Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: SHB Rmoval  (Read 14983 times)

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
SHB Rmoval
« on: August 16, 2009, 10:32:47 am »
 My hive is struggling. I moved them, all their comb collapsed, the started to rebuild, now the SHB are doing their thing. So, what is the best way to mechanically remove them?
 I am thinking that I will move the frames one at a time, checking-squashing any beetles I find, to an empty hive body. Then I would deal with the rest of the beetles left in the hive. I have heard of using a small vacuum, I already squash as many as I can. I have a lunch box trap but I need new bait.
 Do you guys have any good suggestions? I hate to be this invasive but there is no brood in the hive! The queen is laying, but the beetles are doing to much damage. :evil:

Offline SlickMick

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 727
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2009, 06:34:20 pm »
JC, I have made comments about this in response to your other post in the SHB control. Accumulated Knowledge thread.

You sure are going to have to move quickly if you want to get control before your bees abscond..

Good luck with it and let us know how you go with it all

Mick

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2009, 07:02:19 pm »
Unfortunately, I am unable to jump on it right away. I am visiting my mother in law until thursday. Otherwise I would just get after them. I need a quicker way to capture/kill the adults, they  move/fly away to fast to get them all with the hive tool. :-\

Offline SlickMick

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 727
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2009, 09:36:38 am »
JC I have heard anecdotal evidence that ground cinnamon spread over the ends of hives will deal with the beetle quite quickly but bear in mind it is just hearsay and until I can try it myself (my hives are under control and I dont want to let it get to desparation stage just to see if it works) I can't vouch for it. However if you try it and have success you  could post it here for everyone's advantage.

Mick

Offline Mason

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 398
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2009, 06:54:18 pm »
This is what I did and why:

I am a first year beekeeper.  I came to realize that I was not going to be able to rob my bees this year and although my hives were strong the SHB was all over the place.  Most likely because I had expanded my frames during a period of low nectar flow.  This made it hard for the bees to fill the frames.  I posted on here and got a wealth of information and as usual was all over the charts with lots of good ideas.

Because I was not going to rob my hive because of lack of honey reserves I went straight to chemicals. I made two different style traps both using roach killer paste.  It comes in a tube. The first traps I made from plastic corrigated board by cutting them into 2 inch by 4 inch strips.  Then I slit them down the middle half way through perpendicular to the corrugation and filling the middle with roach killer.  Closed it up and sealed it with duct tape only allowing access to the poison through the corrugation.  I put them in the corners on every level.

On the top of the hive I used a cd box.  Most come with four little slots big enough for the beetles to get in but not bees.  I swirled some roach killer in the center of the box and pplaced it on top of the inner cover.

Additionally I reduced the entrance and smashed as many of those little bastereds as I could.  The bees usually round them into the corners and if you are fast you can squish dozens of them per smash. From what I read the best defense is a healthy hive.  I also treated for mites with Apiguard and fed them.

There is a time and a place for everything.  This was the time for ME to resort to chemical warfare and not mess around with any hocus pocus and get to a solid swift solution.  I went out this weekend and I think I have the upper hand.  I know that chemicals are frowned upon but it's nothing compared to the frown I would have had if I had lost my hives and all that comb.

Looking forward to and building for NEXT year.

   
Former beekeeper until March....maybe next year...RIP

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2009, 03:54:29 pm »
I took a different route. The electricity wasn't working, so I couldn't try the Beetle VAC out.
 I took every frame from the hive one at a time, killed all of the beetles that I could find. Then I put them in an empty box on a separate bottom (drip pan). I then proceded to kill every beetle that I could find with the almighty hive tool. When I got down to the slatted rack, I already suspected the beetles were hiding in the grooves, and there were lots of beetles in there. I set the rack aside, and went to battle with the beetles on the bottom board.
 I then started putting things back together except for the slatted rack. I left it out to reduce the hiding places. I also switched to a migratory cover with no inner cover.After all the frames were back in, I sprinkled ground cinnamon on the end bars and on the bottom board around the entrance.
 Once the hive was back together I turned my attention to the temporary box. It had about twenty beetles in it that got the hive tool. I really did check well, I guess they hide better. Then I went after the beetles on the slatted rack. The drip pan helped alot, the beetles would drop off into the pan and play dead, until I killed them. There were about one hundred beetles in the slatted rack.
 So, in conclusion, I killed about two hundred beetles :evil:, reduced the hiding space in my hive, and spread cinnamon in and around my hive. The good news is that they had about three full frames of brood that should be capped in the next few days. :) I will keep you posted.

Offline sc-bee

  • Super Bee
  • *****
  • Posts: 2985
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2009, 11:20:49 pm »
>JC I have heard anecdotal evidence that ground cinnamon spread over the ends of hives will deal with the beetle

Outside hive or end bars inside???
John 3:16

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2009, 08:04:40 am »
There wasn't very much info, so I sprinkled some on the ends of the top bars inside and a little around the entrance on the outside. I have too many variables to tell if any one is effective. hopefully the bees will be able to strenthen up a bit.

