Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: harvey on July 11, 2009, 11:31:15 pm

Title: small hive beatle
Post by: harvey on July 11, 2009, 11:31:15 pm: I have read a lot on small hive beatles. I was wondering are these a southern state issue? Will I end up with them in Michigan? What does michigan have that I need to be concerned with?
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: iddee on July 12, 2009, 12:55:55 am: They came into the US in Charleston, SC in 1999. Since then they have spread all the way across the US and will likely spread north to all states in a short time.
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: asprince on July 12, 2009, 12:12:08 pm: Quote from: harvey on July 11, 2009, 11:31:15 pm
I have read a lot on small hive beatles. I was wondering are these a southern state issue? Will I end up with them in Michigan? What does michigan have that I need to be concerned with?

Reading is good, but there is nothing like the aroma of a slimed maggot infested hive to teach a beek about the power of this foe. Keep your hives strong.

Steve
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: bassman1977 on July 12, 2009, 02:13:23 pm: Quote
Since then they have spread all the way across the US and will likely spread north to all states in a short time.

They are already here. I've seen SHBs at least the last 3 years. I thought I read about someone in this forum (from Michigan?) who reported seeing SHBs.
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: ziffabeek on July 12, 2009, 03:31:28 pm: I found. 3 beeles yesterday and 4 today when I put a ziplock feeder in, is that bad? Everything else looks good, I understandga should expect some (like fleas), when do I start worrying,

Thanks,

Love
Ziffa
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: bassman1977 on July 12, 2009, 08:11:03 pm: Quote
I found. 3 beeles yesterday and 4 today when I put a ziplock feeder in, is that bad?

I see this all the time when I have feeders on. I wouldn't worry about it too much if you have strong hives. If they are smaller, you might want to keep an eye on it. When do you start to worry...I started to worry the day I first got bees. (http://www.websmileys.com/sm/happy/1204.gif)
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: TwT on July 12, 2009, 08:31:52 pm: Quote from: ziffabeek on July 12, 2009, 03:31:28 pm
I found. 3 beeles yesterday and 4 today when I put a ziplock feeder in, is that bad? Everything else looks good, I understandga should expect some (like fleas), when do I start worrying,

Thanks,

Love
Ziffa

they will be in your hives even if you didn't have feeders on, the thing is if you want to see thousands of SHB larva watch how you use pollen patties, you only need to put enough that they will eat in a day, if you put a pound patty in then you will see larva out the ying-yong.
Title: Re: small hive beatle
Post by: Scadsobees on July 13, 2009, 01:51:27 pm: SHB...got 'em here just east of you. I usually can see a few in each hive from March through October, and after that I'm sure a few are still there, I just don't see them ;)

Problem? Not really. It stays cold enough late enough in the year that they don't really thrive, although they do overwinter in the hives.

Pollen patties early in the spring aren't a problem due to temperature, and they aren't really necessary any other time.

Same with wax moths...just don't leave unprotected comb around, especially comb with pollen in it and/or honey and neither should be too big of a deal.

Rick