JC's Bee Blog

  Small Hive Beetle Facts Females hive beetles may lay up to 1,000 eggs. Eggs are laid in cracks and crevices inside the hive. Eggs Hatch in about 3 days (range 3-6 days) Larva feed on pollen, honey and brood inside the hive. Larva leave the hive and enter soil around the hive from 7 to 10pm (peak at 9pm). Remain as larva in soil for 3-5 days. Mature larva are about 1/4" to 3/8" in length. About 83% of larva enter soil within 12 inches of hive. Roughly 80% burrow into the soil to a depth of 1-4 inches.  Hive beetle larva pupate after being larva for 16-19 days. Pupal stage lasts about 8 days. New adult hive beetles emerge from soil several days after becoming adults. Dry soils are more favorable to adults development. Life cycle of shb averages 27-30 days. Adults are known to live 188 days Adults hive beetles hide during winter inside honey bee colonies and in honey houses. Small Hive Beetle larva crawling out to enter soil   Common Practices That Will Help Lower Beetle C...

Over the years of beekeeping varroa mites have always been a problem. The first few years I did nothing to the colony to help them with their mite population. That resulted in dead colonies over winter. I quickly learned that by treat in August my colonies would have enough time to raise healthy bees for winter. My overwintering success rate jump dramatically but still I did not know what the mite population was. Were my bees infested or did they have any varroa hygiene sensitivity of any king? This year I was convinced by a fellow beekeeper read an article by Randy Oliver  of Scientific Beekeeping.com about mites counts and ways to check them. Not long after reading this article I gave it a try. It was not hard, it only took a few minutes per hive. I learned that some of my colonies manage mites very well with any assistance from me. They averaged 1.6 mites per hundred. My worst out of 20 colonies was 4 per hundred. To do this test you will need a few items. 1. Rubbing Alcohol...