I have heavy SHB pressure in central North Carolina to the point that I
have changed my management tactics to no longer make any splits after June
15 as SHB pressure is just too strong.  I see the larvae in feeders with
caps and ladders but to be honest I think vinegar would just encourage
them.  I have bees in the NC mountains on a metal barn roof to avoid bears
and have zero SHB issues, supporting the ground cover theory.  Regarding
soil pH, native soils in the southeast tend to be very acidic, I know in NC
the native soils can range below 5, and would expect the same in piedmont
and coastal Georgia.

SHB larvae in feeders and lack of rapid feed drawdown is one of the 'rules
of thumb' that indicate to me that something is wrong in the hive.  If they
are not taking feed rapidly there are probably queen or mite problems, an
indication for action.  For me that means dropping the brood chamber in the
freezer overnight and then placing on top of a strong hive.

I am interested in other people's 'Rules of Thumb', collective wisdom, as
it were.....

Bill Lord
Chisinau Moldova (at the moment)
Louisburg, NC

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