Hi
newbie here. Hopefully will be getting my bees this week or next. I have read that SHB larva live in the ground under hives, what can I put down so they cannot live there? Would stone work, 3/4" limestone that has sharp edges?
Don't worry about SHB in the ground. They don't go to the ground to pupate until after they've destroyed the hive. You shouldn't have them in WI anyway, unless it's a few hitchhikers in packages.
Do not under estimate these devils. They are not suppose to be able to winter in colder climates. Well they seem to be doing just fine here in Maryland. I got whacked already with larva on two spilits I created on April 6th. Even with temps dropping to 30's at night they reproduced. I guess I did not put enough bees in my spilits. And to think I did not see any SHB until two years ago.
If they get into the ground, you're too late. Put traps in your hives, and deal with them before they lay eggs. I run 2-4 traps in each hive, and have no problems with shb. I maintain the traps regularly, and don't bother to treat the ground.
Regards,
Steven
This is the start of my second year so last spring when I got my first two colonies started, I put AJ's beetle traps in each brood box and left them in all summer until I took them out in the fall and they were still free of beetles. I don't know that its safe to say a beetle never attempted to enter all I know is that I never caught any. Maybe I was being overcautios cause I dont know if they're even a threat to me where I am. All I know is that I will be putting them in again cause Id rather catch a few beetles looking for a home rather than try to rid an entire colony of them after they have already set up shop. Unless I guess somebody can tell me that these specific traps arent a good preventable step.
I just want to be prepared and cautous. packages are coming from califorina so hope I don't get any along.
I have clay soil here and again am new so in the learning stage
thanks
gary
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