Small Hive Beetle

Small hive beetles (shb's) were first detected in Vermont in 2001. Initial discoveries were in migratory hives from Florida and South Carolina. There were also a few package colonies started from bees originating in Georgia that were found to have shb's. As of the 2003 season, the shb's have migrated into non-migratory hives within approximately 5 miles of infested migratory hives.

The shb's have now been found in Addison, Franklin, Rutland and Windsor counties. The highest number of shb's are often found in close proximity to commercial migratory bee yards in Addison and Rutland counties. The most common place to find shb's is on the underside of the inner cover, on top of the frames. They especially like to hide in the empty cells of burr comb commonly found on the top bars.

The shb's are shy of light so watch for them running for darker places when opening hives. There does not appear to be any damage to healthy hives from the shb's. Where there is potential for damage would be in colonies weakened due to queen problems, disease, mites or nucleus colonies, or dead colonies allowed to remain in bee yards during the active season.

Perhaps the biggest concern would be to honey supers that are harvested and allowed to sit for a period of time before extraction, especially if the weather is warm. Without the bees to harass them, the shbs can lay eggs, which will eventually hatch into maggots, and make a mess of the honey. The best way to avoid this problem if you know you have shb's in your hives is to harvest and extract as soon as possible.

At this point in time, it does not appear that any chemical control in hives is needed in Vermont. Our climate and soil types limit the ability of the shb's to undergo the explosive population growths seen in the Southern states.  Shb's are now documented to overwinter in Vermont beehives.  However, they appear to die off in early spring, and should not cause any significant problems in Vermont. There is now a shb trap available for use in hives from several bee equipment suppliers. Check catalogs for additional information and prices.

If you discover any shb's in your hives in the counties not listed above, please contact Steve Parise, and collect a sample if possible.