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Author Topic: Small Hive Beetle Grease  (Read 21347 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.
Ben Franklin

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 »
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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
Just do it

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
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