Small hive beetles

[Fishing-Nut]

The beetles are starting to show up here (just that time of year) I have limited success with beetle blasters, CD cases and dryer sheets. What are you guys using?

[herbhome]

Last year I switched to migratory covers with a poly-weave feed sack for an inner cover. I found almost immediate results. Every now and then I see one SHB when I peel the inner cover back but mostly none.
I assume it makes the hive easier to police for the bees by doing away with the hiding places for the beetles.

Hope this helps. 

[Beeboy01]

I use a wooden frame with 1/4 inch screen on it that fits over a rectangular plastic container. The plastic container gets filled with about a 1/2 inch of soapy water then the screened cover gets dropped on. As I am pulling frames and see a SHB I smack the frame against the screen. The SHB drops through the screen and drowns, any bees on the frame bounce off and fly away.  Can clean out a lot of SHB's during a regular inspection as you pull frames.  It's quick and deadly with instant gratification.
  A tray filled with oil or soapy water under the screened bottom board works well if you are set up for it. I've started seeing SHB's lately and had a nuc that didn't work get destroyed by their larva. Had to treat the ground under that nuc with ground drench to kill any larva that got away.

[FloridaGardener]

See photos at:
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=52382.0

If you can split the box of Dixie H700 (Brawny Dine-a-Max) with a friend, it'd reduce the investment.

[ed/La.]

A few beetles are no big deal. As long as hive is strong they will take care of them. Extra frames of comb that they are ignoring can cause issues. I rotate those to the freezer now and then. I have used the swifter sheets with  limited success. Now I just kill them when I see them. Nothing else.

[Fishing-Nut]

Thanks for the replies. I will look into that dyna-max ....what do you guys use around and under your hives for beetle larvae?

[Beeboy01]

Gardstar ground drench. I apply it 3 or 4 times a year with a dedicated watering can. Only apply it from the back of the hives around the cinder blocks the hives sit on in the late afternoon or early evening. Works best if it rains the next day and gets washed into the ground around the hives.
   Also works great for fire ant mounds. It's very nasty stuff.

[Bob Wilson]

Dine a Max towels seem to be working for me. The numbers of SHB seem to be reducing. I only have limited experience, and am not sure if it is the towels or it being a strong hive that is making the difference. Would a strong hive, regardless of the towel traps, reduce the SHB population from 50 to 15 on it's own? If so, then how did the population get that large in the first place? The towel traps are shredding nicely, and the bees are killing the beetles where they get snagged in the towel, or standing guard over the snagged ones. I take the towel away from them and kill the trapped ones. Very few beetles running around on their own.

[Ben Framed]

Quote
?Would a strong hive, regardless of the towel traps, reduce the SHB population from 50 to 15?

I do not think so, I would say your method is helping

[ed/La.]

There are nematodes that you put in the soil under hives that feed on these and other pests. Naturally occurring sometimes. Here is one. NemAttack? - Sr Beneficial Nematodes
Steinernema riobrave. While I  never purchased this product I think that it is in my soil because I  have little hive beetles issues compared to 5 years ago. Anyone try this or a similar product?

[FatherMichael]

Saw two on my last inspection and killed them  Bought some Boric Acid today to mix with bait for small CD case trap.  Plan to install it tomorrow.

[ed/La.]

Two is a lot like zero to me. I would do nothing.