Beekeeping, like any other practice, has its own set of challenges. One of the most common problems is hive beetles infestation. These are pests that invade hives flying from one colony to another.
The beetles vary from tiny to large sizes. The small beetle is the most popular one in beekeeping and easily accesses the hive through crevices and spaces between frames.
One behavior of hive beetles is hiding in places honeybees cannot access. As the population grows, the beetles can destroy honeycombs affecting the bee’s ability to make honey.
The Best Hive Beetle Traps
1. Foxhound Bee Company Small Hive Beetle Trap
This 24-pack of beetle traps is useful in up to 6 beehives.
Key Features
- Works naturally with bees
- Easy to use
- Simple installation
- Safe for bees
- Ideal for spring and summer use
When beetles invade a hive, they are forced into the trap as they run away from honeybees. The inside of the trap has oil that beetles stick on and cannot come out. The trap’s design features thin slots that are too small for bees to enter.
The traps function correctly, but you need to be careful when placing between frames. The material is flimsy and prone to cracking under pressure.
2. Rural365 Hive Beetle Trap
This trap catches small hive beetles to prevent damage to honeycombs.
Key Features
- Reusable beetle barn traps
- 10-piece pack
- Ideal with various bait types
- Easy to use
The traps come in a clamshell design that allows easy loading of beetle bait. These are easy to wash, and you can reuse to protect your hives for years. The best thing is that you can use any acceptable bait with the traps.
The traps are economical; however, you have to clean them every few weeks to maintain functionality.
3. Foxhound Bee Company Reusable Hive Beetle Trap
This 18-pack of traps is reusable and an excellent option for up to 9 hives.
Key Features
- Easy to use
- Bait design
- Easy to clean
The trap design features two compartments. One holds cooking oil and the other lures beetles into the trap with bait. This design adds to the effectiveness of the trap. The good thing is that you can always clean the traps and reuse them in the hives.
They are economical and safe to use around bees.
4. IPK Screened Bottom Board and Small Hive Beetle Trap
This screen bottom board works as a hive beetle trap to catch small beetles. It is quick to work and eliminates hive beetle in 48 hours.
Key Features
- Aluminum screen
- Aluminum tray
- Mildew-resistant exterior latex
The screened bottom board works effectively to eliminate hive beetles quicker than regular traps. The aluminum tray works to hold cooking oil, and the screen has small holes for hive beetles to fall through. More to this, it is coated in mildew-resistant latex for durability.
Although this trap is light and a little flimsy, it works well to catch hive beetles.
What to Put Into Hive Beetle Trap
Hive beetles cluster around the corners of the beehive. Traps use different mechanisms to reduce the population and possibly eliminate them. There are traps to use on the top of the hive, in the middle among the frames, and at the bottom section.
Most traps use hive beetle oil that you can buy online. With these designs, you can also use regular cooking oil to trap the beetles inside. Some trap designs require baits inside for effectiveness.
The most common baits are molasses, honey, sugar, boric acid, and apple cider vinegar. You can create bait recipes by adding these to oil to enhance effectiveness.
Conclusion
Hive beetle traps are essential in any beekeeping environment to eliminate and control hive beetle populations. You can use the above traps to enhance the health of your honeybee colonies. These reduce the need for pesticides and are easy to use to prevent infestation or after infestation.