1. Has the SHB Task Force of the Loudoun Beekeepers come up with some conclusions or recommendations at this time?
   
2. I feel I will hang it up if I get the Small Hive Beetle.  What should I do if I decide to try to hang on?
   
3. Is there any new information on the AHB (African Hive Beetle), especially IPM (integrated pest management) techniques?

Conclusions are premature, however, there are some recommendations that we feel can be rendered at this early time.  They are not written in concrete, and are subject to change as we all learn about this critter.  Most of the generalities put forth by the authorities are basic things such as keep your hives strong (easier said than done); practice good sanitation in the bee yard as well as the honey house; take more care in handling the honey and equipment during and after harvest (should have been doing that all along, as we all have to one degree or another gotten sloppy in our management practices); and don't overly manipulate your boxes. 

Beyond that, treatment of the hive with “Check-Mite” as per recommended, and some are recommending drenching the ground in the area of the hives with “Guard Star.”  For those that object to the use of chemicals such as Coumaphos in the hives, the experts offer little solid advice.  We have several members of the Task Force that are really pouring hours of effort into searching for any information, experience or otherwise, following every string found to the end.  This is going to be a long process, so don't expect any quick fix.  Updates will be posted to the website.  (Pests and Predators-12-02)

I am quite sure most have read or heard many things about the beetle, some is well founded and others are just plain knee jerk.  If we continue to insist on a world market and so called free trade with no restraints the beetle is just another of the problems we will continually face year in and year out.  The cat may well be out of the bag never in our lifetime to be put back.  Enough pessimism, the politically correct call these opportunities!  Generally, we will all be changing our management over the coming months and years so brace up, but question everything.  Do not jump on every magic potion that comes along.  Think through every move from the norm and work with others in the club.  It will not be easy or quick to establish proper methodology to deal with this critter, yet we will and we will do it together or hang individually.  I have no answer to solve it now, but there are those in the Hive Beetle Task Force that are working very hard on the problem.  Let's look at some of the statements out there.  "Keep a strong colony."  That goes for any colony any time anywhere.  Recommend all Queens be marked and do not hesitate to requeen when needed therefore we must all become sharper in our detection of problems, managing your charges accordingly as a colony not individually Bees.  "AHB's are afraid of light."  Just not true, ask anyone that has them.  Yes, they like to dwell in the darker areas of the hive, but they are no more afraid of the light than a Bee.  "Mineral Oil attracts the beetle."  Horse feathers, along with others we have tried to determine where this came from.  Mineral oil contains nothing a beetle can use, it is inert.  If they mean 'grease patties' here again what on earth could the beetle make use of?  The sugar is contaminated and of no use to the critter as a food or deodorant.  Those I have observed were hiding between the patty and the inner cover where the Bee cannot get to them if for nothing else than to pester the beetle or grab the larva and carry them out of the hive, which in many cases the Bees have been observed doing.  We have to wade through all of these on the way hopefully to some satisfactory management adjustments needed.

            We in the Task Force are constantly running down any and all leads we find, some show promise others just will not pass the insect sense.  Beginning with the upcoming meeting we will try to answer as many of your questions as possible based on our current work and welcome any thread on information to examine.  This is slow and meticulous, taking more time than even we envisioned. 

There are some rumors being thrown around, but officialdom is going with chemicals and very few are pursuing IPM methods (it does not pay the grants). It is just in a watch and see mode generally. There is some independent work on such things as acetic acid (vinegar). At this point we should not rule out anything and try to gather any information you run across. If you think you have AHB, contact Jeff Pfoutz or myself ASAP.