Beetles and Boric

[Kris^]

I've been chatting with another local beekeeper about mites -- I think I got some with my packages this year.  At least they were on one of my feeders I removed after I left it sitting in the field for a day and a half (to let the bees return to the hive).

Anyhow, we discussed using boric acid in a corrogated cardboard contraption like those used with coumophos strips.  Any experience or comments on this method?  How would you do it on a screened bottom board?

-- Kris

[Apis629]

You're describing a controll meathod for SHB yet, you keep saying mites so which is it?  

Did they look like weird ladybugs colored black or tiny red/black mites the size of a small pin head?

Anyways for the SHB controll meathod you were talking about before...you get corrogated cardboard and tear one side off so you can see the little slots.   Inside there stick one eighth of a strip of Apistan and place it in one corner of the bottom board.(con be screened or solid)  The idea is that the SHBs look at the cardbord as a place to hide and then are poisoned by the strip and die.

[Kris^]

Yes, small hive beetles were what I meant in the post.  Sorry about the confusion, was a long, draining day.  

-- Kris

[Michael Bush]

I don't have any small hive beetles so I have no experience with those.  However I have used boric acid on cockroaches and on ants and it was very effective on both of them.  I'd be curious to hear what your results are if you try it.

[photokid]

I use an oil tray covered with a screen. Both are plastic from dadant. It seems to keep the SHB in check. The hive with the oil trap has qualitatively fewer beetles than the other hives that have no oil trap. I just started using it about two months ago, they are not gone yet, but I hope to get rid of the beetle completely.

Someone also told me that the telescoping cover is a great place for the beetles to hide, so maybe a plain, flat cover might be better, but down here in rainy, humid Miami we keep with the telescope.

[photokid]

Seeing as how you're from NJ, the winter will probably kill the beetle.

[Robo]

Seeing as how you're from NJ, the winter will probably kill the beetle.

Wishfull thinking.
http://www.beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?p=7520#7520