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Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package
- From: annallys Goodwin-Landher <annallys AT hotmail.com>
- To: Randall Austin <ra41717 AT gmail.com>, Erika Wittchen <erika48 AT gmail.com>, OCBA <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package
- Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 20:53:38 -0400
Erika,
I find that the screened top feeders allow SHB access to the syrup reservoir and the bees can't follow, so the hive beetles are free to lay eggs there, rather than being chased and cornered by the bees. I use a feeder similar to the one at this link http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/8-Frame-Hive-Top-Feeder-w_Floats/productinfo/262/ It seems most beekeepers and local bee equipment suppliers sell the screened feeder because there's maintenance involved with the feeder with floaters and if the maintenance is neglected then bees drown. Before refilling an empty feeder with floats, take out the floaters and squash any hive beetles the bees have cornered. If bees are still in the reservoir then use long grass stalks to brush them out - bees get less agitated when using grass rather than nylon brushes. Important --- If bees propolized the floaters to the side of the feeder, scrape away the propolis, put syrup in feeder then add the floaters on top of the syrup. Do this each time the feeder goes dry and syrup's added. I find it much easier to let the reservoir go dry before adding more syrup. SHB will exploit any space a bee cannot get to, and the screened feeders make a perfect place for them lay eggs free of bee harassment. This is my 5th year using the feeder with floaters and by properly using the equipment there's been minimal bee deaths. My hives in the middle of a field receive a minimum of 8 hours of sun per day and get very few hive beetles. When I kept them in a place where there was only 4-5 hours of sun SHB were definitely a problem. Good luck. Warm Regards, Annallys 919 933-9109 annallys AT hotmail.com Four years after the bees are gone, humanity is gone. Albert Einstein Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 12:35:14 -0400 From: ra41717 AT gmail.com To: erika48 AT gmail.com; ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org Subject: Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package Erika,
Small hive beetles are excellent fliers and have a keen sense of smell. They'll go long distances to find a nice home. Plus, they can travel in packages, unnoticed, along with the bees. So it isn't a surprise that you have seen them already. The key to keeping small hive beetles under control is the three S's: Sun, Space and Strength. Keep hives in sunny locations, don't provide more space than the bees can effectively police, and ensure that your hive population is healthy and strong (lots of bees). Weather seems to be the biggest factor with regard to how big a problem they are in general; when we have warm winters, there are lots of them the next year; cold winters and cool springs seem to result in fewer beetles. I haven't seen very many so far this year. Like wax moths, SHB don't kill healthy, strong colonies. They are opportunists which take advantage of weakness. Seeing a few beetles is expected and isn't anything to worry about at all as long as you understand the conditions that the beetles desire and then don't provide those conditions. For example, don't arrange frames, feeders etc. such that there are safe pockets in the hive that beetles can lay eggs in but the bees can't reach. Randall Austin On 5/7/2014 11:12 AM, Erika Wittchen wrote:
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[ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package,
Erika Wittchen, 05/07/2014
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Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package,
Randall Austin, 05/07/2014
- Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package, annallys Goodwin-Landher, 05/07/2014
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package, birdcr AT concentric.net, 05/08/2014
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Re: [ocba] small hive beetles (already!?) in newly installed package,
Randall Austin, 05/07/2014
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