Small Hive Beetle Solution

[Scott Derrick]

I found out from a friend (Travis Ulbrich) that SHB do not like smoke. I actually put his theory to the test the other day. The way is works is that you take a cookie sheet and place a small amount of cooking oil (enough to cover the bottom) in the sheet. Then you get your smoker rolling well. Remove a frame and hold it over the oil (about 2.5 feet above it). You then hit it with smoke. What happens is that the SHB lock up and fall into the oil. Be careful though. You want the frame high enough above the pan that any bees that fall can take flight. Holding the frame to closely will cause a few bees to drop into the oil as well.

Just a thought for you to try if you are having problems with SHB

[Perry]

I filed that tip away for the day those critters arrive up here.

[Woody Roberts]

That's a good tip. As a general rule since I started using the IPK bottoms from Green beehives I have no issues with SHB.
However this year saw me making more new hives than I had bottoms for. I just put them on regular solid bottoms and plan to change them out in the spring. I had forgotten how many of these can be in a hive.

With the IPK bottoms it's rare to see a live one. With the solid bottoms some hives may have in the hundreds. Their strong enough that I haven't lost any yet but the corners they have them corelled in may be six deep.

I can usually flatten all the way to the bottom of the pile though.

[Scott Derrick]

Woody that works well with Langs. I'm primarily a TBH guy. I have SBB on one of my TBH but the colonies that are solid do much better. I think it has something to do with heat. I'd like to get involved in on of those scale project to monitor them from one of my TBH"s.

[Woody Roberts]

On my long langs I have #6 mesh on the bottom with a 3" box below. I set aluminum pans with veg oil under the screen.
These offer no ventilation.

[Bakersdozen]

Sometimes this forum makes me think I'm working for the government or something. I find myself thinking out loud TBH= Top Bar Hive, SHB= small hive beetle, etc.

Woody- what are IPK bottoms? and Green beehives?

Scott- Thanks for the tip.  I will definitely experiment with that.  It's so fun watching those nasty critters drown.

[Barbarian]

Thanks for the thread.

In view of the Italian situation, I will be scanning the SHB posts.

[Woody Roberts]

Bakers dozen
Sorry about getting back to this so late. Just saw it. In the fall/winter hunting occupies most of my free and Internet time.

Green beehives is a company that sells beekeeping supplies. I don't know why he calls his bottoms the IPK.
Google green beehives and he will come up.

Shipping is horrendous if you order one. They also can take awhile to get. 30 days or better is not uncommon. I usually order 5 about this time of year but this year I need 10 at least. I put some new starts on solid bottoms last year and have to get them replaced.