[KeyBeeper]

Checked my hive one day after install and say a half dozen small hive beetles. This is my first hive, so they did not come from a nearby hive. Amazing.

 

[jhs494]

Yep, it is amazing. Crafty little buggers aren't they. If the bees came from a package it is possible that they came as stow aways in the package of bees.

 

[KeyBeeper]

They did come as a package. I understand that attached mites could be part of the deal, but I never thought that SHB would be in my shipment. I suppose that makes sense. I installed on Friday night and by Saturday evening I had a half dozen SHB's running around - and I wasn't looking for them - that's just how many came into my field of view.

 

[jhs494]

They can be shaken into the packages when the bees are shaken in. They sometimes hide under the small piece of wood covering the can of sugar syrup, but you would have seen them when you took off the piece of wood. They were probably in the box.