Help

[aidah]

Three days ago I received my 1st ever batch of bees. On my way home from the post office I noticed a small round,brown bug with wings on my passenger window, not knowing what it was or where it came from I ran home and installed my bees. Now these little buggers are all over my new hive. The girls are hovering over them and picking them up and throwing them out of the hive. I'm thinking these are hive beetles.(crappage!!!) Anyway, I'm so new at this I can barely identify a honey bee. What's the problem and what do I do? Oh, I live in central fla.

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

Can you post a picture of one for us?

Small Hive Beetles are small, glossy black and definitely look like beetles, their wings are usually folded up under their shell.

-Nathanael:cool:

[dickm]

You wouldn't see wings on SHB.

dickm

[aidah]

:confused: This little thing is so small that I can't get a good picture. that said here's the best description I can give: Its 1/2 the size of a common house fly,round shaped, black, brown in color. two shell-coverd wings. The head fits into the wing section of the body like a puzzle. the antlers look like the letter i. They are flying around the entrance of the hive and they came in with these bees. I do not know how to send pictures in this medium. Can you help?

[sistone]

Most use free photo site then post web links.

[aidah]

The wings my be tucked up under the outer cover of shell. does this sound like a small hive beetle? If so can I get rid of them? How? are they harmful?

[aidah]

I think they are small hive beetles. Will they harm the hive

[aidah]

thanks Ill try

[BjornBee]

http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/Small_Hive_Beetle_-_PMP.pdf

http://entweb.clemson.edu/cuentres/eiis/apic/apic.htm

[aidah]

Thanks, every little bit helps. P.S the only fancy letters after my name are MOM.

[George Fergusson]

Sure sounds like small hive beetles. I've never seen them flying but they can fly, it's how they get around. Here's a picture:

http://www.sweettimeapiary.com/pics/bugs/shb_top1.jpg

Sounds like you've got a healthy infestation of the little buggers. There's a design for a SHB trap in the latest issue of Bee Culture. There are also traps you can buy. I've not got a huge SHB problem here in Maine so I've never looked into SHB traps or treatments.

[aidah]

Thanks for the picture, thats them. At least my bees are also trying to get rid of them. I have found a trap in bee cultue mag. Will try it and report back.