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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
James Fischer <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 19 May 2013 22:46:45 -0400
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Jeremy's been waiting for some opinions on his SHB infestation for a
while...

> The hive is one deep and two mediums.  
> The bottom deep is currently completely empty, no pollen, no nectar, no
bees.
> So my questions I guess is what's the best way to proceed? 
> I was contemplating breaking the hive down into smaller nucs so the bees
can better patrol.  

Smaller nucs would mean less bees, and only large bee populations that have
sufficient workers to chase hive beetles.  I can't think of a single pest
issue where a large bee population isn't the best approach. 

> Should I just shrink the hive as is or what? I can order some beetle traps
I guess, but have never needed them before.

The SHB voted with their feet, and chose to infest the mediums where the
groceries were.  I'd leave the hive "as is", now that you've cut out the
infested combs.  Many beekeepers would take the empty deep and toss it atop
the occupied brood boxes, but "reversing" has been shown by several studies
to be wasted effort.

I'd put beetle traps in all the hives in the yard.  I like the little white
ones that hang between frames, as they do not block the screened bottom, and
are easy to handle without sloshing vegetable oil.

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