I appreciate the information re oil trays under a SBB used as a beetle trap. To me, that makes more sense than small beetle traps at the top of a hive.
But I've been doing a bit of research on how to prevent SHB from entering hives in the first place. I read that they cannot hover, while bees can hover. e.g. "SHB fly like airplanes, with a straight trajectory and no capability of being able to hover. Bees, on the other hand, fly like helicopters, they can hover in any direction."
On that basis, a number of different entries have been devised to keep the SHB from entering hives. I wonder whether any members here have any experience in this area.
This video claims that a "Guardian Entrance" prevents SHB from entering:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PON8J9Mt9NMI see comments under this video saying that SHB are very good at hovering, and someone noted that they can crawl upside down, contrary to the original poster.
![oops :oops:](https://beemaster.com/forum/Smileys/beemaster/oops.png)
Another video claiming that beetles don't get in an entrance underneath the hive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUmc-l0AyK8 A number of corroborating comments, with others questioning.
This information is pretty old, thus possibly outdated. I note that Michael Bush seems to indicate that SHB can get in through a 1/8" SBB. 😢
Another video on Guardian Entrance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToxzhNmv_bM Comment indicate less than 100% effectiveness but a deterrent effect.
Apparently Guardian entrance causes bees to lose some pollen when they enter under the main entrance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlEhaw85mbI Excellent close-up video from 2022!! In a later video the "Bug Farmer" said it didn't really work for him. But this guy is a riot! See his video on "Eliminate ALL Hive Beetles the Easy Way: "In today's video we will introduce the BS-5K or the Beetle Sucker 5000. I will effectively remove every single hive beetle in the Apiary in a single afternoon"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlEhaw85mbI Excellent close-up video from 2022!! Beats smashing beetles! 🤣 Faster & less labor intensive.
Would appreciate any thoughts on how to keep SHB from entering hives in the first place. Even a deterrent that is not 100% fool-proof would be helpful. I read that SHB can fly 7 miles or so to find another hive to infest. So, although I didn't see any European honey bees in my garden this past year, there's no guarantee that the SHB won't find a new apiary. 😢
Is the bottom oil pan the best SHB solution you have found?
(If the SBB helps control varroa, the oil pan under a screen should do as well. I did like seeing the patterns on the white board under the screen showing me a bit of what was going on in the frames above without opening the hive.)