Author Topic: How far North are small hive beetles (Read 9440 times)

Vance G · « **on:** February 15, 2013, 05:23:24 pm »

Has anyone had an established population of small hive beetles in the Northern tier of States from Minneasota to Idaho? I am thinking any here would find it hard to get established, and I hope I am not wrong. How far north do you know of them?

D Semple · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2013, 05:39:24 pm »

We see a few here in Kansas City, but not many.

AstroBee · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2013, 06:08:14 pm »

My brother has them in Michigan

jan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2013, 08:29:13 pm »

I am in south west Idaho. So far we dont have SHB. We had a solid month of weather in the teens. I dont know if they can survive that. Can they?

Vance G · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2013, 01:38:20 am »

I think they have to be heated above freezing all winter by the bees. DO the bees tolerate them in the cluster when it is below zero? That is why I have thought i was safe. But if they have them in Michigan---

oblib · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2013, 09:09:03 am »

I have seen multiple posts about beeks seeing them winter in the cluster with the bees. It may be harder to get established but it looks like once they do then they can winter wherever your bees can.

asprince · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:39:21 am »

If you want some, I have plenty to spare. :-D

Steve

Bush_84 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:49:15 am »

Never seen or heard of them in Minnesota.

CTbeeman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2013, 07:18:37 pm »

I have them here in Connecticut,,,and yes they can overwinter with the cluster :-(

hardwood · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2013, 07:59:58 pm »

I've got them way up here! :-D

Scott

AllenF · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:41:53 pm »

:-D

Jim134 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2013, 06:27:24 am »

Quote from: Vance G on February 15, 2013, 05:23:24 pm

Has anyone had an established population of small hive beetles in the Northern tier of States from Minneasota to Idaho? I am thinking any here would find it hard to get established, and I hope I am not wrong. How far north do you know of them?

I do know SHB do overwinter in the clusters of bees in Northern Vermont. :'(
A friend of my all so has SHB in South Dakota

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Indiana Dave · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2013, 08:07:16 am »

We unfortunately have them in Indiana.

tefer2 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2013, 08:43:33 am »

Yes, we have them here in Michigan. Don't seem to get out of hand though.

splitrock · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2013, 12:50:31 pm »

I saw a few a couple of years ago. Don't recall seeing even one last year.

Vance G · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2013, 04:59:36 pm »

Well, one would expect them in the South dakota~!

RHBee · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2013, 05:25:27 pm »

How far north? From my perspective, To Far!

Joe D · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2013, 09:34:29 pm »

If you need some we will try to round you up some. So far I have seen one this year that was alive, rest were dead, and he was in a trap. May you never get em.

Joe

James M. Wagner · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2013, 08:29:05 pm »

Quote from: hardwood on February 16, 2013, 07:59:58 pm

I've got them way up here! :-D

Scott

:roll: :laugh:

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2013, 06:55:02 am »

If they are in the northern states, I suspect they are producing young during the summer and only the beetles in the hive survive the winter. Down here, they survive in the ground. In order to kill the beetles, larva and eggs in the frames, we put them in the freezer. If you can stop them from dropping to the ground you will probably break their life cycle and possibly get rid of them.
Jim

T Beek · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2013, 09:26:39 am »

I've seen only 'one' up here.

It came with a queen purchased from Texas. I don't think it made it 8-)

lazy shooter · « **Reply #21 on:** February 20, 2013, 09:47:57 am »

Is there some kind of poison that you could put in the ground under your hives that would kill them?

T Beek · « **Reply #22 on:** February 20, 2013, 10:04:49 am »

Cold and snow........Sorry. :-D

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 20, 2013, 12:15:40 pm »

Quote from: lazy shooter on February 20, 2013, 09:47:57 am

Is there some kind of poison that you could put in the ground under your hives that would kill them?

Yeah and every bee that walked on the ground. If you were treating the soil and washed it into the ground might not bee so bad.
Jim

Michael Bush · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2013, 12:19:53 pm »

>Is there some kind of poison that you could put in the ground under your hives that would kill them?

Back in the 70s every beekeeper I knew would lecture you on how pesticides are not the solution... but then beekeepers mostly bought into pesticides when the mites showed up, and proved that their lectures on the "treadmill" were correct... yet...

sticbow · « **Reply #25 on:** February 21, 2013, 12:58:11 am »

Southwest Wisconsin. :cheer: Noticed them in early summer this past year. :shock: May have come from an out of state package. Loaded the hives with traps.:jail: Caught a few, :catchchick: but squashed many with the hive tool for a couple weeks. :chop: I think the bees took care of them because I haven't seen any since then. :jerry:

T Beek · « **Reply #26 on:** February 21, 2013, 09:14:13 am »

Let us know if you see any this Spring.

With our mild winters I suppose its just a matter of time, but so far I'm pleased with the trade offs us Northerners have with Southerners, like NO BUGS (including SHB) for up to 6 or 7 months, little traffic, except on weekends and lots less people :-D

rwurster · « **Reply #27 on:** February 22, 2013, 02:27:32 am »

None here in southern colorado.

danno · « **Reply #28 on:** February 22, 2013, 09:26:10 am »

In the winter of 2011-12 or the lack of I should say. We had little snow and no frost in the ground. I suspect that set some of them up to over winter in the ground. This made the summer of 2012 the worst I have seen but it still didn't hold a candle to you southern guys. I killed a bunch in my honey house and saw many more hiding under covers then usual. Never had a colony taken over. This year is still above average temps but we have frost.

capt44 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 23, 2013, 12:32:09 am »

We have SHB bad here in Arkansas.
I've used a drench chemical to soak the ground around the hives, it don't work.
What I am using is a screened bottom board with a pan under it to catch what gets driven down.
I also build my deep boxes to where the front board is all the way to the bottom board.(closed off)
I drilled a 1 1/4 inch hole up from the bottom a few inches.
It seems to cut down on the SHB population for I feel the bees can guard the smaller opening better.
I also have my hive stands on black plastic (1/8 inch thick) I cut into 4 ft squares.
It is known that the small hive beetle fly's around 2100 or 9:00PM to different locations.

fshrgy99 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 23, 2013, 03:04:24 pm »

I happened to see my 'mentor' this morning and we talked 'bout shb a bit. Although there is none locally (we are central in Southern Ontario) areas of Ontario along the borders have experienced shb migrating from the South. Although they can overwinter in a hive control here is easier because of the ground freeze and snow. If we do accidentally import them (physically in a nuc etc) elimination is possible with careful attention to elimination and the help of mother nature in the winter.

rwurster · « **Reply #31 on:** February 23, 2013, 03:09:19 pm »

Another beekeeper here told me that we don't have problems with them because we are so arid (high desert) and because our winters are so cold. Hope we stay beetle free :)

Vance G · « **Reply #32 on:** February 23, 2013, 03:38:30 pm »

Another beekeeper here told me that we don't have problems with them because we are so arid (high desert) and because our winters are so cold. Hope we stay beetle free

Sounds like my situation but I am a bit colder. Let us hope.