Baitable Small Hive Beetle Traps! 2 baits 1 winner! 

Rossman Small Hive Beetle Trap! www.gabees.com/removable-beetle-traps Rossman will be part our HIVE LIFE Tradeshow Jan 5th, 6th, and 7th Hivelifeconference.com Thank you Rossman for donating 2000 dollars to the Hive Life youth sponsorship program!

When I remove my beetle traps to avoid spilling I put a piece of 1/2in wide blue painters tape on top before removing. The tape comes off easily.

Couple issues I found with DE is it will clump in humidity. The other issue is as DE kills beetles, they stack up on top of the DE and the newer beetles just run on top of the dead layer carcasses and don’t die due to not getting into the DE. Now, as a disclaimer, we have tons of beetles down here and a lot of humidity, but I found it way less effective than oil. They sink in the oil as they die and more beetles can be killed due to the dead sinking and plenty of oil surface area being available. I do like this trap and I do love Rossman.

These refillable traps originally come from Italy. I bought some about 5 years ago and love them! Glad to see they are making their way to the states.

That looks like a great trap being able to clean and reuse , and the idea of being able to bait is awesome also. Here in Louisiana we have so many hive beetles its hard to raise small hives in summer and fall, its almost a loss from the start cause if you try to use pollen patties on a small hive its toast unless you are able to check daily. Thanks for the video , gonna order me some to try out also.❤👍👍👍👍👍

I have been trying several methods to keep SHB at bay some of them are more practical for the hobby beekeeper like myself. Most of these I have seen on other RU-vid Vlogs. So, I have a few comments on this subject that might be of use. First, I use peanut oil in the traps I have (like the one you are showing). According to my understanding it does not go rancid. Second, I salt the ground around my hives occasionally. I think this gives the SHB larvae trouble when in the ground. It also keeps down weeds. I use screen bottom boards so I can insert a board with flannel tablecloth segment fastened to it, flannel side up (you can get these at Walmart). The SHB fall through the screen and get their legs tangled in the fabric. So, when I pull the board out, they are at my mercy. I get great pleasure dispatching them. This method is similar to the Swifter sheets except you need not go into the hive to use it. Recently I saw a video about placing peppermint candies in the hive. Still testing this one out. I would be interested in what you think.

About fifteen years ago (maybe longer) I was part of a study count of SHB. I was given a tube with a bait in it to hang in a tree. The bait attracted SHB and I would count the beetles and send the information in for the statistics. So your presentation had me thinking. What about an experiment using one or two of these traps with pollen patty and place them in a dark cone. Hang them from a tree and see if it attracts SHB. It would be interesting. But, just like the study make sure you keep the trap somewhere away from you hives. If it does work you don't want SHB coming in to your hives.

A fellow, Jeff Willard, has been trying Rustoleum Neverwet as a slippery barrier to keep hive beetle from crawling up the bottom board sides. Kind of funny watch the beatles fall right off that surface coating. Video: "Small Hive Beetle Prevention and Control, a test using live small hive beetles to stop and trap". We do not have those pests in Minnesota but I thought you warmer beatle horde folks might find Jeff's tests interest.

Thanks for the info. I lost a strong hive last month to the bettle. Gotta check and treat. My mind was on other things.

Some of our colonies had a big infestation this year after I took the bottom boards where I use to fill with oil out to wash them. I neglected to put them back on and they exploded with beetles. Great idea on the pollen in them. I’ll try that. Thanks for sharing.

Peppermint candy been using it all summer only seen three beetles. Hillbilly beekeeping shows how it’s done

All I can do is manage beetles at this point. I've got two beetle barns and three oil traps in a 3 deep hive. Plus I keep peppermint going weekly and there's always the same amount of beetles.

I like the idea of these reusable traps better than the similar looking disposable ones. Especially since you can bait these easily.

Those traps seem really nice. I wonder if they made one like that but where the "trap" part was lower, almost to the bottom of the frames, if they would do as well, better or worse at collecting the beetles. But great review and as always, a great video! Thanks!

Thanks for showing us these traps!! Would rather spend a bit more for traps that are reusable and baitable than just the typical disposable cheap trap (which tend to break when you try to pry them from the frames). BTW, mineral oil does not go rancid like vegetable oil does.

Have you considered trying screen bottom boards? I don't seem to have many beetle issues and I think the bees chase them down to the bottom where they fall out. Thoughts?

My top bar hive is slightly harder to manage the beetles. The traps would allow the queen to get up into the top.

I would buy some of these but the shipping cost is 25$-109$ for a $2.30 trap

I've seen the new traps that open..refilleable. The pollen patty in there is a great idea. I have homemafe beetle buster bottoms w oil tray. I'm thinking maybe put a bit of pollen patty in that, to coax them down to it...and the oil. Thanks for the idea!

Beer is works well. I have had success puting it in the traps with oil. I will have to give a piece of pollen patty a try see if it is better. maybe do a combo as well.

Anybody try a shb trap made for on the ground in front of an apiary ??? Maybe lure them into an exterior trap before they enter the hive ???

