Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: tina on April 16, 2011, 09:03:26 pm

Title: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: tina on April 16, 2011, 09:03:26 pm

I've heard that SHB can get into the plastic   does anyone have any experience or advise please

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: asprince on April 17, 2011, 12:00:51 am

SHB are tough, but not that tough.

Steve

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: hardwood on April 17, 2011, 12:08:17 am

What you may have heard is that on the one piece (all plastic) frames there are little nooks and crannies around the perimeter of the frames that the SHB can hide in?

Scott

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: hardwood on April 17, 2011, 12:10:50 am

By the way tina, are you in a SHB area? If you put your location in your profile it would help us in answering your questions :)

Scott

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: Michael Bush on April 17, 2011, 12:52:24 am

They can certainly eat the wax that is drawn on the plastic and they will if they get going.

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: tina on April 17, 2011, 01:49:39 am

thanks for all the replies. I live in north queensland where SHB are rampant - high humidity and soft sandy soils. I'll try to update my profile.  It was the nooks and crannies of plastic one piece foundation I had heard the SHB can get into, has anyone had that happen or was it just because the person doesn't like plastic?

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: Michael Bush on April 17, 2011, 05:05:42 am

Yes, they can hide in the nooks and crannies, or the bees can corral them there, depending on your point of view.  Some think it's useful for them to be able to corral them.  Others think it's a disadvantage that they can "hide" where the bees can't get to them.

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: Grieth on April 17, 2011, 06:24:29 am

I had a few down here in Melbourne.  One was so tough I couldn't grab it with gloves on - had to squish it (only got it second time I saw it).  Have installed a  Beetle trap from a guy in Sydney (Not sure if we can put names so Google 'Small Hive Beetle Trap sm').  Best few $4.50 I have spent (and he posted it to me the next day) - it hangs between the frames and you put some veg oil in it - the bees chase the beetles who run in to hide, and well ... it is a bit too oily for the beetles to get out.  I have caught a few more in the trap and haven't seen one loose on an inspection since.

I read a paper that said they must pupate in the soil and will do so within 1m of the hive, so if you can put them on tiles or concrete for a while it may reduce them a bit.  However, they can fly a long way and the lavae can crawl a long way if they have to, so it isn't a cure, but sure makes life a lot harder for them, esp if you have ants or birds around to eat them on their journey.  I have mine on a tiled surface where they will stay till the beetles are long gone.

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: tina on April 17, 2011, 06:04:50 pm

Thanks for your reply. I have the hive on a large carpet (outside) and have ordered traps they should be here Wed. Hopefully this will knock them a bit.

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: Grieth on April 18, 2011, 10:52:44 pm

Let us know how you get on and how many you trap.

Title: Re: SHB and plastic foundation
Post by: Meadlover on June 21, 2011, 08:41:00 pm

Being a fellow QLD Beek I would recommend to you NOT to buy any of the 1 piece plastic frames.
As Scott has pointed out they are a hiding haven for the SHB.
I have found foundationless frames to be beneficial for reducing surface area and hiding places for SHB.