Use in-hive beetle traps

Place beetle traps inside hive boxes to capture adult SHB and reduce their population. Oil traps (such as the Beetle Blaster or Beetle Jail) fit between top bars and drown beetles in vegetable oil. Bottom board traps use a tray of oil beneath a screened board to catch beetles that bees chase downward.

Why It Works

SHB instinctively seek dark, tight crevices to hide from bees. Traps exploit this behavior by offering narrow slots that beetles enter but cannot escape, where they drown in oil or become stuck. A single trap can capture dozens of beetles per week in heavily infested hives.

Tips

• Fill oil traps with food-grade vegetable oil or mineral oil; avoid automotive oils
• Check and refill traps every 7-10 days, or more often in peak beetle season
• Place traps away from the brood nest to avoid interfering with bee activity
• Combine traps with other methods for best results; traps alone rarely eliminate an infestation