Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I am a new beekeeper and have begun to see small hive beetles in my hive. I have noticed on my last two trip, first one and now more (perhaps 12). In each visit I have crushed the beetles, but am concerned as to my next steps. They were found on the bottom of my top feeder. I have heard that healthy hives can control these pests but wonder if I should be doing more? Any suggestion would be helpful.

Jim Parker
NW side Greensboro

The more sun, the less SHB.
The more shade, the more SHB.

That has been my experience too. I put my hives in the sunniest place in the yard. They get the first light of the day and don't go into the shade till about 5:00 PM. I tried traps a few years ago but they did not seem to work very well. I still get a few and the bees are managing them just fine now that the hives are in the sun. I am against chemicals - use the sun if you can.
I let the bees clean up equipment and cappings about 100 yards from the hives in the shade and am amazed at how many SHB gather in the cappings so I know they are still present. I get these capping into the solar wax melter and it seems to kill quite a few, so again the sun is helping in the control.

I am full of info tonight. I have a hive that always had a lot of bettles. I recently discovered there was a crack in the top cover. This top has a copper cover and has a peak like the roof of a house. This peak allows a large cavity these little critters can hide from the bees. I caulked the crack, we will see if this stops them. RB

Sun is the cure.
I have one outyard that I have had nothing but trouble with for years due to being in complete shade.
I have also had a few hives completely destroyed by SHB. One hive drove the bees out without a queen and they absconded. When I picked up the frames they rained out SHB.
Often in my observations of a strong hive they will corral the beetles and keep them cornered above the inner cover.
I recommend that you do something if not more than maintain a strong hive.

Kurt