Hi Everyone,
Joseph wrote:
"I've just received a letter from our State Apiarist that also confirmed that
the SHB had been found in South Central Virginia.  We knew that it had
been found in certain areas of North Carolina, but this bit of news makes
it closer to home.  I wonder about the hardiness of this beetle, and if it
will be able to survive winters further north.  I wonder if the adults would
be able to insinuate themselves into the winter cluster of bees and remain
warm enough to survive the winter, or if the bees would be able to move
them from the cluster and let them freeze.  I have found no evidence of
SHB in my colony but I'm afraid it's just a matter of time for me, as well."

The adult beetles survived the winter in MN a few years back in colonies that were brought from Georgia.  They only survived in live colonies and only adults were found in the spring.  It was a mild winter here but I'm sure it was more winter than you all have in Virginia.  No evidence that the beetles were able to reproduce and spread here so far but the adults can survive winter in the honey bee cluster.

blane




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Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
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