Eco-Beetle Guard - Reusable Small Hive Beetle (SHB) Trap Collection for Beehives

Informazioni su questo modello

OVERVIEW Small Hive Beetles (Aethina tumida) are one of the most destructive apiary pests worldwide. They invade colonies, lay eggs in comb crevices, and their larvae spoil honey, ferment pollen stores, and cause colony absconding. Honeybees naturally defend the brood nest by herding and chasing beetles away from the center of the comb toward the top bars and hive corners. The Eco-Beetle Guard is engineered around this exact bee defense behavior: Worker bees chase beetles into the upper crevices and along frame rests. Beetles seek cover in the recessed guide channel on top of the trap. Calibrated 3.6mm funneled slots guide beetles downward into the reservoir where they are trapped in oil or diatomaceous earth. Bees remain completely safe because their thorax width (4.5mm to 5.0mm) is too wide to enter the 3.6mm slots. KEY DESIGN AND ENGINEERING HIGHLIGHTS: Calibrated 3.6mm Beetle Entry Funnels: Precision slots with 45-degree chamfers guide crawling beetles downward while physically barring honeybees from entering. Integrated Hive Tool Pry Notches: Designed with dedicated end notches allowing beekeepers to pop off the lid effortlessly using a standard J-hook or flat hive tool during routine hive inspections. Internal "MAX OIL" Fill Level Line: An embossed ridge inside the reservoir marks the safe 15ml filling capacity to prevent spills during frame handling. Positive Tactile Snap-Fit: Interlocking rim bead keeps the lid securely locked when frames are manipulated, yet snaps open easily for seasonal cleaning. Multi-Model: Includes full-length hive-wall mount, between-frame universal hanger, and a compact 110mm variant for 5-frame nucs and mating boxes. RECOMMENDED PRINT SETTINGS: Material: PETG or ASA/ABS (Recommended for outdoor UV resistance, weatherproofing, and hive temperature stability). PLA also works well but be mindful of external heat/uv. Layer Height: 0.20 mm (or 0.16 mm for ultra-smooth slot funnels) Perimeters/Wall Loops: 4 walls (1.6 mm thickness) - Ensures 100% solid, leakproof reservoir walls. Top and Bottom Layers: 4 top layers, 4 bottom layers Infill: 20% to 100% (Gyroid or Rectilinear) Supports: None (0%) - The geometry is completely self-supporting. If printer needs support - please add as required. Print Bed Orientation: Trough: Place flat on its base. Lid: Place flat on its top face (face-down) for the best surface finish and clean upward-printing skirt walls. Single-Plate STLs are pre-arranged in optimal print orientations. BAIT AND USAGE INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Filling the Reservoir: Fill the trough halfway (approx. 10ml to 15ml, up to the embossed MAX OIL indicator line) with food-grade vegetable oil or food-grade mineral oil. For a dry option, use a light dusting of food-grade diatomaceous earth. Optional: Add a drop of apple cider vinegar in the center as an extra scent attractant. 2. Placement in the Hive: Hive-Wall Model: Rest the side flange on the frame rest ledge between the outer frame and the hive wall. Between-Frames Model: Hang the trap between the top bars of the two outermost frames in the brood chamber or honey super. Install 2 to 4 traps per brood box during peak beetle season (spring to autumn). 3. Inspection and Cleaning: During routine colony inspections, insert the flat tip of your hive tool into the end pry notch to pop off the lid. Empty drowned beetles, rinse the trap with warm water, refill with fresh oil, snap the lid back on, and reinstall.