As for beating those annoying little pests, you can try the cardboard technique, either with coumaphose or some other pesticide. However, location is your best deffense. If you can, locate the hive/s in FULL sun. Don't worry about overheating, they can take care of themselves. You can use just plain plastic foundation (what I use) instead of permacomb. It's cheaper, provides the same advantages and, you can use a wooden frame. I can't stand the plastic ones. Other good preventatives is to treat the ground around it with GUARDSTAR or some other pesticide. It has actually been found that the SHBs will not only be around beehives but, everywhere. They just like to congregate in them. Also, try to avoid having to feed pollen patties. The SHBs have a symbiotic relationship with a yeast that they carry and it disolves the honey and pollen into something they can eat. The pollen patty is an exelant medium for it to grow and, this yeast actually attracts other beatles so, feed pollen patties only as a LAST...VERY LAST resort.