Lets learn how to get rid of hive beetles in your beehive with my 7 steps guide in which we are going to talk about the ways to do this efficiently and also to make sure they dont keep coming back again and again.
You might already know that hive beetles are every beekeeper’s nightmare. I mean these pests can cause stress to your bees and leads to damaging honeycombs and much worse. But don’t worry because in this article we’ll be talking about how to completely get rid of hive beetles in the beehive.
How to Get Rid of Hive Beetles: 7 Steps
Hive beetles are also known as Aethina tumida and to get rid of hive beetles you have to do some preventive measures and cultural practices and if necessary the last option chemical treatments. Below are some proven strategies to help you eliminate hive beetles from entering your beehive.
1. Maintain Strong Colonies
Now the number 1 thing you can do is to make and maintain healthy and robust bee colonies because they are better equipped to fight the hive beetle infestations. Weak colonies are more vulnerable to pests so its important for beekeepers to make strong colonies and ensure to provide adequate food resources and regularly inspect them.
2. Use Beetle Traps
The second method revolves around using beetle traps as beetle traps are effective in reducing adult beetle population and these are filled with oil. They trap beetles into a container filled with vegetable oil mostly where they drown. These are places between hive frames.
3. Inspect Your Hive Regularly
You have to frequently inspect your hive regularly and it will allow you to detect and manage infestations early. You can check for signs of beetle larvae or unusual odors that may indicate beetle related damage.
4. Apply Diatomaceous Earth (Natural Treatment)
Diatomaceous earth is a natural insecticide that can be sprinkled around the hive area. DE dehydrates and kills beetle larvae as they attempt to pupate in the soil without harming you bees.
5. Control Moisture and Ventilation
This is a very efficient method to get rid of hive beetles. Hive beetles only thrive in warm and humid environments. Keeping the hive dry and ventilated is a good way to deter them. You can use a screened bottom board for better airflow and place them in sunny locations instead of shaded areas.
6. Use Chemical Treatments
If infestations get severe now’s the time to get hands on chemical treatments. Some commo chemical solutions are Permethrin Soil Drnech and you can apply it around the hives to kill pupating larvae in soil.
7. Reduce Hive Entrance Size
You can reduce the entrance of the hive that makes its easier for your bees to guard the hive and keep the beetles out. Bees are god defenders and work together to fight the invaders and its much more easier if the entrance is very tight.
Preventing Hive Beetles from Returning
Some tips that you can lead that will help you in prevention to keeping your hive beetle-free!
- Maintain Strong Colonies: As discussed in detail earlier, healthy bees are better equipped to fight off pests. 💪
- Keep the Area Clean: Remove debris, old combs, and spilled honey around the hive to avoid attracting beetles. 🧹
- Use Beetle-Resistant Hives: Some hive designs, like the Beetle Jail Hive, are specifically built to deter beetles. 🏠
- Monitor Regularly: Inspect your hives frequently to catch infestations early. 🔍
- Control Moisture: Beetles thrive in damp environments, so keep your hive dry and well-ventilated. 💧
Call a Professional if Necessary
If everyone didn’t worked out and your hive beetle infestation is pretty severe thats putting your colony at risk don’t hesitate to call a professional. Below is a search query button, that if you search will lead you to search on google about the closest professionals that can provide advanced solutions.
Check For Closed ProfessionalsConclusion
In this article we talked about how to get rid of hive beetles in your beehive and I shared my 7 steps guide. I hope it will help you to get rid of them and after that some tips to prevent them from returning but in case if it didnt worked out you can call professionals so they can provide advance solutions.
