Greg, I just wanted to do a follow up on the results of using Murder sauce... My wife became allergic to bees, so I had to move my hives way back in the woods, where there is constant shade. The beetle population jumped up noticeably. I used murder sauce, and it went back to normal, and then I used it again, and the beetles are mostly gone. The one noteworthy difference is that I put the sauce in the top corners of the hive, and under the inner cover where you typically see the beetles hiding. It was VERY effective in clearing the SHB out! In fact, 2 days after my 2nd application, I was doing OAV treatments, and I noticed dead and dying beetles being kicked out by the bees. Popped the top lid and found ZERO live beetles! THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this video!
Follow up, another year later... My colonies that were treated in the fall of 2022 had virtually zero beetles for ALL of 2023. I applied in the upper corners mostly. Today, 2/26/2024 shows a few beetles in those hives. Time to treat! The untreated hives had beetles, a lot in certain hives. Today is beautiful, so I'm making up a batch of sauce and will go treat all of my hives for 2024. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION!
Full size batch 3 lbs shortening 1 cup DE 10 drops eucalyptus oil Food coloring to preference Small size batch 1 pound shortening 1/3 cup DE 4 drops eucalyptus oil Food coloring to preference
Wow! Great tips, I've never seen this method and I'm definitely going to try it, here in Missouri the hive beetles are atrocious, they must like the climate. Also, it's really good of you to say you're speaking from your experience and offering intuitive guidance. A lot of beekeepers get lost in the sauce and think only one way is right, "you have to do this don't do that" etc. Excellent approach. I have 150 hives and do a lot of workshops, I'll be sharing this and your channel with everyone. Thanks for your work!
Yup, I love hearing different tips and experiences! It's crazy to think, in all the different climates around the world, only ONE WAY will be applicable!
Have you tried placing the sauce in a SHB castle? This isolates the bees away from the sauce, thus zero, none possibility of killing any bees. Also, you could increase the amount of DE b/c bees would have no access.
I have been using peppermint candy along with oil traps and have not yet had a slime out situation, but I’m still seeing more beetles than I would like. This method makes sense, beetles love shortening and the diatomaceous earth will make short work of them. It’s beetle smashing time! Thanks for sharing Greg! 😊
Another great video......and thanks so much for the shout out to Half Tracks and Honeybees!!! I still want to take a ride in Bertha when you're down this way again!! Take care!
As someone trying to grow my apiaries in numbers, and have a lot of small units sitting around, this is going to really help!! Thank you for sharing this and all you do! Keep shining your light little brother, it’s brilliant!
Have you tried boric acid and crisco? I used "bye bye beetle bait traps "from Gallatin tn and wiped out shb population in 12 days. Its a mixture of boric acid and pollen supplements
had to watch just for the title.😉By the Grace of God we don't have much problem with hive beetles up here in the NW, and I thank Him for it every time I see what you all have to deal with.
I know people use old CD cases as beetle traps, maybe the beetle butter could be combined with some sort of beetle friendly enclosure to keep it isolated?
Great video!! I do see some similarities in this concoction to another beekeeper that you know uses...Just sayin....But I want to try this. I need to try this. I must try this. Old school beekeepers used to use grease patties for numerous reasons and would load the grease with what they were trying to spread to the colony for health and wellbeing. Winter grease patties were a great way to get time released nutrition to colonies as they overwintered. A lot of folks began to stay away from grease patties in the south, and actually pollen patties in the heat due to the beetles. Also, high heat will make a mess of the grease when used in the patties, so the winter patties were very popular with the old-timers here in the south. I think the easy access to other patties these days also slowed the use of grease patties. But now what you're showing me is something that still attracts the beetles, but kills them. I like it. I will need to mix some up and give it a go. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Greg!!!
Thanks for sharing Mike, I guess you could say beetle butter is sort of a trojan horse for SHB. Grease patties are def a major tool in the tool box for commercial beekeepers as a carrier for lots of applications. Sometimes old school is the best school. Bait em in and murder!
