[whiskeybuzz]

Ok so I had a bunch of comb in containers and I left them out yesterday for the bees to clean up after I was done. When I went out today they were clear of honey but COVERED in these little black beetles. They don't look like hive beetles but they were in huge supply.
Any idea what I'm up against?
Thanky.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd...._=1403269126_09c1b708d7de2b47a8ed09d7020099c7

ETA: I'm in western canada for geographical reference.

 

[Chemguy]

I don't know what they are. I have seen them many times, but they are not small hive beetles.

 

[Vance G]

You will never find a commercial beekeeper who sets his valuable comb with valuable residual honey out to be 'cleaned'. You risk spreading any disease you have in one colony to the whole area and those wet supers get immediate attention from the bees when put back on next season. It is just plain wrong thing to do!

 

[whiskeybuzz]

who said I was commercial? It was a bowl and a spatula. So no info on the beetle then? Thanks.

 

[beesohappy]

Oops!

When I have a dead out from queen loss I tip the boxes on it's sides away from the hives and let the bees rob out the honey or what ever else they need from it. I see some of the bees chewing the propolis off also. Maybe it's different here in CA.

 

[Phoebee]

Whiskeybuzz, I wish I could help. There are about 350,000 species of beetles, 25,000 in North America, and I think an ID from one picture at that distance is probably hopeless.

Your best bet is to collect a few, maybe preserve them in alcohol, and find a local university with an entymology department, or maybe an agricultural extension program (or whatever the Canadian equivalent is). Or if you have a good enough camera, a set of good close-up pictures, top, bottom, side, of a specimen.

There are some on-line guides to beetle ID, but you're looking at maybe the top 50 our of 25,000, such as the one below. I think this ID will take a comprehensive database and someone familiar with navigating it.

http://www.insectidentification.org/beetles.asp

 

[Vance G]

I certainly don't or didn't think you are commercial! Just trying to clue you in on the folly of letting frames get torn up by robbers and the spreading of disease. Commercial keepers have to make a living and are concerned with such things

who said I was commercial? It was a bowl and a spatula. So no info on the beetle then? Thanks.

 

[Phoebee]

Looks like you have a good entomology department across the strait at UBC:

http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/GetMuseumProfile.do?chinCode=guacgz&lang=en

 

[whiskeybuzz]

Oh!! Perfect thank you!!