> What kind of a beetle looks like a SHB but isn't. About the only other beetle seen *in hives* are pollen beetles. Common in hives but are longer (about the correct width) and can run from solid color to two color and from brown to black in color. The legs and the > antenna are different. The antenna on small hive beetle is the most recognizable feature. Sounds like your beetle is a common pollen beetle. > Plus there are no SHB larvae in the hive. The larva is very different than wax moths and although small hive beetle can be found in most hives in the south larva is usually only seen when eggs are deposited in weak hives. SHB is found in strong hives but when a weak hive is slimmed other SHB in the area seem to race to the hive to also lay eggs. L. Cutts counted over 8000 SHB in a hive in Florida which was in the process of being slimmed. L. Cutts said SHB can detect a hive from 5 miles away. Jeff Pettis found SHB flies in swarms and will overwinter in clusters in the north. SHB is common in California package apiaries but not discussed as if found out the Midwest package business would revert back to Georgia where packages are cheaper. Please keep to yourself. SHB is the most over rated pest of all the pests. Commercial beekeepers learned to control SHB a decade ago but of course the method is not registered. Bob *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm