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Jasbee Nurse Bee
Joined: 18 Nov 2014 Posts: 39 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:12 am Post subject: Got our bees on Saturday and on saw SHB fly in... |
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We very excitedly got our bees this weekend but reality hit straight away with our daughter (4yrs) getting stung on the face that night (she decided to have a look inside the entry to the hive so not the bees fault) and tonight while watching them go to bed we saw a small hive beetle fly straight into the hive. The bees seemed to ignor it.
Any suggestions on what to do or not do for the SHB?
We currently have our nucleus in a 8 deep Langstroth while we build our long/horizontal Langstroth.
Would making the entry smaller help? Or would that make the hive too hot?
Any traps that you'd recommend?
Thanks
Jas |
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rmcpb Scout Bee

Joined: 17 Jul 2011 Posts: 447 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 9:43 am Post subject: |
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I find the beetles come and go but a good strong hive is the best defence. Make sure your hives are in good nick so there are no cracks for the beetle to get into where the bees can't go. They hassle the beetles if they can get at them. Also, don't oversuper your hives as they cannot patrol the empty space as well.
Cheers
Rob. |
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JGW07 Scout Bee
Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 272 Location: USA, GA, Hephzibah
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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I have top bar hives and use bottle traps screwed into the bottom board http://imgur.com/a/3YTzK?
I know others in my area that swear by periscope entrances for keeping out the beetles. I haven't tried it yet, so I can't vouch for it. Good luck! |
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Jasbee Nurse Bee
Joined: 18 Nov 2014 Posts: 39 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:14 am Post subject: |
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Thankyou both! I hadn't seen the bottle traps before. |
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JGW07 Scout Bee
Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 272 Location: USA, GA, Hephzibah
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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You're welcome. If you go to the Bee Health forum page, I've been doing updates on what I call my Easy Feeder/Pest Control system in case you want to read up on how it's been working for me. |
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Jasbee Nurse Bee
Joined: 18 Nov 2014 Posts: 39 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Thanks will do. |
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Paul Reyes Nurse Bee
Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 26 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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If your bee hive is healthy then the bees will fight the beetle, so you don't need to worry much, remember bees are live in the wild so they know how to defend themselves. What you have to concentrate on is managing your hive well. |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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