Just in case you are worried about the wonderful little SHB getting froze out rest assured some made it through winter. Been checking some hives this weekend and killed several sneaking around the top bars. I was hoping the extreme cold would freeze um out.
I always heard that roaches and rats would survive any catastrophe that would eliminate mankind. I think small hive beetles will be right there with them.
It wasn't! I smashed about eight of the little boogers in an overwintered nuc the other day. I was at least hoping for a setback for them after the coldest temps here in 20 years.
I've noticed more this year than the same time last year. Last year they were almost non existent until later in May. I think they survive close to or in the cluster where cold is not so much of an issue. We've had them around 5 years and they are not a major problem, but rather a few are here and there on the periphery of the colony.
How long do the adults live? Seems that the ones in the cluster have been around since at least November, when the first freezing temps hit our area. Will they soon die of old age?
I have heard the adults have similar life spans to bees which is why they can overwinter with them. I don't know if I've seen any studies to that effect, but that appears to be the case by all accounts.
Tuesday was the first day here warm enough for our mentor to do a really thorough hive inspection, so we came over to "help". He spotted a couple of SHB and gave chase, digging them out of cells they slipped into to hide, using his hive tool.
Kinda reminded me of a police chase with a lot of collateral damage that we've been seeing on TV all day.
Any chance that slender pointy tweezers could do this job without trashing so much comb? I've got a pair right here that could probably stab the little devils even if I can't grab them.
Yes, there are some long thin tipped tweezers that make it easier to kill them. The hive tool looks messy but the bees usually repair the damage quickly.
My problem is, I have the tweezers but can't remember to put them in my work apron!
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