new out yard last year with hive beetle

[riverrat]

i got one bee yard that has small hive beetle in it last year it wiped out 2 of 4 hives i had in that yard and weakend the other 2 i didn't think they would make it thru the winter. The access road to the hives have been cut off without walking about 300 yards until they cut the wheat in a couple of weeks so i hadn't checked them this spring yesterday i was able to get thru the gate i drove back and the 2 hives are still alive and thriving i didn't want to move anything in or out of the yard due to the hive beetle. I didn't get to go thru the hives but when i look in the top i didn't see any beetles. now I'm considering splitting them they are feral bees captured from swarms. they are strong so I'm going to pull just one split off each hive and see how they do

[asprince]

Hive beetles are a way of life in my neck of the woods. A strong hive can keep them in check. But let them get weak for some reason, and they will ruin a good hive. When splitting, don't leave a hive with lots of stores and not many bees.

Steve