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Author Topic: Small Hive Beetle Grease  (Read 21345 times)

Offline BeeMaster2

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Small Hive Beetle Grease
« on: April 15, 2018, 11:24:22 am »
Small Hive Beetle Grease
Here is a formula for making Small hive Beetle Grease. I have not used it yet but I will be trying it out soon. I was told to mix the Ingredients I?m working on something which in a bowl and then make 1/2? round strips and place one them on top of a frame. I?m not sure of the size/amount so if someone from Beefest 2018 remembers, please correct me. I guess the best thing to do is to divide the resulting mixture up into 22 sections and put one in each hive.
I was told by 3 beekeepers from the Clay County Club that in three weeks you will not see any beetles in your hive.
It sounds like it is worth trying.
Full Batch (90 hives)   1/2 Batch (45 Hives)   1/4 Batch (22 hives)
4 lbs sugar           2 lbs sugar            1 lbs sugar
1.5 lbs Crisco           12 oz Crisco            6 oz Crisco
1 lb honey                   8 oz honey            4 oz honey
2 1/2 oz Wintergreen 1 1/4 oz Wintergreen.  .625 oz Wintergreen Oil

I went to buy wintergreen essential oil and found they only sell it, at that store, in .17 oz. I converted the recipe to use just one bottle and it should work will for most hobbyists since it is good for 6 hives or less
1/16th batch
4 oz of sugar
1.6 oz of a Crisco
1 oz of honey
.17 oz of Wintergreen
Mix them all together, do not melt the Crisco until it is all one consistent color.
Use your hive tool to wipe a dab on the ends of the frames, where the SHBs hide.
In 2-3 weeks hive should be beetle free.
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Offline cao

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2018, 01:06:44 pm »
Thanks for posting this under it's own topic(easier to find).  It sounds promising.  I am thinking about giving it a try.  Do you know how of why it works?  Does it kill or just repel the SHB?  Any other info on it would be appreciated.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2018, 07:23:11 pm »
I?m not sure how it works.
After I made up a batch, I went out and looked at the top frames of all of my hives. Wouldn?t you know it, I didn?t find a single SHB. I did add some to a few of the hives. I did find and vacuumed up a bunch of carpenter ants. We will see if it keeps them out also.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2018, 10:53:25 pm »
I?m not sure how it works.
After I made up a batch, I went out and looked at the top frames of all of my hives. Wouldn?t you know it, I didn?t find a single SHB. I did add some to a few of the hives. I did find and vacuumed up a bunch of carpenter ants. We will see if it keeps them out also.
Jim

Jim you had posted this before in the general beekeeping section less the updates.  I am even more enthused by this than ever!! Please keep us udated from time to time on the progress made, along with how long it seems to last without a (re-fresher dose). Thanks , Phillip
« Last Edit: September 10, 2023, 11:55:33 am by Ben Framed »
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2018, 07:58:31 am »
I plan on doing that. It would be great to have a safe tool to get rid of the darn SHB.
If there is enough interest in this thread, I will make it a stickie.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline texanbelchers

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2018, 03:54:19 pm »
I finally found where I had seen this before.   Little Creek Bee Ranch   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf5ZGBF_plQ

I think they have some other videos of their application in the field.

Edit:  I had another link, but it was different, referenced mites, and didn't include any honey.

Edit, Edit:  I keep finding things.  Here is an old reference that lists "killing bees" which is the problem I had read about with Wintergreen. http://rnoel.50megs.com/2000/beetle.htm
« Last Edit: April 16, 2018, 04:15:21 pm by texanbelchers »

Offline Acebird

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2018, 04:41:05 pm »
Tex, does he have and explanation as to why he doesn't use a mixer?
Brian Cardinal
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Offline texanbelchers

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2018, 01:15:43 am »
Not that I saw or read,  but it probably has something to do with marital survival.  :cool:  1 spoon, 1 bowl, 1 shot glass, get out of the kitchen.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2018, 07:38:43 am »
I do not know about the mixer but I did ask my wife if I should heat the Crisco to make it easier to mix up and then just cool it in the fridge. She said you definitely do not want to do that because the Crisco is whipped to make it soft and fluffy and if you heat it it will be hard and caked when it chills back down.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Acebird

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2018, 08:41:19 am »
the Crisco is whipped to make it soft and fluffy
That is why I am thinking mixer.
Brian Cardinal
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Offline chux

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2018, 06:47:23 pm »
Making a batch tonight. Where are you putting the grease in the hive? In the brood chambers or in the honey supers or both?