Very interesting video on the subject of hive beetles. You answered a lot of questions I had. Diatomaceous earth, Large hive in direct sunlight, and a basic organic way of dealing with these pests. It brings back memories of mixing Crisco, granulated sugar, and food coloring made into grease patties we threw into the middle of our boxes to thwart tracheal mites. Oiling their bodies so they could not climb up into the throat of honeybees. Thanks P.S. Do you still use and believe in this stuff. I kind of think so because of how many years you have been using it.
Used this from the get go when I set up my boxes this spring. Haven’t seen a single hive beetle or larva at all this season. Strong colonies in the sun too. Lol
I just set up a hive yesterday and will set one up to day 4/25/23. Will the grease melt everywhere I'd warm temperatures, and how often do I put the grease in?
@@geaj4214 I put just a touch in each corner of the bottom board, put it in early in the spring and never had to reapply it. Never had a single hive beetle.
Thank you for sharing this tip! I've never had problems with beetles, but just discovered 2 smaller hives that were pretty infested. Will be making your murder sauce tomorrow. Thanks again!
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns yes sir.....thanks for being gutsy to set the record straight on strong hives cant get over come small hive beetles...they sure can. ...we are all on the peppermint craze down here....seems to be positive....your thoughts?
Interesting, might give this a try. I wonder if the beetles are just getting their breathing tubes blocked by walking through the paste? Just an FYI, check Criaco label, 0% protein, basically all fat. Beeks used to use a similar recipe for tracheal mites on the top bars.
I read that the diatomaceous earth had to be kept dry to be efficient. As such, I would have expected the shortening to render the DE less effective. Does this method work as a result of the beetles eating the bait, or simply walking over it? Would you estimate the average percentage of beetle reduction you've seen per hive? Thanks so much!
Agree. Seems like DE isn't really needed in the recipe. Maybe it's the crisco, or maybe the eucalyptus repels them. Or maybe the crisco doesn't inactivate the DE after all. If the DE is still effective, it should harm the bees too. But if people say it works, I might give it a try. Someone needs to try it without the DE. Maybe I'll do that. Gotta go gets some Crisco. Didn't know people still used that. I know it kills people. So it probably kills beetles too!
DE must be kept dry and any insect who walks through the powder gets it in their joints. DE is very abrasive and cuts into all insects exoskeleton thus dehydrating and killing the insect. If this recipe works, it must be the eucalyptus and or vegetable shortening that is repelling the beetles.
They are ingesting it. You could drink a solution of DE and it would makes its way through your system no problem. I am guessing the beetles are eating it and it is like glass going through them.
And he said DE and Crisco was a protein to attract SHB, but neither Crisco nor DE have protein in it. Anecdotally it works, but I can't figure a mechanism.
nuther fella has a YT video about using old cd cases for this mixture, You must break a tab on each side of the upper lid to let the SHB in. The mixture kills the beetles, does not repel them. He dumped out a dozen or so dead SHB from a baited case and showed them to be dead as door nails.
Hello Greg does this kill or run the beetles out ???. Thanks all bee keepers need all the help we can get . This sounds like it will for sure help. I saw another comment about DE needs to be dry to work an that is what my understanding was also so I have had a great day today because I have learned something new . That makes my day complete .LOL THANK
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns I will smear some in the top corners and report back. WARNING: Food Lion shortening was super-stiff, so I microwaved it for 30 seconds to soften, and it turned liquid. Hasn't thickened back up after an hour. I may have to throw it out and make another batch. Again, thanks for the help!
@@thilltony3362 Don't throw it out. I did the same thing as you on heating it in the microwave. After about two days the mixture thickened back up. Don't know why it took so long thicken but it did return to a solid.
GREG, a big question came up about the murder sauce on Beesource bee forum. You use pool-grade DE, which is nasty stuff. Is THAT what kills the beetles? I made some from farm-grade, and I suspect it won't be very effective. Let me know what you think, thanks!
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns Thanks, Greg, that's what I suspected. I really appreciate the quick reply, thanks! Now I need to find a source for small-quantities of filter-grade DE. Do you have any good sources?
