AJ Beetle Eaters

caticind · May 31, 2010, 09:22:04 PM

I have seen some SHB in my hive lately and would like to put in a beetle trap. AJ Beetle Eaters look interesting, but seem very accessible to the bees compared to other designs (Sonny Mel, bottom tray, etc).

Has anyone got much experience with these traps? How well do they kill SHBs? Is there much collateral damage?

Schoon · May 31, 2010, 09:39:53 PM

I have these in my hive and they seem to work good. You put a small amount of oil in the trap and the bees can't get to it. When I empty the trap they have a good amount of beetles in them. Hope this helps.

AllenF · May 31, 2010, 09:56:19 PM

It is hard to get the oil in there and them into the frames without getting oil all over the frames. They you need to cover them to keep the bees from gluing them shut. And some of them don't snap together after a while. I am using beetle barns (several in each box scattered throughout) and oil trays (also a lot of work) now with a ground drench.

caticind · May 31, 2010, 10:06:03 PM

What will oil spilled on the frames, or too much oil in the trap, do to bees?

tillie · May 31, 2010, 10:18:18 PM

It's hard not to snap the top off while trying to put them between the frames - I use them and like them and they are effective, but awkward in the use.

I like the Sonny-Mel trap but it requires a shim or an empty box.

I like the Freeman tray under the hive, but in the south we need the ventilation so you can't keep it on all the time.

At least AJs stays on and doesn't take up extra space, but I am cautious about the oil and possible spillage.

Me, I'm ordering nematodes!

Linda T in Atlanta

AllenF · May 31, 2010, 10:39:22 PM

The oil trays I use are from Freeman's. Used my screened bottoms and old solid bottoms I stuck together myself.

Linda, where are you getting your nematodes?

Paynesgrey · June 01, 2010, 08:21:08 AM

Oil spilled on the frames kills the bees who get in contact with it, immediately, and then kills any that try to clean it, or remove the dead oil soaked bees, because then oil gets on them and suffocates them too. I think the bees figure that out, because then they leave the dead bees where they are, which I don't think is great either. (Who wants dead rotting bees in the hive?) We ended up gouging out a bunch of foundation to get it all out of one hive. We were really worried we had killed the queen, or missed some and it would kill the queen when she went to lay in that area, but the next week. all was rebuild, and the area laid & capped & queen fine. Definitely think the bottom oil pans would be better, at least for us.

dickensdoc · June 01, 2010, 08:50:52 AM

I use these all the time. I put 2 in each hive. I use mineral oil in them so if you spill some it will not hurt the bees. I also put a little apple cider in my oil to help attract the beetles. I put the trap in the hive then fill it with a syringe, you can get the syringe at a local farm supply sold for cattle. It takes about 10cc to fill the trap half full.

woodchopper · June 05, 2010, 07:09:17 PM

We use cooking oil and in moderation just in case of a spill. No problems yet. Fill it after you have installed it in the hive and then cover it with a 6" x 6" piece of linoleum to keep the bees from gluing it in place. When it comes time to remove it from the hive try prying the frames the trap rest on sideways instead of the trap itself. This will help reduce breakage just in case the bees have done any gluing from the underside. These traps work pretty good for the money.

AllenF · June 05, 2010, 07:55:36 PM

Since I have installed the oil trays and beetle barns in my hives, this year so far, I can say that I am finding the fewest beetles in the hives I have ever had in years and years. I opened 12 boxes and only saw 1 beetle today. Now I just added supers and done a quick check, but the beetles are normally hiding above the inner cover. I am impressed with what I have seen so far.