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2018, 08:10:05 pm »
Making a batch tonight. Where are you putting the grease in the hive? In the brood chambers or in the honey supers or both?
Put it on the ends of the brood frames. Do not add with honey Supers.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline chux

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2018, 09:38:45 pm »
Are you saying that it isn't safe to use with honey supers on? Or are you saying to put it on the brood chamber, but not honey supers?

Offline Acebird

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2018, 09:31:23 am »
Are you saying that it isn't safe to use with honey supers on?
Probably more of a legality.  You can't put pesticides in your hive with supers on even though bees will bring in essential oils naturally by foraging.
Brian Cardinal
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Offline capt44

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2018, 11:32:17 am »
I'm going to make up a batch and give it a whirl.
We are fixing to get into Small Hive Beetle season again.
Mid May is when we start seeing infestations of the dreaded Small Hive Beetles.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2018, 12:06:04 am »
Are you saying that it isn't safe to use with honey supers on? Or are you saying to put it on the brood chamber, but not honey supers?
At high levels, wintergreen is toxic. It also will change the flavor of the honey.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Bamboo

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #16 on: May 01, 2018, 05:35:45 pm »
I mixed up a batch last week and applied last Thursday 26 April.
Slightly different formula down here as we don't have Chrisco but a similar product called Kopha.
Figured I would give it a week and see what happens.
Will let you know results.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2018, 08:07:48 pm »
Bamboo,
I was told it takes 2 weeks to work. Looking forward to see how it works for you.
I was in my hives this week and only saw one that wasn?t in a hive but on top of the STB.
JIM
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Bamboo

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #18 on: May 02, 2018, 12:53:12 am »
Thanks Jim
Will leave it another week before I have a peek.
 Cheers
Mark

Offline beeman2009

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #19 on: May 13, 2018, 09:26:55 pm »
Any reports as to effectiveness yet?

Thanks all
All things may be lawful, but not all things are advantageous.

Beeman2009

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2018, 10:52:09 pm »
Beeman,
I am not seeing any SHBs in my hives. What is strange is that I only treated the hives that I saw beetles in, 4 hives, and now I am not seeing any.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Bamboo

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #21 on: May 15, 2018, 03:20:52 am »
Hi Guys
Well it is now 19 days since I applied the "grease" to the hives. I used the hive tool and applied the "grease" at the end of the frames at the back of the hives and in the gaps between the frame rests as advised.
The results are in:
3 5 frame nucs had between 10 and 20 SHB on the outer frames only.
2 double 10 frame hives had approx 15 SHB once again in the top super and on the outer frames only.
1 double 10 frame had approx 70 to 80 SHB again on the outer frames. I pulled the frames and killed about 40 with hive tool.
1 double 10 frame had not one SHB! This was by far the strongest hive.
The hive with the 80 odd was not weak but it was not as strong as the other.

Honestly I am disappointed with results as the population apart from the one with 80 odd is about the same as it was before applying the "grease". The one with 80 odd was a bit of a shock.
I thought I would try again and have reapplied it and will check in 2 weeks and see what transpires.
I live in hope.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #22 on: May 15, 2018, 07:12:42 am »
Bambo,
Sorry to hear it is not working for you. Thanks for the feed back.
Did you apply it to the top of the brood frames or was it on the honey super frames?
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Bamboo

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #23 on: May 15, 2018, 07:26:44 am »
Top of the brood.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #24 on: May 15, 2018, 07:43:28 am »
That is where they said to place it.
Wondering what is different.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Bamboo

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #25 on: May 30, 2018, 07:53:07 am »
Well the 2 weeks is up and I had another look today to see how it was all going.
Kinda mixed results.
The population was much the same as the last inspection apart from the hive that had 80 odd SHB, today was probably down to about 15 or so. The hive with none now has a couple of SHB.

Once again they were only on the outer frames, probably chased there by the bees. The ones that went down onto the lids away from the sunlight during the inspection were being aggressively chased by the bees so I would think that they are keeping them away from the centre of the brood and honey stores in the hive proper.