@@thilltony3362 no problem. Keep in mind that with a cursory glance at pool grade it has its hazards. But so does nearly EVERY component in health maintenance of our colonies. The question quickly becomes at what rates of consumption are hazardous…which is typically rates that do not even apply to our use. I haven’t found a source for small quantities unfortunately.
Thanks Greg, hive beetles can be a problem here in South Carolina for sure. This definitely gives me another weapon of war against this worthy adversary!..... Also with that background music 🎶 and looking like a cooking show, perhaps you should order yourself a Nature's Image Farm apron.
1: I do not have bees (I want to get me some) 2: There is no hivebeatles in my country or atleast a minimal amount. So completely unesesary for me to watch this video. I still did and I found it quite interesting. Atleast I'm ready if we actually get hivebeatles one day and I have hives.
"Diatomaceous earth" is my cue to move on. I also refuse to bury an old penny under the southwest corner of a hive to control pests. No. I do not care about that one time.....
I think he meant that the pollen (protein) falls to the bottom board, so that's where you put this sauce, where the beetles are hanging out scrounging for fallen pollen.......
I am trying this as well. Hive beetles are getting bad, so I think this should work. I did a video on it as well. Thanks for the tips! ruclips.net/video/8gLyjpkDxKU/видео.html
Greg,
I just wanted to do a follow up on the results of using Murder sauce...
My wife became allergic to bees, so I had to move my hives way back in the woods, where there is constant shade. The beetle population jumped up noticeably. I used murder sauce, and it went back to normal, and then I used it again, and the beetles are mostly gone.
The one noteworthy difference is that I put the sauce in the top corners of the hive, and under the inner cover where you typically see the beetles hiding. It was VERY effective in clearing the SHB out! In fact, 2 days after my 2nd application, I was doing OAV treatments, and I noticed dead and dying beetles being kicked out by the bees. Popped the top lid and found ZERO live beetles!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this video!
OUTSTANDING!!! Thanks for the feedback and sharing your experience. Glad it worked so well for you!
I found some old crisco up in the cabinet I used it hope it dont kill my bees I had to use what I had
Did you use pool grade DE or food grade?
@@lucasingala5304 I actually used general purpose DE, but will use pool grade next time
It worked for me also
Follow up, another year later... My colonies that were treated in the fall of 2022 had virtually zero beetles for ALL of 2023. I applied in the upper corners mostly. Today, 2/26/2024 shows a few beetles in those hives. Time to treat!
The untreated hives had beetles, a lot in certain hives.
Today is beautiful, so I'm making up a batch of sauce and will go treat all of my hives for 2024.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION!
Full size batch
3 lbs shortening
1 cup DE
10 drops eucalyptus oil
Food coloring to preference
Small size batch
1 pound shortening
1/3 cup DE
4 drops eucalyptus oil
Food coloring to preference
Do you know how long the leftover amount lasts ?
Thank you!
Has anyone ever captured a few hive beetles in a jar and put a little of this murder sauce to find out the results?
Wow! Great tips, I've never seen this method and I'm definitely going to try it, here in Missouri the hive beetles are atrocious, they must like the climate.
Also, it's really good of you to say you're speaking from your experience and offering intuitive guidance. A lot of beekeepers get lost in the sauce and think only one way is right, "you have to do this don't do that" etc. Excellent approach. I have 150 hives and do a lot of workshops, I'll be sharing this and your channel with everyone. Thanks for your work!
Yup, I love hearing different tips and experiences!
It's crazy to think, in all the different climates around the world, only ONE WAY will be applicable!
Totally agree! Working bees for decades and SHB's can and do take down very strong hives.
Have you tried placing the sauce in a SHB castle? This isolates the bees away from the sauce, thus zero, none possibility of killing any bees. Also, you could increase the amount of DE b/c bees would have no access.
I have been using peppermint candy along with oil traps and have not yet had a slime out situation, but I’m still seeing more beetles than I would like. This method makes sense, beetles love shortening and the diatomaceous earth will make short work of them. It’s beetle smashing time! Thanks for sharing Greg! 😊
Thanks for watching! Hope you keep those nasties at bay!