Offline Mason

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 398
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2009, 03:32:51 pm »
This may be unrelated but,

since my hives have been treated for mites and SHB has been eradicated my bees have become extremely docile.  I went through every frame this weekend and did not get stung once.  Not even any close calls.

This may be my imagination but I think the parasites were making them cantankerous.
Former beekeeper until March....maybe next year...RIP

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2009, 11:06:32 pm »
I am kind of grumpy when I have ants in my pants. :evil:

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2009, 08:25:11 pm »
After a week, the SHB are back, not as many, about half. So, my limited experience would say that cinnamon doesn't really work as a SHB repellant. My hive does have a nice honey-cinnamon smell. I will have to continue the battle. The good news is that I have five full frames of capped brood that will be hatching soon.

Offline SlickMick

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 727
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2009, 07:45:57 am »
Good to know that the dreaded shb is under control even if its presence is not appreciated.

Perhaps the bees remove the cinnamon and that it has to be topped up fairly regularly

Mick

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2009, 07:51:29 pm »
I checked on the girls today. Lots of new bees, alot less beetles. We only saw about 20 beetles and we killed about 10 of them. Still had about 5 frames of mixed brood so the queen is keeping up. Now we need to get them fat for winter. :)

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2009, 07:46:46 am »
Just another update, the beetles still seem to be under control. Alot more bees, and there is still alot of brood. I didn't refill the feeder because the bees were putting syrup in the frames that need tol be filled with brood. I will rearrange some frames next time that I check them.

Offline Animator

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Gender: Male
    • Bee Nursery
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2009, 07:29:47 pm »
I am going to try the corragated cardboard trick.  I'll let you know what happens.
Mike

Offline TwT

  • Senior Forum
  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3396
  • Ted
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #15 on: October 07, 2009, 12:46:05 pm »
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline KD4MOJ

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 719
  • Gender: Male
  • Bees... Motorcycles... amateur radio...
    • TangleWood Apiary
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #16 on: October 07, 2009, 03:42:46 pm »
look at these new traps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0mO-cYTZ58


   Very interesting... what is the bait in the tube????

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Offline TwT

  • Senior Forum
  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3396
  • Ted
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #17 on: October 07, 2009, 06:38:27 pm »
look at these new traps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0mO-cYTZ58


   Very interesting... what is the bait in the tube????

...DOUG
KD4MOJ


I sent you a PM
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline KD4MOJ

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 719
  • Gender: Male
  • Bees... Motorcycles... amateur radio...
    • TangleWood Apiary
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #18 on: October 07, 2009, 10:51:49 pm »
Thanks TWT... got the PM but couldn't reply for some  reason. Gonna do some research...

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Offline JWPick

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 75
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #19 on: October 08, 2009, 02:49:28 pm »
you might also check into Freeman Beetle trap, or something similar. A beek just around from me put these on his hives and trapped 134 beetles within a day. You can buy one or even make your own. I have even heard of using the "small roach" Roach motel. Good luck!

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Removal
« Reply #20 on: October 08, 2009, 08:26:59 pm »
I have checked the bees a few times since my last post. They are doing alot better. Only two or three beetles in the hive today. I rearranged the frames to give the queen more room to lay, they have responded very well. In two weeks they have drawn out three frames, not speedy, but it is October. Today I switched them to 2:1 syrup instead of 1:1. The hive was full of bees and they still had 5 frames of brood going.

So, I plan to continue to kill any beetles that I can. I also have a tray under my SBB, this winter I am going to build a better one so I can put oil in it. So, my experience suggest that strong hive will defend themselves, weak hives might need intervention.

Offline TwT

  • Senior Forum
  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3396
  • Ted
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #21 on: October 09, 2009, 12:20:21 am »
look at these new traps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0mO-cYTZ58


   Very interesting... what is the bait in the tube????

...DOUG
KD4MOJ


he even offer the bait tube stuff with the traps here on this page

http://georgiabees.blogspot.com/2009/09/small-hive-beetle-traps-pstpaid.html
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline Mason

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 398
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #22 on: October 09, 2009, 11:43:20 am »
The bait in the video looks hauntingly similar to the roach killer bait you can get at Walmart for a few dollars.  Even though the homemade plastic corrugated board traps do clog after a couple of months for pennies a piece you can just throw them away.  They store well too.  I have some extras made up that I keep in my bee tool bucket and just throw a couple in when I see the old ones are clogged.  Another nice thing about them is you never need to empty them.  The bees clean out all the dead beetles. 

I made some traps out of CD cases that can be re-used but prefer the disposable type.

Why spend money if you don't have to?
Former beekeeper until March....maybe next year...RIP

Offline KD4MOJ

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 719
  • Gender: Male
  • Bees... Motorcycles... amateur radio...
    • TangleWood Apiary
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #23 on: October 13, 2009, 09:17:20 am »


he even offer the bait tube stuff with the traps here on this page

http://georgiabees.blogspot.com/2009/09/small-hive-beetle-traps-pstpaid.html

   He's kinda expensive on those traps. Rossmans had the same  one (stamped Beetle Barn on the plastic) for half the price. Just bought a few to test out... had about 100 SHB's in the trap below the SBB in one day. Had to do something since the SHB's exploded over the summer this year. Didn't have the same problem in '08 but from what I've read on-line, seems to be the year of the SHB!

