Small Hive Beetle Oil Trap

A more natural way to control small hive beetles developed by Laurence Cutts.
Simply fill the trap to about 1/8" to 1/4" with mineral oil or a food approved oil and place between the tops of the frames.
Once it's full, simply throw the trap away.

Tips for use

• Keeping bees healthy is essential in controlling SHB. Weak colonies are much more vulnerable.
• Make sure traps are not completely filled to ensure that trapped SHBs cannot climb out.
• The traps can be partly filled with apple cider vinegar with a layer of oil floating on top. Apple cider vinegar is a particularly attractive bait.
• Most beekeepers dispose (carefully) of traps containing beetles, but some save the traps for re-use by cleaning them out to remove the trapped SHBs. (Washing out traps can be quite fiddly.)

You can also try the following:

Small Hive Beetle Trap Lure Recipe (also called David's Cocktail)

½ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup sugar
1 cup water
1 ripe banana peel cut up finely

Directions: Combine all ingredients and allow to ferment for about 2 weeks. Fill center well of the trap with lure. Fill wells on either side with an oil - mineral oil, vegetable oil, something that will drown small hive beetles when they fall in. Replace when full or every few days. With hotter weather, traps should be checked and refreshed more frequently.