Re: Small Hive Beetle SHB
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 10:25 pm
Hi Dana,
Those are not SHB. I'm not sure what they are exactly, but they may be in the same family, Nitidulidae, which would only narrow it down to many thousands of species. There are 100's of thousands of species of beetle with clubbed antennae, so don't let those bother you. Ditto for elytra (hard wings) that are shorter than the abdomen. I've found these beetles in a couple of colonies too and as soon as I have a minute, I'll sit down and try to key them out, post to the entomology list, and maybe ask Whitney Cranshaw at CSU for some direction. So, no need to worry, but I do think it's worth tracking down. I'll post it when I find out.
MLFrantzen, your beetle is different. That guy looks like SHB. How big is it or could you photograph it on something like a dime or ruler (metric preferably) for scale?
Anyone concerned that they have SHB should collect 5-10 in alcohol and send them to Beth Conrey, CSBA, coloradobeekeepers.org
Here's a good source for SHB (and more) info http://www.extension.org/pages/60425/ma ... ve-beetles.
Cheers,
Kristina Williams
Beehave mentoring and support
Boulder, CO
Those are not SHB. I'm not sure what they are exactly, but they may be in the same family, Nitidulidae, which would only narrow it down to many thousands of species. There are 100's of thousands of species of beetle with clubbed antennae, so don't let those bother you. Ditto for elytra (hard wings) that are shorter than the abdomen. I've found these beetles in a couple of colonies too and as soon as I have a minute, I'll sit down and try to key them out, post to the entomology list, and maybe ask Whitney Cranshaw at CSU for some direction. So, no need to worry, but I do think it's worth tracking down. I'll post it when I find out.
MLFrantzen, your beetle is different. That guy looks like SHB. How big is it or could you photograph it on something like a dime or ruler (metric preferably) for scale?
Anyone concerned that they have SHB should collect 5-10 in alcohol and send them to Beth Conrey, CSBA, coloradobeekeepers.org
Here's a good source for SHB (and more) info http://www.extension.org/pages/60425/ma ... ve-beetles.
Cheers,
Kristina Williams
Beehave mentoring and support
Boulder, CO