Hi my name is ___________ and I'm addicted to crushing Small Hive Beetles.
They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem... I had one hive get slimed this year I was able to save the bees after breaking the hive down and combining with a queenless hive. But, since then I have really enjoyed crushing the little pests. I started using a top vent box in stead of an inner cover and seems to cut down on the number of beetles getting into the hive.
Here's my new trick, probably not a revelation, but when you open the hive... before you move any frames, look and the ends of the top frame bars. Usually, there will be some beetles trapped in little jails of propolis.. CRUSH them before they have a chance to run. Then when you get to the bottom board look in the back corners the bees have some corraled and you can CRUSH them too.
They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem... I had one hive get slimed this year I was able to save the bees after breaking the hive down and combining with a queenless hive. But, since then I have really enjoyed crushing the little pests. I started using a top vent box in stead of an inner cover and seems to cut down on the number of beetles getting into the hive.
Here's my new trick, probably not a revelation, but when you open the hive... before you move any frames, look and the ends of the top frame bars. Usually, there will be some beetles trapped in little jails of propolis.. CRUSH them before they have a chance to run. Then when you get to the bottom board look in the back corners the bees have some corraled and you can CRUSH them too.