Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Pests and Diseases => Topic started by: Les on August 17, 2015, 02:29:30 pm
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I spotted my first hive beetle yesterday. Tried to squish it but was too fast for me. So what is my next step? Wait and see if more show up?
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Just make sure your hives are in full sun and let the bees do the rest for now.
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Next step...Hope it was the only one in the county!
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it is always good to remind yourself that the adult small hive beetle is a pest but it also does no real damage to the hive. if the number of shb are small and the hive has no place for them to hide and reproduce then you will in fact have less problems with the larvae stage of the small hive beetle which is the little bugger that does the most damage. you can make a list of what to do when the small hive beetle arrives... 1) place hive in full sunshine, 2) remove any vegetation from around the bottom of the hive*, 3) keep the hive healthy and strong and 4) get rid of an burn any old and rotting bee equipment.
*a really hard surface or old driveway also makes the shb existence pretty meager since it want to burrow into the ground as it approaches the pupae stage. I have one location on the top of an old old coral reef (dating back to the time when Texas was an inland sea) and I have almost no small hive beetles at that site.
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Thanks for the advice folks!
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I use a drench around my hives.
I use Permethrin SFR and it seems to be working.
Inside the hives I use Beetle Barns with bait.
I got my small hive beetle problem under control again.