Small...I mean tiny critters in our hives

Aroc · October 20, 2019, 12:25:24 PM

Fortunately where I am we really don?t have to deal with SHB. There is however a couple other critters we do have.

One I know is the earwig but those appear to be pretty benign.

The other is so small I?m not really sure what it is. When I say small I mean small. The only way you can really see them is when they move....usually cluster around things like mold in the corners or under the top where it meets the inner cover.

I don?t think these are a problem but just curious as to what they might be. I don?t have a pic.

TheHoneyPump · October 20, 2019, 03:11:34 PM

Lots of little tiny critters coexist in and around the beehive. Most are symbiotic. You could scoop some of what you see into a small jar with alcohol then examine them under a magnifying glass to try figuring out what they are.
Will usually find they are some form of cleanup crew.
Looking forward to seeing some pictures!

Critter I have seen in around hive:
- varroa mite
- bee louse
- spider mites, and other tiny plant mites, hitch rides back from flower on forager bees
- very tiny ants
- .....
As a few examples

van from Arkansas · October 20, 2019, 03:54:18 PM

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Very tiny clear, little critter on propolis/wax. The insect in on the bottom. The critter has long hairs and the head and eyes, NE bearly visible. The critter is about the diameter of the honey bee antennae.
Van

Michael Bush · October 21, 2019, 12:32:16 PM

My guess is that you are treatment free. Otherwise your mite treatmens would have killed them...

There are over 750 species of mites that live in a bee colony or on bees.
http://bushfarms.com/beesmites.htm

Aroc · October 21, 2019, 02:08:26 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on October 21, 2019, 12:32:16 PM
My guess is that you are treatment free. Otherwise your mite treatmens would have killed them...

There are over 750 species of mites that live in a bee colony or on bees.
http://bushfarms.com/beesmites.htm

Not treatment free. We use a combination of Apivar and OAV. These guys seems to be on the very top under the cover or on the bottom board. As stated above I?m starting to think these are a cleanup crew.

Thanks for the info

BeeMaster2 · October 21, 2019, 06:53:35 PM

My bet is that they are tiny ants. I see them in my observation hive as well as in my main hives. I have been told they damage the wood.
Jim Altmiller

Aroc · October 21, 2019, 08:21:48 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 21, 2019, 06:53:35 PM
My bet is that they are tiny ants. I see them in my observation hive as well as in my main hives. I have been told they damage the wood.
Jim Altmiller

I wish I could get a photo of them. They definitely are not ants. These things are tiny tiny tiny. You could probably fit 20-30 of them on a head of a pin.

saltybluegrass · October 25, 2019, 10:01:49 AM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 21, 2019, 06:53:35 PM
My bet is that they are tiny ants. I see them in my observation hive as well as in my main hives. I have been told they damage the wood.
Jim Altmiller

What?s your obs hive look like please?

van from Arkansas · October 25, 2019, 10:57:17 AM

Quote from: Aroc on October 21, 2019, 08:21:48 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 21, 2019, 06:53:35 PM
My bet is that they are tiny ants. I see them in my observation hive as well as in my main hives. I have been told they damage the wood.
Jim Altmiller

I wish I could get a photo of them. They definitely are not ants. These things are tiny tiny tiny. You could probably fit 20-30 of them on a head of a pin.

Aroc, what color are the critters, are the critters on the certain frames or specific areas of the hive? Is there any attributes such as webbing, tunnels, or molding, especially black molding?

Blessings

Aroc · October 26, 2019, 01:54:27 AM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on October 25, 2019, 10:57:17 AM
Quote from: Aroc on October 21, 2019, 08:21:48 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 21, 2019, 06:53:35 PM
My bet is that they are tiny ants. I see them in my observation hive as well as in my main hives. I have been told they damage the wood.
Jim Altmiller

I wish I could get a photo of them. They definitely are not ants. These things are tiny tiny tiny. You could probably fit 20-30 of them on a head of a pin.

Aroc, what color are the critters, are the critters on the certain frames or specific areas of the hive? Is there any attributes such as webbing, tunnels, or molding, especially black molding?

Blessings

Black/greyish. No, slime, no webbing, or anything like that. They tend to be under the cover or on the bottom board.

Ben Framed · October 26, 2019, 02:39:10 AM

Quote from: Aroc on October 26, 2019, 01:54:27 AM
Quote from: van from Arkansas on October 25, 2019, 10:57:17 AM
Quote from: Aroc on October 21, 2019, 08:21:48 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 21, 2019, 06:53:35 PM
My bet is that they are tiny ants. I see them in my observation hive as well as in my main hives. I have been told they damage the wood.
Jim Altmiller

I wish I could get a photo of them. They definitely are not ants. These things are tiny tiny tiny. You could probably fit 20-30 of them on a head of a pin.

Aroc, what color are the critters, are the critters on the certain frames or specific areas of the hive? Is there any attributes such as webbing, tunnels, or molding, especially black molding?

Blessings

Black/greyish. No, slime, no webbing, or anything like that. They tend to be under the cover or on the bottom board.

Just curious, can you take a picture through a magnifying glass and post here?

van from Arkansas · October 27, 2019, 05:23:02 PM

Aroc, LOCATION OF CRITTERS: under the cover or bottom board.

Ok, if the critters are located as described then I would bet they are not a threat and just peacefully living in the hive as somewhat of a controlled environment. On brood/honey frames the critters would get my attention. Just a guess, what do I know?