Bob Bassett wrote:
I must very respectfully disagree that SHB are "scavengers"
at all.  In my opinion, the Beetles are prime predators of
honeybees.  They will kill aperfectly robust hive by eating
it alive.  I have seen it too many times.

The hive
swarmed and the Beetles tore it to pieces, in the
aftermath.

Reply:
As far as I know, beetles can be found in every state in
the USA in pollen traps and probably feeding on debre on
bottom boards or in pollen frames themselves. This is
normal occurrance. Only when out of control do they become
a problem. Small hive beetle has been noted for being out
of control. This is sad. But it still is a condition that
can be corrected.

You say the bees swarmed and the beetles came in. How long
did this take to happen and to what level did they sink to
after the bees swarmed would be a logical question I would
think? Following swarming could the remaining bees have
been resupered to accommodate the smaller population better
to take care of the equipment? Just some thoughts.

You also wrote:
 They don't use chemicals to control the Beetle in
Africa, do they?  The bees control this "minor" pest there,
don't they?  The Beetle is a major pest here, because our
bees aren't used to them.  We are down to our last hive
here now, because of the beetles.

Reply:
As far as I know the feral are on smaller natural cell size
in S. Africa more to the 4.9mm sizing I like to use as top
tolerance (means no bigger to have the bees therefore size
small, medium and larger for variance range). Yes, as far
as I know they also control the pest for the most part from
what literature I have on SHB from S. Africa.

I cannot say the beetle is a major pest pest here because
our bees aren't used to them, because beetles can be found
in every state, though not necessarily SHB. But probably
similar beetles size wise, if not smaller, for many of
them.But beetles seem to be becoming a problem all over the
USA. Is is just because beekeepers are now noticing them in
colonies for the first time? But it is following a path
behind mites and secondary diseases. It is just adding onto
problems already there, which leads me IMPOV to think
internal hive imbalance is getting greater with various
doping usage, just adding more problems as things worsen.
What critter will be next to add?

Sorry you are down to your last hive.Hope you manage to
keep it and come forward again. Maybe try some small cell
with culling drones to 10% per frame and Housel
positioning.I believe if more tried it they'd like it. Sure
works for us.

Regards,

Dee A. Lusby



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