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Author Topic: small hive beetle larva control  (Read 5751 times)

Offline rober

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small hive beetle larva control
« on: October 07, 2012, 03:17:42 pm »
at the recent H.A.S. conference i heard a speaker talking about different experiments he'd performed trying to control small hive beetles. he had tried various things to treat the soil beneath hives to control larva development. he built raised beds & placed the hives over those. he found that the larva would travel over the boards used for raising the beds. he had some limited success with rock salt but that is not an option for me. i have no doubt that the local deer would be digging in the soil to get to the salt & could eventually undermine the blocks holding up my hives.. i've seen places where deer were digging in the soil on spots where salt blocks had been years after the blocks were gone. i've been using diatomaceous earth under the hives & that seems to have helped. i just received an organic garden product catalogue & found myself having a brain fart. has anyone ever tried using benefitial nematodes under hives. there is a variety that feeds on grubs. beetle larva resemble small grubs. it just might help. any opinions?

Offline Larry Bees

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2012, 03:32:24 pm »
I can only post what has helped me with the small hive beetles.

I put my hives in all day sun with screened bottom boards. I inspect my hives every week and have found about 6 beetles all year.

All day sun means all day. Not just in the sun in the morning or afternoon. It means all day.

A beekeeper from Jacksonville had 2 trailers of bees on my property 4-7 years ago before I got my own bees and he lost many hives from the beetles. The difference was that he put his trailers in the shade all day. I have beetles here, but the all day sun is my solution.

Larry

Offline duck

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2012, 04:42:55 pm »
sun, traps/bait, diatomaceous earth, its a combo of everything.  The soapy water tub banging frames onto the 1/4 screen is the ticket for infested hives.  I put some thick black plastic under hives that gets roasting hot in the sun.  if a larvae falls onto that it is toast.

Offline AllenF

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2012, 09:48:58 pm »
Bait and oil trays in the past.   Nothing at all this year.   

And a good deer stand over looking your hives will help out with those pesty deer.   

Offline rober

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2012, 12:01:39 pm »
popping deer in my yard would probably get me introduced to the local swat team. hmmm, maybe it's time to invest in a crossbow. well it can't hurt. next year i'll try dome nematodes.

Offline RHBee

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2012, 12:51:35 pm »
I've been considering the nematodes. Looks promising. First year as a beekeeper, I found the oil tray under 6 mesh screen works. Many adults and larvae at first,  then tapers off in numbers. These are the "Green Bee" type of traps.
Later,
Ray

Offline Evan W

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2012, 01:21:15 pm »
Nematodes will only ensure that the larvae are taken care of at the base of your hive, after the larvae have done their damage in your hive. Now since SHB are opportunistic and like everything from garden veggies/fruit to your neighbors bee hives, that means that you would have to treat your entire county for you to see any results.

There is no easy answer for these guys other than a strong colony and traps.

Offline rober

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2012, 11:11:47 am »
i understand that the 1st & best defense is a strong colony. i'm seeing equal results using c.d. cases, beetle jails, & beetle barns for traps.the freeman oil traps in the bottom of the hive kill as many bees as beetles. i have seen beetles killed on the mite inspection board when i coated it with butter flavored cooking spray as well. with the nematodes i'm also looking ro help break the life cycle of the beetle's development. i do not expect this to be a cure-all but if it does work it can only help. every little bit helps.......
« Last Edit: October 09, 2012, 07:58:51 pm by rober »

Offline Evan W

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2012, 01:10:33 pm »
Just remember that beetles fly and their larvae are not just at the bottom of your hives when or if you decide to treat with nematodes.

Offline jredburn

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2012, 08:38:11 pm »
The head of the entomology dept of a large university on the left coast has found that SHB love Pine wood.  They can burrow into the surface of the wood and lay their eggs if the bees leave them alone long enough. 
He also found out that they hate latex Paint.  If you paint the inside of the boxes with Latex paint the beetles will leave.
The mashed up remains of the larva spread around the entrance will keep beetles from entering the hive but must be refreshed fairly often.
An opaque translucent cover on a TBH will also keep beetles away.
The prof has not published so I can not quote him.
Regards
Joe

Offline Mek

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2012, 02:00:03 am »
I haven't got bees yet ... but I am wondering... has anyone tried to teach their chickens that there are tasty morsels underneath the bee hive?

Offline sterling

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Re: small hive beetle larva control
« Reply #11 on: October 19, 2012, 08:04:53 pm »
I haven't got bees yet ... but I am wondering... has anyone tried to teach their chickens that there are tasty morsels underneath the bee hive?
Chickens will eat SHB. I know a beek who keeps some hives in a big chicken pen for that reason.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2012, 12:45:03 pm by sterling »