Another great video......and thanks so much for the shout out to Half Tracks and Honeybees!!! I still want to take a ride in Bertha when you're down this way again!!
Take care!
Great video! Enjoy that “funny honey”! I’m going to send you and Susan a little care package.
As someone trying to grow my apiaries in numbers, and have a lot of small units sitting around, this is going to really help!! Thank you for sharing this and all you do! Keep shining your light little brother, it’s brilliant!
Thanks for your support pal! Hope this little trick helps!
A most excellent video Greggy poo. Thank you. I'm going to link this on my next one I release.
Thanks for watching buddy!
Thanks, great video!
Awesome .thanks
Good information! Luckily they haven’t been a problem for me this year.
Bringing this recipe to my bros on the Yucatán, thank you!!!!
Oooooooo, if you ever get some videos of their beekeeping/apiaries, I'd be super interested in watching
Great info thanks!
Thanks for watching and for the honey!
Have you tried boric acid and crisco? I used "bye bye beetle bait traps "from Gallatin tn and wiped out shb population in 12 days. Its a mixture of boric acid and pollen supplements
I'm definitely going to try this out Greg.
It works great!
had to watch just for the title.😉By the Grace of God we don't have much problem with hive beetles up here in the NW, and I thank Him for it every time I see what you all have to deal with.
Count your blessing buddy! SHB are becoming a real threat for folks.
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns We do have wax moths up here and I guess at times a lot of them, is there anything like this thats good vs wax moth?
I know people use old CD cases as beetle traps, maybe the beetle butter could be combined with some sort of beetle friendly enclosure to keep it isolated?
How were they used
Great video!! I do see some similarities in this concoction to another beekeeper that you know uses...Just sayin....But I want to try this. I need to try this. I must try this. Old school beekeepers used to use grease patties for numerous reasons and would load the grease with what they were trying to spread to the colony for health and wellbeing. Winter grease patties were a great way to get time released nutrition to colonies as they overwintered. A lot of folks began to stay away from grease patties in the south, and actually pollen patties in the heat due to the beetles. Also, high heat will make a mess of the grease when used in the patties, so the winter patties were very popular with the old-timers here in the south. I think the easy access to other patties these days also slowed the use of grease patties. But now what you're showing me is something that still attracts the beetles, but kills them. I like it. I will need to mix some up and give it a go. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Greg!!!
Thanks for sharing Mike, I guess you could say beetle butter is sort of a trojan horse for SHB. Grease patties are def a major tool in the tool box for commercial beekeepers as a carrier for lots of applications. Sometimes old school is the best school. Bait em in and murder!
Bad Ass! Thanks! 💜💜💜🙏🙏🙏
Eucalyptus repels the bee
Good stuff
Very interesting video on the subject of hive beetles. You answered a lot of questions I had. Diatomaceous earth, Large hive in direct sunlight, and a basic organic way of dealing with these pests. It brings back memories of mixing Crisco, granulated sugar, and food coloring made into grease patties we threw into the middle of our boxes to thwart tracheal mites. Oiling their bodies so they could not climb up into the throat of honeybees. Thanks P.S. Do you still use and believe in this stuff. I kind of think so because of how many years you have been using it.
Used this from the get go when I set up my boxes this spring. Haven’t seen a single hive beetle or larva at all this season. Strong colonies in the sun too. Lol
Nice man! Hope your hives stay clean!
I just set up a hive yesterday and will set one up to day 4/25/23. Will the grease melt everywhere I'd warm temperatures, and how often do I put the grease in?
@@geaj4214 I put just a touch in each corner of the bottom board, put it in early in the spring and never had to reapply it. Never had a single hive beetle.
Great video Greg. I need to try this!
You’ll be glad you did!
Thank you for sharing this tip! I've never had problems with beetles, but just discovered 2 smaller hives that were pretty infested. Will be making your murder sauce tomorrow. Thanks again!
