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View Full Version : Hood bettle trap (count)



sc-bee
04-24-2006, 02:44 PM
The following post is only an observation and is not intended as study,with controls, parameters, etc.. Merely a trap count for you to view if you please ;) . It also is not an endorsement for the trap!!!
My beekeeping background for info---newbee just second year who had a severe shb problem!!!
With that behind us here goes. I installed a 3lb package in a deep hive body approx. 4 weeks ago. They were placed on some drawn comb along with some foundation.
Upon my last inspection (three days ago) I noticed what I considered a light infestation of shb- based on my last years observation but how do you count the little suckers as they scurry around :mad: . I saw at least twenty so I new there were quite a few more - what concerned me was they were not sequestered and were beginning to roam around on empty comb and I did not feel the package was strong enough to protect it. I believe some of the package drifted!!!
I had just purchased a Hood shb trap so I decided to place it in the hive according to instructions. The trap has three compartments, I place apple cider vinegar in the center and FGMO in the outer two.
The trap had been in the hive three days at the time I pulled it to do the count. The trap had 146 shb beetles and one bee in it. I did not break the hive down any further since I just did that three days ago. However I did not see any shb scurrying around on the top frames or cover smile.gif . I hope this is a good sign.
If this info. is of any interest to you I will post further counts on the same package and maybe other colonies (that I hope I don't have too). If not I will not post further ;) .

drobbins
04-24-2006, 05:18 PM
encouraging info , thanks
I haven't seen one yet but I assume they're gonna show up

Dave

iddee
04-24-2006, 05:43 PM
keep posting

Will
04-24-2006, 06:02 PM
I'm interested. Keep me posted. I've burned at least 100 frames because of shb. I hate'em.

Will

King bee apiary
04-24-2006, 07:51 PM
Enlighten us on where you purchased the trap,I would be interested in one myself..
Thanks.

kenpkr
04-24-2006, 08:42 PM
Where in the hive did you put the trap? I have one but haven't put it in yet. Did you put it on the outside of the brood nest or in a honey super?

sc-bee
04-25-2006, 02:39 AM
The traps are carried by Brushy Mountain @3.50 ea. They are small and mount on the bottom of a frame. I hope this will reduce spillage and the need for the trap to be completely level. Also should make moving the hive easier with the trap in place. The new model has three compartments and I think a more rigid top than the original to help retain shape. I mounted the trap on a frame in the brood chamber and it goes against an outside wall. The directions say it can also go in a shallow (I believe that is the way it is worded). I think they mean honey super but here in the South as you know shallow is often the word we use in exchange for honey super :eek: .
I believe if were to put one in my stronger colony based on seeing the bees having the beetles sequestered in the top corner I would put it in the outside (shallow) ;) ;) ;) . This is only based on my observation (I hope they are not as scattered in my stronger colony!!!!
I have heard from one beekeeper who says he tried one and did not catch the first beetle.

[ April 25, 2006, 04:42 AM: Message edited by: sc-bee ]

Keith Benson
04-25-2006, 05:37 AM
I beleive they ahve been recalled - at least that is what brushy mountain said.

Keith

sc-bee
04-25-2006, 06:35 PM
I just purchased some from brushy mountain last thur. . There was a recall but they had just got the new ones in that day. The recall was they redesigned the top because feedback was there was a problem with bees getting in them. The guy upfront said they had been recalled. I ask him when the new ones would be in. He called the warehouse and they had just received them. (Unless they sold me the old traps???)

iddee
05-14-2006, 06:04 AM
sc-bee, it's about time for an update.

sc-bee
05-14-2006, 10:19 AM
iddee,
The trap really has not trapped many more beetle than the second count of 15- second count was done four days after first -- about a dozen or so more (maybe less I didn't empty it on last inspection a few days ago :( ). The hive has package has grown in strength and not as many beetle present. I think I am over the hump (fingers crossed) and the hive can now protect itself!!! I think the trap did help to control when I needed it but that's just one trap on one colony.
I just moved them Friday to a sparkleberry yard that just started blooming smile.gif .

Second count post:

http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000720

[ May 14, 2006, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: sc-bee ]