[Beeves]

I went out early just at daybreak it was still dark because of heavy cloud cover and I found about a dozen of these beetles on 3 hives. They are gray in color and about 1/2 to 5/8 inch in length are they something I should be worried about?
Beeves

 

[Beeves]

Here is a better pic.....any help?

 

[Gypsi]

Small hive beetles are rarely half an inch long. I am not sure what those are. SHB are usually found inside the hive,the bees tend to corner them up in the top corner of the hive, just under the inner or outer cover. They are maybe 1/4 inch wide and 3/8 inch long.

 

[kulbee3499]

i love bee keeping. I am working as bee keeper from last 2 years. Thanks for the pictures

 

[Gypsi]

I think that is a big pic of a small hive beetle

 

[Rick_Bee]

SHB are almost round, black and shinny, and under 1/4" (like a ladybug). You've got some other critter there.
That looks almost big enough for a mouse guard to stop.
Unless there were a lot more of them or they were hassling the bees, I would not worry, they were probably just stealing heat from the hive.

It's interesting where the bee rabbit hole has taken me, the more I learn about bees, the more I learn about other bugs and flowers and weather, that I never paid attention to before.

 

[Wil]

At first, I thought Stink Bug but now I see that the back on the beetles in the pictures are round and a Stink beetles back is flat. Besides, I think I have all the Stink Beetles in my house right now so everybody else should be safe.

 

[Gypsi]

Wil everything just moves in with you

 

[Wil]

I'm ok with some of that moving in but if I start seeing skunks hanging around the porch, I will start to get really concerned. I need to check in with one of our Australian friends on here and see if I can put my pet Australian Skink to use to combat some of these unwanted guests that want to seek shelter for the winter.