I will look at other methods now other than the grease as I feel that this doesn't work, at least not in my location...or maybe it does and I would have a huge problem if I wasn't using it.

 No damage to comb or slime outs yet but I don't want it to get to that stage.
Cheers

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #26 on: January 18, 2019, 11:00:23 am »
Well the 2 weeks is up and I had another look today to see how it was all going.
Kinda mixed results.
The population was much the same as the last inspection apart from the hive that had 80 odd SHB, today was probably down to about 15 or so. The hive with none now has a couple of SHB.

Once again they were only on the outer frames, probably chased there by the bees. The ones that went down onto the lids away from the sunlight during the inspection were being aggressively chased by the bees so I would think that they are keeping them away from the centre of the brood and honey stores in the hive proper.

I will look at other methods now other than the grease as I feel that this doesn't work, at least not in my location...or maybe it does and I would have a huge problem if I wasn't using it.

 No damage to comb or slime outs yet but I don't want it to get to that stage.
Cheers

Thanks Bamboo, Did you come
Up with something else that seems to give you good results with these Small Hive Beetles?
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline Bob Wilson

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #27 on: June 03, 2019, 03:15:32 pm »
I just found SHB in my hive 3 days ago. I worry about the essential oil in my new long langstroth where everything is in one box. I also worry about introducing boric acid in CD traps. That leaves me with beetle blaster traps. I have thought about cutting a hole the size of a jelly jar lid in the bottom of the hive with hardware cloth over it, and a jar with oil in it screwed underneath, for the bees to herd the beetles into. Of course, that will be difficult with an unhappy colony inside. As a newbee, I know all this theoretical, head knowledge, but I have no experience. I am not sure what to do.

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #28 on: June 03, 2019, 03:38:31 pm »
I just found SHB in my hive 3 days ago. I worry about the essential oil in my new long langstroth where everything is in one box. I also worry about introducing boric acid in CD traps. That leaves me with beetle blaster traps. I have thought about cutting a hole the size of a jelly jar lid in the bottom of the hive with hardware cloth over it, and a jar with oil in it screwed underneath, for the bees to herd the beetles into. Of course, that will be difficult with an unhappy colony inside. As a newbee, I know all this theoretical, head knowledge, but I have no experience. I am not sure what to do.

Joe May did just what you described but later told me he had gotten away from it. Check out his video, read the comments, if there is a question that you have and did not find the answer in the comments, ask. He is always Obliging at answering questions, a real nice fella and a knowledgeable  beekeeper.
Phillip
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline CoolBees

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #29 on: June 03, 2019, 08:51:14 pm »
... I have thought about cutting a hole the size of a jelly jar lid in the bottom of the hive with hardware cloth over it, and a jar with oil in it screwed underneath, for the bees to herd the beetles into. ....

Sorry about the troubles your having Bobll - but that actually sounds like a great idea ... I might have to try it
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Offline leww37334

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #30 on: August 28, 2019, 08:09:38 pm »
I assume this could be placed inside a cd style trap also so it wouldn't contaminate the hive

Offline leww37334

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #31 on: August 28, 2019, 08:41:38 pm »
Well the 2 weeks is up and I had another look today to see how it was all going.
Kinda mixed results.
The population was much the same as the last inspection apart from the hive that had 80 odd SHB, today was probably down to about 15 or so. The hive with none now has a couple of SHB.

Once again they were only on the outer frames, probably chased there by the bees. The ones that went down onto the lids away from the sunlight during the inspection were being aggressively chased by the bees so I would think that they are keeping them away from the centre of the brood and honey stores in the hive proper.

I will look at other methods now other than the grease as I feel that this doesn't work, at least not in my location...or maybe it does and I would have a huge problem if I wasn't using it.

 No damage to comb or slime outs yet but I don't want it to get to that stage.
Cheers
  I assume you did use wintergreen essential oil?

Offline JurassicApiary

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Re: Small Hive Beetle Grease
« Reply #32 on: May 03, 2020, 12:42:09 am »
Reading through the forum and ran across this thread.  Thought I'd revive it and ask if this worked for anyone long term.  Are any of you still using this that tried it when it was originally posted in 2018?  How about those of you who jumped in later in 2019?  I'm curious what the outcome has been and if this is worth trying.  Thanks.