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Offline TwT

  • Senior Forum
  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3396
  • Ted
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #24 on: October 13, 2009, 09:25:56 am »
Rossmans are .50 cent cheap per trap, ha wonder why he is tring to sale his that much higher, the thing I wonder about is he is a Dadant sale outlet and I need to see if they sale them traps as well, I was under the impression that he came up with these?
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline Animator

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Gender: Male
    • Bee Nursery
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #25 on: October 14, 2009, 01:39:58 am »
How do you make 'em out of CD cases ?

Offline Mason

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 398
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #26 on: October 14, 2009, 11:38:45 am »
CD case trap,

real easy.  I just opened it up,  took out the inner cardboard and labels,  some cases have 4 small rectangle holes on each corner other do not.  Just make sure if there are no rectangle holes to drill a few on the edges.  Then just put the roach bait sold at Walmart in the syringe looking tube for a few dollars in the case, close it up and that's it.  I just put a circle of bait about 2 inches in diameter in the middle of the CD case.

That roach bait at Walmart appears to be exactly what is pictured in the video.  He does take care to keep the label facing the other way but it's the same stuff.

I didn't like the reusable traps and prefer the throw away plastic corrugated board traps I made better.  It's just easier to throw them away then always be cleaning out the propolis and dead beetles.  I have not done the math but I am sure I am making them for under a nickle a piece.

I had thousands of beetles.  I put 4-5 traps per hive and in 2 days there was not a single beetle in my hive.  They were all lying dead outside the hive and didn't have to clean any dead beetles out of anything.  Now I just keep a couple in each hive and replace them when they get nasty or I start to see a few beetles.  I make up some extras when I am watching TV and keep them in my bee equipment tool box for easy access.

I was really freaked out when I saw all those beetles but have found them easy to manage
Former beekeeper until March....maybe next year...RIP

Offline Cindi

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 9825
  • Gender: Female
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #27 on: October 14, 2009, 12:09:44 pm »
Hmm, thankin' my lucky stars we don't have the small hive beetle in our area, period.  I keep reading about all the devastation that they do to colonies and the methods that the human use for combating them, so neat, human inventions.

Something that someone may be able to elaborate on a little for me would be wonderful.  I always need to know things, not nosey, (sometimes though, smiling).

Having no clue about the SHB and their MO, tell me this.  The beetles fly into the colonies.  Why don't the guard bees prevent the beetles from entering.  Why do the bees corral the beetles instead of killing them.  I just don't get this.  There must be good reason, but does anyone know.  I am sure that I could look it up on the internet, but I am too lazy, oops!!! did I just say that?  Only lazy about some things, smiling.  Have that most awesomely wonderful and great day, beautiful health.  Cindi, aka, that nosey gal.
There are strange things done in the midnight sun by the men who moil for gold.  The Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run cold.  The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see, what the night on the marge of Lake Lebarge, I cremated Sam McGee.  Robert Service

Offline KD4MOJ

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 719
  • Gender: Male
  • Bees... Motorcycles... amateur radio...
    • TangleWood Apiary
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #28 on: October 14, 2009, 12:35:05 pm »

That roach bait at Walmart appears to be exactly what is pictured in the video.  He does take care to keep the label facing the other way but it's the same stuff.


  So what is the bait, chemical I mean? fipronil, Hydramethylon, something else????

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Offline jclark96

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 127
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #29 on: October 14, 2009, 10:31:29 pm »
The walmart syringe bait is fiprinil.
The beetles are very quick. The guard bees don't have much time to react. The bees don't kill them because they can't. They squat down like an armadillo. The bees will catch them and fly away with them, but it is only time before they fly back.

Offline SlickMick

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 727
  • Gender: Male
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #30 on: October 14, 2009, 11:30:27 pm »
Whilst the traps are too small for bees to enter and a nice size for the shb, the use of fiprinil in the hive is just something I dont like.. it is pretty bad stuff

Mick

Offline KD4MOJ

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 719
  • Gender: Male
  • Bees... Motorcycles... amateur radio...
    • TangleWood Apiary
Re: SHB Rmoval
« Reply #31 on: October 15, 2009, 08:38:31 am »
Hmm, thankin' my lucky stars we don't have the small hive beetle in our area, period.  I keep reading about all the devastation that they do to colonies and the methods that the human use for combating them, so neat, human inventions.

Count yourself lucky Cindi! Don't know what happened this year but the beetle population seemed to have exploded in this area. At a recent beek meeting, everyone was experiencing the same problem. Treated last year with the oil pan under the SBB but the traps seem to be doing the job better this time around. Only been a week since I put the traps in but the kill rate is several hundred percent more than just using the veggie oil method.

Wish I only had to worry about mites!

...DOUG
KD4MOJ