Use mineral oil instead what ever kitchen oil you are using. Mineral oil will not go rancid.

DE or lime works great. No bait needed

Hi Kamon from Sydney. We don't need to feed our bees here so I don't have pollen patty what would be as good as that for bait Thanks Francine

Kamon, rancid oil (4:04): try fresh olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil goes rancid in 12-18 months.

When needed I use traps similar to those with just diatomaceous earth to kill them. They seem to go in trying to hide from the bees and die.

A word on the oil you used. If you would use Mineral Oil you'll find it does not spoil. It will not go rancid. I use it in trays under my screen bottom boards ( much like the Beatle Buster ) and it lasts and lasts.

I've seen more hive beetles than normal this year....oh yay!

Hey Kamon, what's the back story on your old red Chevy truck? Looks like it was once a grass fire firetruck. If you get bored, do a video on the beauty.

AL got lucky yesterday but that’s why they are #1. Go dawgs!

Here in Ireland it's just earwigs and they seem not to bother the bees but I may be wrong. lol 💖🙏🌻

Recently heard about using a bit of beer in the trap as an attractent. It came from a student at UFL.

'i have wondered why we don't try to trap beetles outside the the hives maybe like in a baited Japanese beetle style trap

My girls use their propolis and glue them shut. Every time. I mean everytime

Nice large harvest of SHB!

I use the Small Hive Beetle Traps you are using in your video and they have being working well. I used vegetable oil and a little apple cider vinegar. The only problem I am having is the heat is warping some of the traps causing a couple of problems. Some of the warped traps to open which a trap full of bee to get in and die. The warping also causes the traps not to lay flat which makes it easier to spill the oil in the trap if you are not careful then you remove a super from a lower box. I still use the traps but have drilled six holes on the top of the traps so I can wire them shut so them can open with out removing the wire. I am still trying to come up with an idea to keep them laying flat in the hive and not sticking up on the ends. I enjoy your videos. They are always very helpful, thank you for sharing.

Great idea. Thank you.

Thanks !!

Great stuff. I noticed another pest in your video. A european hornet hovering around the front of the hives trying to grab a bee for a snack while you are talking begining at 4 minutes. I think it flew between you and camera once too.

Thanks 👍 😊

You mention in your video that this isn’t when your bees draw out comb. Do you have a video where you explain how and when bees do? Thank you.

I was ready to try Rossman SHB traps......until I found out they wanted $30 for shipping........what a ripoff!!!

I can't find video where you used beer in traps. Interested in sharing it.

Get yourself some peanut oil, from the cooking oil section at super market,,, they love peanut oil ✌️

Thats alot of SHBs

I use food grade mineral oil. It doesn't get rancid.

DE might keep the smell longer than putting it in the oil

I notice there is some type of liquid in there… what is it oil/water?

I'll definately try adding some Pollen patty to my traps! Where is your store located?

Diatomaceous Earth loses its effectiveness once it gets wet. Question is, how long would it stay dry and effective in a humid environment of a bee colony.

Try mineral oil if you don't want the oil to go rancid.

Great job Rossman and thanks for the donation. Kamon, what do you think about throwing a 3/4" spacer under the inner cover to give the beetle traps some room? Shouldn't have too much comb building this time of year. On my traps I feel the inner cover comes right down on top of the traps sometimes.

Trap early, trap often and keep on trapping . . . .

Not quite what I was looking for. Pollen patty is essentially yeast nutrient for home brewing. It's made from the "nutritial yeast" (dead/sterilized yeast) that comes from the brewing and distilling industy. To my understanding, theres some extra vitamins and minerals added... pretty much just yeast nutrient. I'd bee interested in seeing one thats the pollen patty with oil. And one thats just Miller Highlife beer in the beetle trap. My thinking is this. The hive beetle larva has to exit the hive and pupate in the soil. In theory, if one places some beer bottled with beer in them under the hive on their sides, one might be able to attract the emerging adults into the beer bottles before they even enter the hive. A beetle trap is a reactive control measure. It's to trap the beetles once they've entered the hive. But beer bottles ir DTE on the ground under the hives is a proactive control measure. The DTE kinda stabs and cuts up the larva before theure able to pupate into adults. While the beer bottles would attract the adults before the enter the hives. Bith would be forms of proactive measures, helping to prevent the problem before it becomes a problem. I also have a theory about bats being an underestimated essential part of the bees ecosystem. As bats are primarily insectivores. And they are most active at the times of night when the wax moths and hive beetles are flying.

🤫

Went to the link and placed 12 in my cart. $36 worth. Rossman wants to charge me $33 to ship. They can’t weigh more than 12-15 ounces. Not going to pay that price. I’ll try the knockoffs from Amazon first.

@1:30 You still play Galaga, or did they redo it?

Great video! I never thought about using pollen patties. I've always used apple cider vinegar with good results. Have you had any experience in using nematodes for controlling the pupating beetles? Thanks a bunch for making these vids and sharing knowledge!

when i used de, it didn’t get any beetles.

Kamon, Do you wiegh your colonies this time of year to help measure the amount of surplus honey on board for winter stores? What scales do you use?