Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: dennis2021 on September 17, 2010, 12:27:26 pm

Title: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: dennis2021 on September 17, 2010, 12:27:26 pm
Are hive pest nocturnal? For instance if SHB mostly works at night, would some sort of net or catch device be effective?
What about other pests? Does the fact that the bees don't fly at night give any at vantages over controlling pests?
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: AllenF on September 18, 2010, 10:45:00 pm
They have an external SHB trap out there that uses pvc pipe and pollen patties as bait.  

http://ento.psu.edu/directory/duv2/arbogast_et_al_2007.pdf (http://ento.psu.edu/directory/duv2/arbogast_et_al_2007.pdf)

As for beetles working at night?  I do not know on this one.   I know they will fly off during the day if you don't smash them fast enough.
The wax both, greater and lesser,  are moths, so they are night fliers.  More bees in the hive at night should help keeping the moths out.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: dennis2021 on September 22, 2010, 04:36:59 pm
It just seems that since our girls don't fly at night, we could take advantage of this. Sticky boards, nets, something that could trap or catch these little critters as they are moving about at night.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: AllenF on September 22, 2010, 08:36:07 pm
You might go through the expense of hooking up a photocell control to close off your hive after dark with a screen or net, but I don't think that would be too economical.  Trap them in the hive and poison  them in the ground seems to help out.  I have also read about people using hive covers that let in a little sun light to run the beetles out.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: hardwood on September 22, 2010, 10:50:53 pm
When Joey gets a little old I'll have Ian train him in the fine art of SHBminator!

Scott
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: dennis2021 on September 27, 2010, 11:25:23 am
Nice! I knew there was a good idea out there.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: ArmucheeBee on September 27, 2010, 09:57:40 pm
The moths and SHB start flying INTO hives just before dark and then after of course.  I use screen tops.  So I can go out the next morning, pull off my top cover and smash both of these vermin with the tool of my choice.  They are usually on the underside of the top cover since the bees can poke at them through the screen.   So top screens are a great IPM device.  I do not have as many SHB with this method.  OH, the top is tilted up so the moths can climb under and on top of the screen.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: dennis2021 on September 29, 2010, 10:04:21 am
The moths and SHB start flying INTO hives just before dark and then after of course.  I use screen tops.  So I can go out the next morning, pull off my top cover and smash both of these vermin with the tool of my choice.  They are usually on the underside of the top cover since the bees can poke at them through the screen.   So top screens are a great IPM device.  I do not have as many SHB with this method.  OH, the top is tilted up so the moths can climb under and on top of the screen.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Can you show a pic?
Thanks
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: BjornBee on September 29, 2010, 10:56:51 am
On a cool evening, especially in the north, you can go out a few minutes after dark with a flashlight and you will be surprised at the number of moths that are on the outside of the hive. They will wait foe the guard bees to pull back and will walk right in.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: dennis2021 on September 29, 2010, 07:33:12 pm
I really think someone could make something that works on a sensor which will cover the enterance somehow to keep the little buggers out.
I'm picturing something that would attach to the front of the hive body at the top of the 1st deep, or even rest on the 1st deep under the cover or next body. Then a net type of material that opens like a bimini top opens or a baby stroller cover opens. This way the bees hanging off the front porch on hot nights won't be effected.

Does this make any sense or just a silly idea? I just can't stand SHB, not that I have a problem yet.... Still kill every one I see!
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: ArmucheeBee on September 29, 2010, 10:25:21 pm
A screen top is just four 3/4 x 3/4 pieces of wood the size of the box, nailed together and then covered with window screen.  So it's kinda like a top cover but not solid--screened.  It increases ventilation down here, like last week when it was 96 degrees with 75% humidity.  I actually lost a trapout hive last week because it DID NOT have a screend top and they overheated.  I had them closed up after a move.  I keep my telescoping tops ajar in summer due to the heat, but I don't want robbers and pests getting in.
Title: Re: Are hive pest nocturnal? If so....
Post by: dennis2021 on September 30, 2010, 09:30:46 am
a screen top is just four 3/4 x 3/4 pieces of wood the size of the box, nailed together and then covered with window screen.  So it's kinda like a top cover but not solid--screened.  It increases ventilation down here, like last week when it was 96 degrees with 75% humidity.  I actually lost a trapout hive last week because it DID NOT have a screend top and they overheated.  I had them closed up after a move.  I keep my telescoping tops ajar in summer due to the heat, but I don't want robbers and pests getting in.

Got it. Thanks