roaches??

[blkcloud]

I put feeders in my hives this evening and one of the hives had a big roach running around in it..I didnt catch it and I dont know where it went..what should I do? thanks,keith

[Michael Bush]

Are the bees strong? If so, I wouldn't worry about it. If you see a lot of roaches, I'd look for wax moths on the unoccupied combs. If you see wax moth webs then I'd reduce the size of the hive because the bees are not protecting it. A few roaches are no reason to panic, just a reason to take a good look. IMO one roach isn't even worth a second look.

[Joel]

These Roaches (also known as palmetto bugs and wood roaches) are commonly seen in the more southern states. They will not effect the bees much although it seems they will damage wooden ware or at least exploit damaged top covers and bottom boards. They will not populate like the common cockroaches folks get in their houses. They are kind of intimidating though!

[blkcloud]

thanks!!!

[Jim Williamson]

Roaches here like to hang out between the outer cover and the inner cover. Last year I had one scurry out and run up my arm. You'd think I'd be more worried about stinging bees, but that roach gave me the heebie-jeebies. I think about it every time I raise an outer cover.

[TwT]

I almost aways see them in my hives, sometimes spiders to, inbetween the top and intercover, dont seem to hurt nothing.

[Joel]

I have come across 4 or 5 black widow spiders in my stored equipment and one time on an active hive. Talk about heebee geebees! once you have accurately identied you 1st. one you recognize them at a glance. I hate moving hives in the dark because of them little biters.

[ February 19, 2006, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: Joel ]

[JP]

I wouldn't wory about one or two roaches. I have lizards in my hive boxes. They seem to just hang out & the bees don't seem to mind, but I am watching them. If the bees do decide to take them out, I worry about a big mess. Also I have an empty hive box near my hives with a couple of frames in it & the lizards have adopted this as their home. On average I usually have at least 5 lizards in this box.

[MichaelW]

Lizards sound like good hive beetle control to me!

[Kishwaukee Goldminer]

Hey, JP, what ELSE do those lizards eat?? Your bees could be a steady smorgasbord for them!! Perhaps your county ag agent could advise you.

We're glad to have praying mantises (manti?) for our garden. But when I saw one on the side of a beehive (pointed toward the entrance, no less), I sensed evil intentions and caught it right away.

Predators are predators, and they usually go for easy prey that's handy.

[JP]

I don't think the lizards are eating the hive up. I've seen one at most in a hive. But I will investigate this further.

[divebee]

I have seen a lizzard hanging around a few hive entrances, but have not spotted one inside the hive..?? I thought he was occasionally getting a bee for lunch, but maybe there are benefits for it being there?

[Sundance]

Just the thought of roaches give me the willys.... :eek: :eek: :eek:

Joel is correct,,,, they are palmettos. Frequent visiters when I lived in Tx and Fla. Thanks goodness they don't reproduce like German Browns!! :rolleyes:

[Joseph Clemens]

We have a great many lizards here in Tucson and I mostly observe them snatch and eat bees that land near the hives and/or on the ground. I'm sure they probably snag a few from the entrances, but I haven't observed that behavior, yet.

Toads, on the other hand, will station themselves in front of the entrances at night and gobble, gobble, gobble. Even placing the hives on concrete blocks only slows them down, they have very long tongues. This is why I have determined to switch to upper entrances as per MB.

[ March 31, 2006, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: Joseph Clemens ]