Swarms & SHB

[GSF]

Caught a swarm yesterday, big 'un. I put it in an 8f deep and had to put another 8f medium on top. When I dump them in the box I leave a queen excluder (now an includer) underneath the bottom super for a day, maybe two. When the bees are dumped in the super a large folded towel is laid on top of the bees to gently push them down.

I had an inner cover laying by the box. When I went to get it I found a couple of small hive beetles. When I removed the towel I found about 3 or 4 more. To me this supports the theory that SHBs will fly with or follow a swarm.

[BeeMaster2]

GSF,
SHB's will fly with a swarm. They also move into the hive that is swarming. Usually in large numbers, they take advantage of the situation and start laying eggs. I have found over 300 SHB's in the oil tray after a hive has swarmed. The bees were kicking them out of the hive.
Jim

[GSF]

When I first saw them I thought "Dang, they've come from a hive that's eat up with SHB" Then I thought along the lines that you mentioned.