Is your soil over there clay or sand :-D
OK, that was a joke. Sorry I couldn’t resist. You’re probably relatively sandy on the west coast.
To answer your question, I have NOT seen small hive beetles in my hives, but I believe Scadsofbees claimed he had SHB before in Michigan. I do see an occasional beetle around the hives, but they are just normal Michigan bugs, not the SHB.
Dead moldy bees and fermenting honey gives off a disagreeable smell; that is likely what you smell.
Old Black (brood) comb will attract the wax moths here in Michigan :(