Author Topic: Are these small hive Beetles? (Read 11158 times)

jb63 · « **on:** October 20, 2018, 06:51:55 pm »

tedh · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2018, 07:34:37 pm »

I'm leaning towards wax moth larva. Ted

Edit and add: Are those pictures from a dead out?

jb63 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2018, 07:58:58 pm »

They are out of a nuc. and I didn't see any of the woolie cocoons like wax moth.

jb63 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2018, 08:03:45 pm »

This frame had plastic foundation, and on the other side there was brood.This comb looked like it had been chard and I just scraped it off with my hive tool.

riverbee · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2018, 10:30:00 pm »

jb, like ted said, looks like wax moth larvae to me

Mikey N.C. · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2018, 08:36:27 am »

Wax moth there's a larvae in pic. 4

jb63 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2018, 09:17:31 am »

Thx all. We haven't had shb here in Oregon yet, but I've killed a few this summer. I do hope they are wax moth.

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2018, 09:25:33 am »

Small Hive Beetle would probably still be running around in there with the bees. The bees usually chase them up to the top of the hive and try to corral them. They will even overwinter with the cluster. If you have seen some SHB around, but not in the hive, I would go ahead and install some beetle blasters aka beetle jails. They are a great way to tell if you have some lurking around and they are chemical free.

Lburou · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2018, 11:15:52 pm »

I see small hive beetles in the first picture. Seeing no silk cocoons, I would guess those are SHB larva. Sorry. I like to use beetle be gone from BWeaver. You can also use swiffer pads and similar cloths that trap the SHB and a few bees. HTH

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2018, 05:26:45 am »

This link gives a comparison of the two larvae. It displays a great picture of SHB and wax moth larvae side by side.
https://oceanbeachbees.wordpress.com/2016/08/13/wax-moth-or-small-hive-beetle/
This may help you in the future.

Lburou · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2018, 10:04:59 am »

Here is a pic of wax moth larva I've uploaded in the past.

Jacobs · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2018, 11:07:20 am »

One quick way to know when larvae are small like those in the photos is the "smash" test. Wax moth larvae will smash easily, while SHB larvae are much harder to crush. If you have a funky smell in nectar/honey areas, slimy or shiny tops to capped honey, larvae crawling in and out of cells, and no webbing, you have SHB. In our area, we can have both and they are usually opportunistic and can take hold in hives that are too small/weak to protect comb.

If you have either and the damage to the comb/mess is not too extensive, do not wait; Get these frames in the freezer for 3-4 days to kill the larvae, and strong hives will clean them up and repair them.

jb63 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 25, 2018, 09:43:36 am »

Yes they are shb. I'm having to get a quick education so thanks for all the first hand knowledge. I watched a F.S.U. video and they mentioned a nematode you can put on the ground to attack the pupating larva. Have any of you used that? And if so where do you get it?

jb63 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 25, 2018, 09:45:53 am »

Also I ordered a dozen beetle blaster jails.

Lburou · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2018, 10:37:21 am »

Quote from: jb63 on October 20, 2018, 07:58:58 pm

They are out of a nuc. and I didn't see any of the woolie cocoons like wax moth.

Keep an eye out for SHB and smash them immediately. They look like little black ladybugs.

Jacobs · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2018, 11:49:30 am »

Our State inspectors tell us to have hives in the sun as much as possible. The SHB do not do as well as they do in the shade. Our old wisdom of having a hive in the sun in the morning and in the shade in the afternoon no longer applies. Also, if you are taking honey frames for extracting in SHB country, be prepared to extract in a day or two or put frames in refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to extract. It only takes about 3 days for unprotected honey frames to have SHB larvae on them causing mischief.

neillsayers · « **Reply #16 on:** October 25, 2018, 04:10:06 pm »

One difference is the wax moth has legs all down its underside while the SHB has legs toward the front. SHB larvae are about a centimeter(3/8"). Wax moth are much longer and appear more like a caterpillar, which is what they are.

jb63 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2018, 10:11:55 am »

I ordered some nematodes today. They are called Heterorhabditis Indica. I am curious if any of you have any experience with them?

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2018, 11:11:25 am »

Quote from: jb63 on October 28, 2018, 10:11:55 am

I ordered some nematodes today. They are called Heterorhabditis Indica. I am curious if any of you have any experience with them?

Yes, I tried them about 2 years ago in the spring. They are expensive and you must apply at least twice a year. I seem to recall they were around $30 per treatment. I may have seen a slight decrease in SHB as a result of nematodes. Now, I use beetle jails, swiffer cloths and my hive tool

year round to keep them in check. I try to use all at once.
I ordered my nematodes from Georgia.

Lburou · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2018, 11:33:17 am »

In our location, success against SHB has been achieved with strong colonies, in the sun with afternoon shade (it is very hot here), and the beetle be gone pads. At last month's Bee Club, I learned some are using beer in the beetle jails, instead of mineral oil.