SHB in compost?

[MattDavey]

Hi Guys,

I have beetles breeding in my compost bin that look like Small Hive Beetles but look thinner (longer) than photos I've seen. The larvae also look like small hive beetle larvae. Today I saw a couple of these beetles in the hive. My area is not known to have SHB, so I don't know exactly what they look like. Can SHB breed in compost bins?

Thanks
Matthew Davey

[MattDavey]

Ok, after comparing hundreds of photos with some of the larvae and beetles I caught, I have worked out that they are more likely a type of Dried Fruit Beetle - which is a type of sap beetle. So they are related to SHB.

Here's some info: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/im...ort/f05699.pdf

So anyway, do people find SHB in composts as well?

Matthew Davey

[Oberlinmom]

A beekeeper in my town was one of the first to admit to finding SHB in his hives. Now they are found throughout our county. It was supposed to be too cold, too wet etc etc. I believe they are members of a squash beetle family. All around our area are farm lands. Having watched the massive increase in SHB in my own hives I find it hard to believe that they weren't here before we had hives. My thoughts are they have been here all along. Our winters have changed enough for them to have spread out and found greener pastures, or our beehives, and like them. It wouldn't surprise me to find that the larva would survive in a nice warm compost pile too. If they can tunnel into our hard clay and survive why not a cushy mound of compost?

[Tazcan]

Newbee question,
what is SHB stand for?

[Oberlinmom]

Small Hive Beetle

[Tazcan]

Thank you Oberlinmom,
What do SHB look like? or what is the name of them ?
I raise meal worms for my fowl here and if left to long they turn to beetles but i have lots of guineas and peafowl and they eat them when they crawl out of the drum if they see them.