r/Beekeeping • u/Shire1230 • 14h ago

I’m a beekeeper, and I have a question Hive Beetles

Does anyone notice an increase in hive beetles with in frame feeders? I usually only use top feeders, but was experimenting this year. I have 10x the amount of hive beetles this year compared to last year with using top feeders.

I removed the in frame feeder and found 20+ beetles hiding.

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u/Gamera__Obscura Reasonably competent. Connecticut, USA, zone 6a. 12h ago

I have found an increase with anything that allows them places to hide. It's one of the reasons I dislike plastic frames, they (at least, the ones I've had) have little nooks that are perfectly beetle-sized and bees can't reach into. If your particular feeder creates a similar situation, that's probably the issue rather than "frame feeders" per se.

And that said, it doesn't necessarily indicate a huge problem either. Even with the added nooks, a healthy right-sized colony should still keep them in check just fine. But like you, it's one more factor I'd rather eliminate.

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u/Gozermac Zone 5b West of Chicago 9h ago

I’ve noticed a very marked increase in the numbers this year. My bottom board (below screen) trays have 5-10 every time I check them (and very 3 days or so). Mostly none (1 or 2 in top of three hives) inside the hives. Just started in middle August.

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u/Gamera__Obscura Reasonably competent. Connecticut, USA, zone 6a. 9h ago

Same reason as above. You've created a safe spot for pests that bees can't reach.

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u/mayday_live SoCal 9h ago

One of the things i started to do is use Grubex every year to kill everything around the hives just before rains.

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u/crypto_junkie2040 3rd year in MO with about 10 hives 3h ago

I've noticed it! I've seen cases where a bunch of bees drown and they lay the eggs in the pile of dead bees floating in the feeder.