Hi,
Did the sauce work?
@@geaj4214 Yes, it works great for me! Went from infested to virtually no beetles within a few days
Thanks Greg! I’ve never seen that concoction or recipe.
Thanks for watching!
Murder Sauce! You crack me up!!
Thank you so much Greg. This was a much needed Video. Looks like I am going to have to subscribe to your channel so I don't mix anything
If old cd cases aren't available. How about injecting this mixture into beetle blasters?
Sounds like a winner ! Can I use food grade diatomaceous earth in the recipe instead of pool grade ? thanks great video !
exactly what I was wondering too
Most certainly you can. I'm sure he used the pool grade because of cost and availability.
Ha good video thanks for doing this video I use screen bottom boards will it hurt my bees to put this on the top bars in the top box thanks
Subscribed!
I’ll be dang - Great video Greg
Thanks for watching Stan! You guys have trouble in TX w SHB?
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns yes sir.....thanks for being gutsy to set the record straight on strong hives cant get over come small hive beetles...they sure can. ...we are all on the peppermint craze down here....seems to be positive....your thoughts?
How often you apply it through the season and when....????
Interesting, might give this a try. I wonder if the beetles are just getting their breathing tubes blocked by walking through the paste? Just an FYI, check Criaco label, 0% protein, basically all fat. Beeks used to use a similar recipe for tracheal mites on the top bars.
For sure, Crisco is fat not protein. Grease patties have been an effective carrier for beekeepers for decades. Thanks for the feedback!
Could you share a link of the DE you use?
I read that the diatomaceous earth had to be kept dry to be efficient. As such, I would have expected the shortening to render the DE less effective. Does this method work as a result of the beetles eating the bait, or simply walking over it? Would you estimate the average percentage of beetle reduction you've seen per hive? Thanks so much!
Agree. Seems like DE isn't really needed in the recipe. Maybe it's the crisco, or maybe the eucalyptus repels them. Or maybe the crisco doesn't inactivate the DE after all. If the DE is still effective, it should harm the bees too. But if people say it works, I might give it a try. Someone needs to try it without the DE. Maybe I'll do that. Gotta go gets some Crisco. Didn't know people still used that. I know it kills people. So it probably kills beetles too!
DE must be kept dry and any insect who walks through the powder gets it in their joints. DE is very abrasive and cuts into all insects exoskeleton thus dehydrating and killing the insect. If this recipe works, it must be the eucalyptus and or vegetable shortening that is repelling the beetles.
They are ingesting it. You could drink a solution of DE and it would makes its way through your system no problem. I am guessing the beetles are eating it and it is like glass going through them.
And he said DE and Crisco was a protein to attract SHB, but neither Crisco nor DE have protein in it. Anecdotally it works, but I can't figure a mechanism.
nuther fella has a YT video about using old cd cases for this mixture, You must break a tab on each side of the upper lid to let the SHB in. The mixture kills the beetles, does not repel them. He dumped out a dozen or so dead SHB from a baited case and showed them to be dead as door nails.
Hello Greg does this kill or run the beetles out ???. Thanks all bee keepers need all the help we can get . This sounds like it will for sure help. I saw another comment about DE needs to be dry to work an that is what my understanding was also so I have had a great day today because I have learned something new . That makes my day complete .LOL THANK
How often do you repeat it in your hives?
What does the eucalyptus oil do. Does it attract or repel the SHB.
I am going to try this...How long will the leftover mixture last for?
How long can we keep the product in the container ?
What is the shelf life?
My strongest hive in full sun this year slimed out.
The only hive I lost
Shortening does not have any protein in it
Great, but my bottom boards are nailed onto the boxes.
good video Thanks🤡
How would this work in beetle traps?
So the hive beetles eat the lard?
QUESTION: Would it be helpful to put a little in the top corners of the hive, where most of the beetles are, besides the smears on the bottom?
Great question. I don’t know. Have never really tried it up top. If you do, let us know what you think.
