Hello

[T.Smith]

My name is Tracy Smith and I got in bees last year. I am a fireman in Bossier City Louisiana. I live in Shreveport La. I have 12 colonies started from removals and swarms last year. I would like to eventually have 20 but am having trouble with hive beetles. I think it is just weak hives though because those are the only ones that have been taken over with them. Anyway thanks for letting me in on yalls forum and I am sure I will have many questions.

[Cindi]

Tracy, you said that you are a fireman, what a wonderful thing.  Welcome to our forum, this will be a place that will help you to learn how to become a great beekeeper.  Ask your questions, all questions are powerful and will get good answers, just ask, never feel a question does not deserve an answer.  This forum is a really friendly place, you will make some friends here.  Have a beautiful and wonderfully great day, lovin' our lives we live.  Cindi

[qa33010]

    Welcome and Hiya!

     I've got beetles in all my hives but the hives are strong and when they do find a beetle they attack.  I've watched them do it and have smashed quite a few myself as have my son and daughters.  I had a weak hive that they beat in 2006 and absconded to parts unknown.  As far a battling them the bees do good but I find them drowned in my moth traps so I figure I give them a hand that way as well as SBB, since tha adults hate light and this year I'm going to add something under the hives to drown or destroy the larvae (?) maybe dia... dac... that stuff that will cut them up and kill them.  Some kind of earth.  Anyway since the larvae like light this is an added bonus.  I can at least get an idea as to what's going on and learn more.  This is an IPM startegy I'm going to try.