Beetle Blaster Trap
Disposable plastic trap that sits between frames. Fill with vegetable oil — small hive beetles enter and drown. No chemicals.
- Fits between frames in the brood nest where beetles concentrate
- Fill with vegetable oil — beetles enter and cannot escape
- No chemicals — safe to use with honey supers on
- Bees patrol and guard the trap openings naturally
What it is
A small hive beetle trap designed to slide between frames at the top of a super. Filled with vegetable or mineral oil, it traps adult beetles hunting brood and drowns them in the oil before they can lay eggs in the comb.
How it works
Small hive beetles run from light and hide in cracks. The trap is a slotted plastic tray — beetles enter through the top slots chasing the dark, interior space, fall into the oil reservoir, and can't climb out. Bees can't fit through the slots, so they're never at risk.
When to use it
SHB pressure in Arkansas runs highest from mid-summer through fall. A trap per colony during those months catches beetles before they reach population numbers that overwhelm the colony. Weak or stressed colonies need traps earlier — beetle pressure scales with the colony's ability to patrol its own combs.
Usage notes
Fill with plain vegetable oil or food-grade mineral oil — don't use motor oil or chemical pesticides; bees will be exposed to vapors and liquid. Empty and refill monthly or when the oil surface is covered with trapped beetles. Reusable — one trap lasts years with routine cleaning.
Compatibility
Fits between standard Langstroth frames (8-frame or 10-frame). Place at the top of the upper super; beetles naturally travel upward hunting brood and honey.