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns I will smear some in the top corners and report back. WARNING: Food Lion shortening was super-stiff, so I microwaved it for 30 seconds to soften, and it turned liquid. Hasn't thickened back up after an hour. I may have to throw it out and make another batch.
Again, thanks for the help!
@@thilltony3362 Don't throw it out. I did the same thing as you on heating it in the microwave. After about two days the mixture thickened back up. Don't know why it took so long thicken but it did return to a solid.
@@jrmars5434 I didn't. Worked fine, just took awhile to re-solidify. Thanks, though!
My wild bees I caught Kill hive beatles like crazy
Diatomaceous earth is usually good grade for animal and human consumption
Fill in the cracks!
What about a screened bottom board? Just in the corners?
I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! Give it a shot and let us know!
Thank you brother I have been looking for that info on a mix. I was thinking it was boric acid or diitinatious earth
You bet! Hope it helps!
My only problem now is I canon's find it in 50lb bags. Right now I don't need that much with only 1 hive.
@@sonofone1-263Bees try a local pool supply
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns Make sure it is a food grade diatomaceous earth.
@@sonofone1-263Bees Know anyone with a pool
Is there anyway you can post the written recipe?
GREG, a big question came up about the murder sauce on Beesource bee forum. You use pool-grade DE, which is nasty stuff. Is THAT what kills the beetles? I made some from farm-grade, and I suspect it won't be very effective. Let me know what you think, thanks!
The pool grade is heat treated which creates a sharper cutting surface. The food grade will work, just not as effectively.
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns Thanks, Greg, that's what I suspected. I really appreciate the quick reply, thanks! Now I need to find a source for small-quantities of filter-grade DE. Do you have any good sources?
@@thilltony3362 no problem. Keep in mind that with a cursory glance at pool grade it has its hazards. But so does nearly EVERY component in health maintenance of our colonies. The question quickly becomes at what rates of consumption are hazardous…which is typically rates that do not even apply to our use. I haven’t found a source for small quantities unfortunately.
Crisco and boric acid mix no longer effective?
I only have two hives.... anyone make an accurate smaller batch?
where are you located
Where do u get the oil sorry i cant spell it lol
online...essential oils search that title
Thanks Greg, hive beetles can be a problem here in South Carolina for sure. This definitely gives me another weapon of war against this worthy adversary!..... Also with that background music 🎶 and looking like a cooking show, perhaps you should order yourself a Nature's Image Farm apron.
SHB can be absolutely devastating…even when colonies are strong and on full sun. I’m not qualified for apron, a bib though…for sure!
1: I do not have bees (I want to get me some)
2: There is no hivebeatles in my country or atleast a minimal amount.
So completely unesesary for me to watch this video. I still did and I found it quite interesting. Atleast I'm ready if we actually get hivebeatles one day and I have hives.
What country u from
@@Peter-od7op I'm from Norway
You don't use Beetle Barns for this?
"Diatomaceous earth" is my cue to move on. I also refuse to bury an old penny under the southwest corner of a hive to control pests. No. I do not care about that one time.....
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
Are you sure that Crisco contains proteins? As far as I know, it’s not true. Zero proteins in it. So, what attracts beetles in Crisco? 🙈
The fat in shoertening. Bees ignore murdered sauce because it contains no sugar.
I’m sorry but fat is not protein. There are 3 categories- carbs, fats, and protein. Crisco is fat.
Thankyou for the correction. Beetles love it.
@@NaturesImageFarmGregBurns Glad to see you are pressing forward with your rebuild. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
@@michaelshelnutt3534 I do hate to admit, that the best part of a very rare ribeye steak is the fat. The dogs get most of it, but I do get my share!😉
The beetles are attracted to the fat. The bees ignore it because it contains no sugar.
I think he meant that the pollen (protein) falls to the bottom board, so that's where you put this sauce, where the beetles are hanging out scrounging for fallen pollen.......
Will this kill the bees?
I am trying this as well. Hive beetles are getting bad, so I think this should work. I did a video on it as well. Thanks for the tips!
ruclips.net/video/8gLyjpkDxKU/видео.html