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Predators include several species of ground beetles . At various meetings of the Florida State Beekeepers Association and the Mid-Atlantic Bee Research and Extension Consortium ( MARREC ) , beekeepers and industry leaders identified the exotic parasitic pests Varroa destructor ( Anderson ) , and the small hive beetle ( SHB ) Aethina tumida Murray as the leading threats to the beekeeping industry . During the period of the study , project participants attended 11 beekeeper meetings and held 3 short courses and 1 field day demonstration on the small hive beetle trapping system . In the trial conducted in Lake City , Florida , the beekeeper reported that bees in 90 % of the hives from which small hive beetles and wax moth larvae were trapped when left unattended survived the winter season , while the mortality in those in hives at the site from which beetles were not controlled was 100 % . The small hive beetle has become a significant pest of beehives in the United States over the past 10 years . He has examined the role of ground beetles ( Carabidae ) as natural enemies of pests affecting wheat , and the response of gall-forming arthropods to the hybridization of their cottonwood ( Populus ) host species . Other biocontrols include various species of ground beetles in the genus Scaphinotus and other genera . At the USDA , ARS-CMAVE in Gainesville , we have developed a cheap , environmentally-friendly and an effective trapping system for the small hive beetle . Beekeepers will be provided with the research-based knowledge , generated from this study , necessary to successfully and safely control small hive beetles in their beeyards , and to slow down the spread of beetles to areas at risk threatened by infestation . The development of the trap and lure combination will greatly aid research on the population dynamics of the small hive beetle . We will also continue a long-term project to assess and monitor the diversity of ground beetles on the Evergreen campus . The clones also employed these native gelatinous larva-like ground beetles as mounts . The adult asparagus beetle is about 1/4 inch ( 6 -9 mm ) long , has a long , smooth , shiny , slightly elongated hard body . To prevent infection , avoid wounding trees during April , May , and June when the vectoring Nitidulid beetles are active .