For those suffering from SHB’s, allow me to share with you what I have 
observed.  Two or three years ago, while enjoying watching my bees form 
aerial conveyer belts between the hives and their floral sources during a 
major flow, I saw two SHB’s emerge from the soft earth, wing up, about two 
feet in front of the hives. It was mid-May and the flow was in full swing, 
and the dirt in front of the hive was soft.  I then saw thses two 
marauders trying to get into a hive nearby; however, by then a gang of 
bees attacked them, thwarting their infiltration attempts.  Getting a hint 
from this observation, I then wanted to do something about the very 
*ground* on which my apiaries are set.

In the following year, I put down a thick used carpet in such a way that 
they stuck out about four to five feet in front of the hives—-the longer, 
the better, IMHO—-thus covering the very ground that might have harbored 
the burgers.  Of course, the carpets also stopped the weeds from growing 
into screened bottom boards, as well.  My standard set up consists of the 
recyled carpet on the ground, next four cynder blocks (two each sides), 
and then two treated landscape timbers or two railroad ties, and finally 
four hives, two on each end, thus leaving the middle open for layind down 
supers during mainipulation.  The carpet is set flush in the backside of 
the hive, nothing sticking out, however.

Ever since, I have not seen any small hive beetle, but this is totally 
anecdotal and thus unscientifc.  Someone who has done it but with 
different results can shoot me down, and I have no problem with that.  
There were just too many uncontroable variables in my observation, such as 
severe drought and severe flood, back to back, among others.  For those 
suffering from the burgers, however, this experiment might deserve another 
look, particularly since even the medication against SHB focuses on 
the “ground” near the apiary.  

This could very well be yet another research topic for a graduate student.

Yoon

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