As the small hive beetle eggs require 2 to 3 days to hatch, I submit that this ok hive must have already been in the midst of collapse before the intrusion. 

I suspect your right....the eggs were probably already in place. The beetle numbers however exploded overnight.  Somehow they knew the party started and probably moved in from other adjacent hives.  That entire yard was already heavily infested and had lost several hives. (which is why it was a trial yard)


Charles

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