IPM is important when working to keep hive pests in check. We had a horrible outbreak in 2021 even though we were using several methods of prevention. Ultimately we did use nematodes as another angle of attack and '22 and '23 have been much better. Some yards are worse than others, so the plan is to relocate those for '24 and go scorched earth on them and hopefully move them back for '25. Our yards are not heavily populated, which is another tactic we use, so doing this will not be too difficult. We use swiffer sheets, beetle blasters (but filled with a 1/4" of DE instead of oil) and screened bottom boards with West trays where again we use a flour sifter to dust the tray rather than using messy oil (the larvae drop from the frames and cannot crawl out to drop to the ground) and of course the nematodes. The scorched earth plan includes moving the hives before winter and the use of permethrin (which is organic and will break down before we move the hives back) to drench the soil before winter and in the spring. Then following another winter we will drench with nematodes before moving the hives back. We have not found that full sun has made a significant difference.
concrete will stop them accessing the soil to pupate. It's permanent, can't wash away to contaminate other land, and as a bonus you never again have to mow the grass around your hives, too. Bees don't like mowers.
Setting your hives on a concrete slab will make it harder for larvae to pupate safely. They pupate in soil - the further they must travel to reach soil, the more likely they are to die or be eaten along the way. It won't stop beetles from elsewhere flying into your hives, but if everyone did it there would be a lot fewer beetles around.
I'd bee interested in seeing how this works for you. I have some hives with quite a few smalll hive beetles. Planning on reducing the extra space by making some into nucs or 8 frames to see if that works. In my yard with lots of sun I don't see many beetles. But, I have partial shade in my other year where they are a problem.
Good morning Peter, pretty dark out yet. Mug up! I haven't seen many small hive beetles and have been pretty complacent about looking for them. Thanks for sharing you experience. I will look a bit more carefully from now on. Take care, Brice
