small hive beetle

Kirk-o · December 28, 2007, 08:45:55 PM

I would like to know is there small hive beetle in the Midwest?
kirko

Scadsobees · December 28, 2007, 10:42:50 PM

Anywhere there are bees there are probably SHB. :roll: Maybe not where there aren't migratory beeks, but with all the fruits in Michigan, that isn't to be.

They made me drill little holes in the plexiglass on my observation hive so I could try to spike them where they were hideing. It occupied hours of my time even if I only got a few of them.

I even had the exciting opportunity to watch the obs. hive fight off an infestation of maggots...the bees won, thankfully.

Rick

Cindi · December 29, 2007, 10:35:11 AM

Oh, I thank my lucky stars we are not afflicted with the small hive beetle, yet.....if memory serves me, there was a small case in Alberta where it surfaced, but I think it must have been eradicated or something, I have not heard of any more cases. What a nasty nightmare that bug is. Wish it was gone from all of you. Have a great and wonderful day, Cindi

pdmattox · December 29, 2007, 10:58:18 AM

I have heard they have been spotted in south dakota and other areas. They do best in sandy soils and with all the migration to almonds,I'm sure they will be in californa if not already there. I have lost many hives due to this little bug but have learned some good shb management in the process. There is a great article in ABJ this month about them.

Scadsobees · December 29, 2007, 10:51:51 PM

For most of the midwest, they aren't a problem, usually. With our cold winters they don't over winter in the ground, and only a few make it through in the hives. So by the end of the summer that are quite a few more, but then the cycle starts over again.

mark · December 30, 2007, 12:48:16 PM

anyone who buys bees should expect beetles to be along for the ride

BMAC · January 02, 2008, 02:14:13 PM

I agree with Mark. I bought a bunch of packages from California last year and they all had SHB in them. I was fairly disappointed. I have not seen them since this past fall, but I know several BEEKS (not migratory ones either) in Missouri that have yards with SHB in them.

So the answer to your question is yes. The midwest has SHB. However it is not an epidemic like Georgia/Florida and other areas like that.

Jerrymac · January 02, 2008, 04:07:06 PM

I haven't seen any yet.

BMAC · January 02, 2008, 04:43:35 PM

The only ones we have been seeing is Missouri are coming from package dealers from the coasts.......

Sir Stungalot · January 02, 2008, 08:27:08 PM

You might want to read this months ABJ....Grant, a rather astute beek in Jackson (I think) Mo. had one of his yards decimated by those stinking hive-rats last summer. He writes a long, informative article about this. They are being reported all over now in the mid-West. They showed up in my hives last summer. No real damage...yet. A friend of mine in Illinois has them now...even before I did- and they are not going away.

I do not know why but those hive-rats just gross me out. Worse than wax moths and roaches.

asprince · January 02, 2008, 08:45:22 PM

Sir Stungalot,

I am very experienced with hive beetles and your description is right on the head. They a like roaches. When you open the hive they scurry like roaches when you turn on a light at night. If left unchecked, they will take over like roaches................nasty.

Steve

JP · January 02, 2008, 11:24:59 PM

Recipe for disaster: open hives at night and put a light on them. :-D :-D Better be heavily clothed!

:-D :-D :-D JP

rdy-b · January 03, 2008, 12:35:53 AM

Quote from: BMAC on January 02, 2008, 02:14:13 PM
I agree with Mark. I bought a bunch of packages from California last year and they all had SHB in them. I was fairly disappointed. I have not seen them since this past fall, but I know several BEEKS (not migratory ones either) in Missouri that have yards with SHB in them.

So the answer to your question is yes. The midwest has SHB. However it is not an epidemic like Georgia/Florida and other areas like that.

I would be very interested in who the supplier was for those packages from cali-shb is not established hear yet -but they show up in surplus bees from almonds -that are shiped back to where they came from - RDY-B

BMAC · January 03, 2008, 10:53:40 AM

rdy-b,

I wish I could help, but I did not buy them direct from the supplier, instead I bought them from a local bee supply place here in the KC area. From my understanding the supplier was up in the northern 1/2 of the state out of the realm of AHB area. Which I find is humorous. The entire reason I was told to avoid buying from Georgia/Texas was to avoid both AHB & SHB. Kind of humorous considering I have a bit of both now. I suppose its free reign on where I buy my bees from now.

I will see if I can get the name of the supplier.