Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: RC on November 13, 2013, 10:03:39 pm

Title: Commercial control for SHB
Post by: RC on November 13, 2013, 10:03:39 pm

Just out of curiosity, how do commercial bee keepers control SHB? It seems like traps wouldn't be feasible on a large scale.

Title: Re: Commercial control for SHB
Post by: BeeMaster2 on November 13, 2013, 11:07:14 pm

RC,
They keep the hives strong. Moving frames of bees. Swapping hive location. A strong hive will keep the SHB's in check. SHB do not kill hives, they are opportunistic. They take over when they are too weak to protect them selves.
Jim

Title: Re: Commercial control for SHB
Post by: primeonly27 on December 08, 2013, 11:07:41 pm

Keeping strong hives and moving them around keeps the SHB in check.  One of my yards that has sandy soil and good drainage. Have never had SHB in that yard.  Some hives in this yard never have been moved.  All in different strengths all in the sun.   Keeping a hive strong keeps a lot of the other pests away too.   Treating with OA or formic also kills some of them dead.

Title: Re: Commercial control for SHB
Post by: sc-bee on January 27, 2014, 07:35:04 am

And I believe some may use things they should not put in a hive....... or should I say unapproved treatments. Just do a google search and ........ you will find them.

Title: Re: Commercial control for SHB
Post by: 10framer on January 28, 2014, 11:23:48 am

i suspect ray is right about the unapproved methods. 
jim is dead on about hive strength, though.  the bees will keep them in check.

Title: Re: Commercial control for SHB
Post by: AllenF on January 28, 2014, 03:31:27 pm

Strong hives.