I am installing Small Hive Beetle Traps.

[capt44]

After inspecting several hives for other folks I've decided to install hive beetle traps in all my hives today.
I am using the Beetle Barn baited with cut up strips of Check Mite.
It's the only legal thing approved to kill small hive beetles.
By all indications the Small Hive Beetle is going to be horrific again this year.

[flyboy]

I thought I read about some kind of very smooth metal that you install at the entrance to prevent them from getting in ?

[AllenF]

What kind of smooth metal you talking about?   I would like to see a site or some pics of them. 

[jayj200]

gold i think
tell me where your hives are

[sc-bee]

I thought I read about some kind of very smooth metal that you install at the entrance to prevent them from getting in ?

Yea, I remember seeing it. A sheet metal shim around the bottom board.

[Carol]

Just installed a GreenBee Hives shb tray. Noticed shb in the hive the other day...lots of them today...checked the tray 1/2 hr later and only opened it about 3 inches and saw 11 shb.  Cant wait to see what I find tomorrow.

The opening on the back where the tray slides wasn't very close so Jim added a board that would overlap and seal it against wax moths, ants etc.

I put mineral oil in the tray.

[RHBee]

Capt,
I keep mine on year round. These things can waste a hive pretty quickly. Always waiting for a chance.
Ray

[Carol]

RHBee....if you can leave yours on all year around...I guess it's ok for me to do the same thing. I was concerned about having to remove them for winter...but winter here is not like in the N or even in SC. Guess I'm safe...thanks for the info.

[RHBee]

RHBee....if you can leave yours on all year around...I guess it's ok for me to do the same thing. I was concerned about having to remove them for winter...but winter here is not like in the N or even in SC. Guess I'm safe...thanks for the info.

Carol,
I pour out the oil during times of low SHB activity. This allows me to monitor what is falling out of the hive without worrying about spilling the oil. GB traps are the pattern I used to build my own version. The only drawback that I found was that during a heavy rain the tray can fill with water causing a mess. Using just enough oil to cover the tray bottoms helps to reduce this problem.
Ray

[mdax]

I use top beetle traps, bottom oil trays and a trap in every body.

My hives are in shady, swampy locations

However the absolute key is dealing with a weak hive by limiting area or combining...if I don't do anything the SHB will move in.  They seem to sense weak hives for miles around.

[Carol]

RHBee...thanks for the oil tip...Jim also cut the deck so that it has a slope...hopefully the rain will splatter away from instead of in the hive.

[Carol]

MDax.....I am in a "hammock" also a bit swampy and shady in the afternoon. I had to leave for 6 wks so put 3 supers on  before I left. Removed one yesterday on the hive I put the tray under. Lots of beetles. I killed several and there are already at least 20 in the oil tray. Can't wait to see what I have tomorrow.  Guess I need to get one under the other hive. Can't do anything about the Top Bar Hive or the Squirrel box.

[richter1978]

Bottom oil traps.  Installed on 2 hives about three weeks ago, I'd say between 900-1100 beetles dead between the two.  Shady property.  Still lots of beetles in strong hives.  Must keep killing!  I may add some beetle blasters too.

[Carol]

richter1978....wow! and I was thrilled to see about 50 dead in the tray about 9 am this morning. Only put on yesterday afternoon. I have window screen on my inner cover...had to cut the hole out for feeding this winter. There were about 40-50 between the screen and the inner cover. Made it easy to kill them.

How often should I filter the oil?

[rober]

here's something I saw last January. this might be the sheet metal gadget flyboy mentioned. I think rossman sells them. if you can get scraps from a local sheet metal shop you could make your own.
http://beetlebaffle.blogspot.com/