Yesterday I had beetle larvae on my bottom board insert. They were dying on the board because they were getting stuck in the cooking oil spray I had on it. I have seen the oil tray traps that catch beetles and it got me thinking. What if I simply put a very sticky substance on the insert that could be easily removed or cleaned? It should, in my mind, act like a tray. I was thinking something like double sided tape? Any ideas, or has anyone tried this? I'm thinking along the lines of a sticky mouse trap.
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Matt I went to the knowall source (internet) and found some formulas for fly paper glue, not much luck. The oil tray is the most deadly thing for anything that falls in it. Last week I put an oil tray in a dsbb and 2 days it had caught over 50 beetles and a bunch of little stuff. I am changing all my hives to oil tray or dsbb. There are some things you can do that make this a little more palatable. Hive must be level except for a slight tilt to the front, I use cookie sheets from garage sales, but there are some aluminum sheet cake pans that are 1 1/2 " deep and about the right size, if there is space around the pan the bettel will eventually get in the oil. You can buy these pans reasonabley and the spill problem is not as serious. I use used fish cooking oil. Spray the pan with spray as you use and the oil does stick to the pan as bad when you drain the pans.
Keep in mind you need a screened bottom board (SBB) betwen the hive and oil tray to keep the bees from getting in the oil. You probably know that, but some others reading the postings may not.
For things like ants climbing up to get into the hive, I've thought about putting Tanglefoot (tm) on the legs. Anybody tried that?
Dallas I have permanent hive stands. I don't plan on moving them often, and I use a treated 4x4 upright and turn coffee cans over the upright 4x4 and place horizontal board on top of the coffee cans then I coat the inside of coffee cans with a mix of grease and cinnamon, so far no ants. This has to be braced below the cans or set in ground. Another advantage is I don't have to bend over to work hives. Two high is ok but I use anything handy to work anything over three high. works for an old coddger.
Matt,
When the nights are still cool I leave my IPM boards in place. I smear a generous coat of petroleum jelly and it traps SHB adults as well as larvae. Also ants, mites, etc...
Matt,
I think they would work for a while but they would also get clogged with all the other stuff that falls from the hive. The advantage of an oil pan is that everthing that falls gets coated with oil so it will last longer.
paus,
Sounds like you are doing something close to what I am. I use cheap cookie sheets (11x17). It doesn't cover the entire bottom of the hive but it does a good job.