Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: twb on August 22, 2007, 09:33:14 pm

Title: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: twb on August 22, 2007, 09:33:14 pm
Much to my discouragement I have found a few small hive beetles in one hive and a larvae in another.  I did not know we had them this far north.
I have made and placed in hive a homemade SHB trap to the specs of a recent bee mgz. article.  I also plan to use Gardstar or similar ground soak.  To save shipping costs can I purchase a liquid insecticide with 1% permethrin at a local store?  Does the 40% EC on Gardstar's label indicate it is 40% permethrin?  If so, the 1% stuff won't cut it will it? 
Is the honey on the hive going to be safe to eat if the SHB's have contaminated it with fecal matter as I read they could do?
I would appreciate some encouragement from any of you who have had and overcome this nasty beetle.  Some things I read make it sound like it is as bad as varroa and others downplay it as something the bees will overcome on their own. 
Will the cold of winter help knock down their numbers?
How do I feed sugar syrup with fumigilin for nosema this fall when in-hive feeding is discouraged when SHB are present?
Thank you all.  I await your replies with SHB trap baited breath.
Title: Re: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: pdmattox on August 22, 2007, 09:42:22 pm
Hang in there all is not lost.  Strong colonies are your best defense (they will actualy propelise the beetle to the frame) but they will still be a threat. There is a west beetle trap that works very well and the one Tille posted on here using the sandwich container looks like a inexpensive way to go. I would steer away from the guardstar. I used it last year and did not like spraying that stuff so close to my hives. I usaly find the beetles scurring under the lid when I pop it open and they run to the end bars. So I take some mineral oil and pour small amounts (not to much here) down each side of the end bars.
Title: Re: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: TwT on August 22, 2007, 09:58:22 pm
everyone I have heard from that has tried the West small hive beetle trap have had good results,

http://go.netgrab.com/secure/kelleystore/asp/product.asp?product=257
Title: Re: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: JP on August 22, 2007, 10:18:35 pm
I would steer clear of putting any 1 % permethrin product in a hive. Permethrin is deadly on bees. Try the traps that use vegeatable oil.
Title: Re: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: mgmoore7 on August 22, 2007, 10:43:02 pm
Don't bother with the guardstar.  The beetles come from miles away in some cases.  It is a waste of money.

I would do 3 things.
1. Get a west hive beetle trap immediately and use vegetable oil.
2. Do the sandwich container trap as described on Tillies site.
3. Whenever you open the hive, squish as many of them as you can.
Title: Re: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: beeginner on August 23, 2007, 01:55:51 am
USE THE sandwich container The guy I help has about 40 or 50 hives with my 2 down in the soy beans well down there its all shb and thats what we use. And his friend and my friend is the one that came up with tha idea. And he has had people from bc and bj put it all over the net.
Title: Re: Can small hive beetle be overcome?
Post by: Understudy on August 23, 2007, 04:20:37 pm
Yes, SHB can ruin a hive.
Best defense against SHB ruining a hive,
A healthy hive.

In Florida I have learned you don't completly eliminate them. Your hive will keep the numbers low enough that they won't present much of a problem.

Sincerely,
Brendhan