I am in need of some council from all you fine bee keepers out there, about a week ago I went out to my lang to put on a smaller entrance reducer due to some robbing that was taking place, when I removed the reducer on the hive there were hive beetle larva on the bottom board I did a complete tear down of the hive only to find beetle larva in some of the frames. I did place a new screened bottom board on the hive to hopefully help rid the hive of the larva. My question is, is there anything I can do to save my bees, I was told I could freeze the frames a few at a time to kill the larva and give them back to the bees. If I do that and place them in a new hive do you think I might have a chance on saving my bees. If not can I combine them with an established hive, also how can I combine the hives without the bees killing one another? any advice would be appreciated.
You could use beetle traps. There are a number of them on the market. I make my own from a plastic container with small holes in it (too small for bees but big enough to let the beetles in. ) Use a rotten banana skin and a mixture of apple cider vinegar and sugar as bait.
Remove ALL frames with SHB larva and freeze. Pack the remaining bees into a smaller space. If they are in a single deep, pack them in a nuc. If a double deep, pack them in a single. Thaw and add the frames back after the bees regain control of the hive. SHB take over when the hive gets weak or has to much space to defend.
Don't waste any time. The bees will abscond. You have hours to react, not days.
Good Luck,
Steve
AND.... Get them out of the shade. They need total sunlight, all day.
I have a friend who lost both his hives in the last two weeks to SHB :(
As stated above: If you see larvae in frames --- it is urgent!