Author Topic: UhOh, hive beetles (Read 8083 times)

Yankee11 · « **on:** August 22, 2014, 10:34:44 am »

Just check some hives here at the house. One of the trap outs I did was infested with hive beetle larvae. I brought the hive up to my house and put in a wheel barrow. Bees were still in it they had all gathered on about 3 frames on the end away from the frame with the larva. I found the frame with the queen in it. It had most of the bees and just a little comb. I put that frame in a nuc box and carried the nuc box down and put it in the same place as the hive was sitting.

Now, I have removed all the frames and shook them in the wheel barrow to shake the bee off and get them flying figuring they will go back to the same spot and go into the nuc.

Now what to do with these pulled frames. For now I have stood them up on end in middle of wheel barrow and bees are robing the frames and larvae are falling off into bottom of wheel barrow.

Not sure what to do now?

Thinking of maybe putting about a 1/2 inch of water in wheel barrow so larva that fall will fall in water. Would like to let the bees salvage what hey want of of the frames,

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2014, 10:52:52 am »

Can they get out of the wheel barrow? If they die there I'd call it GOOD, if they can get out I would do something to prevent their survival and thus the ability to burrow into the ground and become adults.. I know that in the long run it may make NO difference, but I would think the satisfaction of KILLING them would be great, and even ONE less beetle in the hive is better than one MORE beetle in the hive

Yankee11 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2014, 11:34:19 am »

I dont think they can get out. I know if i put the water in bottom they will die.

What should I do with the frames? they have honey but some are shiny (slime, I am guessing.) will the bees clean them out. I know by leaving them out in the open for very long I will attract more beetles.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2014, 12:03:58 pm »

if you're going to let them drop into water, I would recommend adding a few drops of liquid dish soap.

Jen · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2014, 02:28:03 pm »

Dish soap idea sounds good ~ just to make sure of their demise

Slowmodem · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2014, 04:01:15 pm »

brush the bees and put the frames in freezer camp for a few days.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2014, 05:52:36 pm »

FREEZE FRAME!

sorry, got carried away there for a minute... I think soap is a bad idea = dead bees, but the water would be good if they can't wriggle their way up the sides.

Perry · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2014, 06:11:28 pm »

J Geils, we're showing our ages here!

Slowmodem · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2014, 09:17:20 pm »

Quote from: Perry on August 22, 2014, 06:11:28 pm

J Geils, we're showing our ages here!

LOL J Geils was one of the later bands!

rcannon · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2014, 09:22:22 pm »

Water will not kill them. They'll just crawl out of it. Oil will kill them.
I would scrape the wax off, down to the foundation. Burn it. Right then and there, not tomorrow. Don't take any chances with these things. They will drive you to drink if they get a foothold in your bee yard.

Riverrat · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2014, 10:44:04 pm »

I would wrap up the contents of the wheelbarrow in a garbage bag minus the water and freeze for a couple days. It will then be safe to put out and let the bees clean up. I wouldn't recommend soapy water or oil. I wouldn't want to take a chance on it doing the same to the bees that you are wanting to do to the SHB larva.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2014, 11:11:43 pm »

I would take the wheel barrow to the dump and leave it

apisbees · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2014, 09:48:09 am »

Quote from: Jen on August 22, 2014, 11:11:43 pm

I would take the wheel barrow to the dump and leave it

make sure they get buried deep so they can't emerge, as the adult is able to fly some distance.

iddee · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2014, 06:55:30 pm »

Do you or a neighbor have chickens. They know exactly what to do with them.

rcannon · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2014, 09:12:07 pm »

Chickens do love them.

If you don't have chickens, burn them. Wax and all. Burn, baby, burn.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2014, 10:42:26 pm »

Ive been keeping an eye on them to see what happens.

I stood the frames up to where they have to fall into wheelbarrow. With the heat we are having now. 99 today. The honey and SHB larvae are falling into bottom and the larvae cannot get up the sides and the sun is cooking them. They mke it up the sides about 3 inches and them they are done. (Man I feel bad for them)

The bees now have the frames cleaned up.

I did loose the hive. I checked the nuc this afternoon and the queen has left and only a hand full of bees.

BUT

I got a call today for a hive in a bird house. Going to get tomorrow. Guy said I could have the whole bird house.
Back even now.

Jen will like that.

Riverrat · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2014, 07:02:27 pm »

I got a call from a guy that had a hive in a bird house once. He said I could have the house nad the bees. Went over at night to move the hive. The bird hous was about 6" x 6" and had a paper wasp nest in it.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2014, 07:48:36 pm »

Well,

Guess what, these were big fat and green and black.

I offered to let him wear my bee jacket.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #18 on:** September 06, 2014, 10:42:54 pm »

LOL I have a veil with a hole in it to loan them folks.

riverbee · « **Reply #19 on:** September 11, 2014, 11:39:41 am »

..................

this past weekend had a farmer friend of mine come get me to take a swarm of 'bees' out of a duck house............WASPS!...........

.................

ledifni · « **Reply #20 on:** October 04, 2014, 10:57:33 am »

Lol. If it flies and it stings it's a "bee." I was talking to some people at work about my bees and one of them mentioned a "bee nest" by his house and asked if I wanted it. I asked him to describe it and he described a yellow jacket nest. I was like...um...yeah...no thanks...