when i wrote "dry acid".

[@brickmason13]

i dont see any replys to screen bottom boards ??

[@cheddar411]

Id use a small pc of thin plywood and staple straight through the screen on the bottom board.

[@jameshuynh7300]

Ascorbic acid is actually Vitamin-C we use for common cold.

[@joer5627]

This is boric acid. A different producr

[@fineshooter]

as long as you put in plastic sign never lost any bees

[@426superbee4]

Don the heat melt the Crisco oil and mix with the poison > RUNS all over the bottoms

[@pamelawannamaker242]

My bees just proplized over the crisco

[@RummelsdorfLabs]

When handling dry acid, i prefer to wear protective gloves!

[@vickilunceford4293]

Sometimes it's the wife who's the beekeeper...just sayin'!

[@fineshooter]

@lifeiwithmars some people need mouth cleaned up with soap. Don

[@fishmut]

lol i like your comment Don lol i had my fair share of it in my mouth as a youngster hehe , still has no affect on me , cant help commenting to the idiots who don't watch a video then ask dumb questions .

[@henryb.8005]

Tried in 40 hives in South Florida. Didn’t work. I tried.

[@hogmouthfishingcharters4546]

My Beatles don't like crisco at all I put these kind of traps and nothing after two months.

[@gonicjon]

i call it plastic cardboard

[@fineshooter]

ok=====here goes,if you walk on your grass in early morning don't your feet get wet? where you think that moisture goes when the sun hit it???==up in your hive. now think what other problems are you causing? Don

[@TheRainHarvester]

What was this response to? Just curious

[@theSam91]

Those "Political signs" are made of something called corflute, just so you know ;-)

[@hristonancovski4060]

Alk of that chemistry with you're bare hand! Disaster

[@rhulec6472]

A SMALL TRAP FOR A BIG PROBLEM DON;T CUT IT.

[@burmahero1]

Mr. Fat Bee I must tell you that you are being cheated by your technician. Why because all your videos on bee keeping are of very poor quality. Just sharing my sincere opinion. Better improve your video quality. You are doing a wonderful job for bee keepers. Just tell the technician to increase the video to 1080p instead of 480p.when he uploads your videos.