Barry's experiences with SHB match my own, in the sense I never lost a scut hive to them. The strangest thing I ever saw in a scutillata hive was a huge beatle, about twice the size of a drone, which I've seen in bee hives and wild wasp nests. Boy, do they cause havoc! A little teeny head, which I assume is to minimize areas to attack, and a smooth, hard body. I guess this is the large hive beatle, and I'm glad they're not here in California.