Small Hive Beetles: A Lack of Them?

Ben Framed · June 28, 2021, 11:19:07 PM

Each year since I started beekeeping I have had my fair share of SHB. Many the first year which was awful; Moderate the second two seasons. The strange thing is, I have found very few so far this season ( at either bee yard eight miles apart). I am wondering if the "Great Freeze" might have something to do with it. Has anyone who is in SHB territory, who experienced the Big Freeze, noticed a drastic reduction in Small Hive Beetles so far this season?

.

BeeMaster2 · June 29, 2021, 07:44:11 AM

Ben,
Did the freeze, freeze the ground? If so the only SHBs that could survive would be the ones in hives.
If I?m not mistaken, you use oil trays. They are very devastating to SHB populations. You stop their reproduction.
Jim Altmiller

Nock · June 29, 2021, 08:00:59 AM

Numbers are way down here as well. I went through 15 hives the other day and I saw three I think. But I?ve also never had a serious problem with them either.

Ben Framed · June 29, 2021, 09:48:49 AM

Quote from: BeeMaster2 on June 29, 2021, 07:44:11 AM
Ben,
Did the freeze, freeze the ground? If so the only SHBs that could survive would be the ones in hives.
If I?m not mistaken, you use oil trays. They are very devastating to SHB populations. You stop their reproduction.
Jim Altmiller

Yes the ground experienced a hard freeze Jim. Also plants were affected that have never been affected here in my lifetime. The Chinaberry tree had many lambs die as a result mainly on the west side. Fig tree as well. We have numerous amounts azaleas. Many of their limbs were also killed on the west side. Never seen this happen In my location.

I still have the oil trays but have not used them this season (so far). As far as SHB, it?s like a ghost town effect.

cao · June 29, 2021, 11:34:41 AM

I wish I had a lack of them. So far they are not as bad as last year but I have lost a few hives to them this year. So far they have been small hives with little honey in them. Without the honey the hive doesn't get "slimed" they just cover the brood nest area. I have melted down close to 200 frames that were affected by SHB's late winter/early spring. When dipping those frames in near boiling water, I boiled thousands of the larva. Hopefully I will continue to see less of them.

Beeboy01 · June 29, 2021, 08:25:58 PM

They are still around over here by Port Orange Florida. Had a hive swarm and not requeen last month, the SHB's moved in pretty quickly and slimed some frames. I was able to put the honey frames out to get robbed so it wasn't a complete loss. Weather is hot and humid which is good for the SHB's so keeping after them around here is important.

The15thMember · June 29, 2021, 08:27:46 PM

I have not had serious beetle trouble in several years. I have seen a few here and there in unworked supers or weak hives, but nothing that causes me any concern.

.30WCF · June 30, 2021, 05:20:19 PM

The freeze may have done it. I don?t know.

Do you have particularly stronger hives this year since I imagine, that you have started to accumulate some drawn comb now that you are a few years in. This would boost the brood development and allow the hive to grow quicker, stronger and be able to run the beetles out.

Ben Framed · June 30, 2021, 06:01:04 PM

Quote from: .30WCF on June 30, 2021, 05:20:19 PM
The freeze may have done it. I don?t know.

Do you have particularly stronger hives this year since I imagine, that you have started to accumulate some drawn comb now that you are a few years in. This would boost the brood development and allow the hive to grow quicker, stronger and be able to run the beetles out.

I have hives in various stages. Honey hives are very strong. Most nucs are strong as well as they are building up. There is no variance whether strong or weak as far as SHB are concerned this year. It seems they have left town so to speak. Which is a good thing! It will not be a bad idea to keep a close watch, the SMB may make a comeback. It does not take long for their numbers to build up once the ball is rolling, whether here in my area or someplace else. Time will tell I suppose.

I would like to report that I have a great abundant supply of drawn out frames; I do not. I should after this season. Up until not I have used the 'big bubba' plastic cooking spoon method shown by several on youtube by simply scraping away honey and wax from the combs foundation, leaving the foundation for use again. I had very good luck with that process as honey collection goes, but I really like the idea of having extra drawn out combs on hand for making nucs, splits, or anywhere drawn out comb will be useful and handy to have on hand. That is where you came into the picture. I purchased an extractor as the one you displayed here at Beemaster on a previous topic. Except I ordered the one capable of handling 4 deeps for one hundred more. Though I really like and appreciate this extractor, hopefully next season I will have enough honey coming in to prove this extractor obsolete as well. During the winter I am planning to build one similar to the extractor Wombat2 built and posted here at beemaster. Wombats extractor seems to be very strong and rigid from what I could see in the pictures, along with his very short video.

Michael Bush · July 02, 2021, 09:20:39 PM

It freezes pretty hard here and yet there are always SHB.

Ben Framed · July 03, 2021, 01:23:30 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on July 02, 2021, 09:20:39 PM
It freezes pretty hard here and yet there are always SHB.

Mr Bush I do not know why the SHB are scarce in my area this season, but I have decided not to look the gift horse in the mouth.

lol
I am thankful that their numbers are so low this season, (so far).

JojoBeeBoy · July 04, 2021, 11:04:30 PM

I changed stocks and that may have helped. I also run dead-open sunlight. But I think the main thing may have been waiting to do any splits until nights got warm (extremely cautious about chilling brood) and also for the inspector who didn't have an opening until mid-May.

The result has been that just about every hive or nuc has been packed throughout the season. I've put some nucs together with a frame here and a shake there, but no massive real estate that doesn't have a bee walking around on it. I'm only running 20-30 hives and now up to just over 40 mating nucs (mostly minis). But I've seen maybe 10 hive beetles this whole year.

Like everyone else I'm just grateful, not sure it's anything I'm doing (kinda doubt it), no traps or other deterrents. My son raised a ton of chickens that are running around, but I don't think they spend enough time around the hives to make a difference. They have scratched up all the shady spots, but the hives have an embarrassing amount of grass around them and no chicken scratching where I would expect it to make a difference on beetle larvae.

Ben Framed · July 07, 2021, 09:16:25 PM

I was really inquisitive about the lack of SHB. After my post here I sent an inquiry to Jeff Harris, Ph.D., Associate Professor Extension/Research Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University. He was kind in response and kind in giving his permission to post that response here at Beemaster.

Dear Phillip,

Yes, the hard freeze did impact SHB in our area. It is well known from northern states that long periods of extreme cold can kill the SHB pupae, which are sometimes only a few inches below the soil. All of that said, I would not get complacent. I have seen their numbers increasing in some areas of the Delta, and some beekeepers are already reporting slime outs. So, the reprieve from SHB is definitely temporary.

Sincerely,

Jeff Harris, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Extension/Research

Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

100 Old Hwy 12, 127 Clay Lyle Bldg

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS 39762

Bob Wilson · July 08, 2021, 08:54:04 AM

I had a weak hive with beetles as early as March this year, then no beetles for the last three months. Now they are starting to reappear.

Ben Framed · August 08, 2021, 10:22:48 AM

Over a month since I started this topic and they are starting to appear here also Bob. Found several yesterday.

paus · August 08, 2021, 11:33:07 AM

Worked three hives Yesterday that I had neglected. All but one has oil pan. There are four hives side by side, NO hive beetles. The one without oil pan is a large swarm trap that has not been worked at all. I love oil Pans. I usually strain and reuse the oil. When I run out of oil it is time to have another fish fry.