Beetle Crusher™ – Turn Beetle Hiding Spots Into Death Traps

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Note: Beetle Crushers are sold individually. Order based on your colony size—typically 4 per full-sized hive and 2 per nucleus colony.

The Beetle Crusher™ is a mechanical SHB control tool designed to work with your bees’ instincts. Placed across the top bars, it creates a small, dark gap—just the kind of space beetles seek out. Your bees naturally herd beetles into tight corners, and this gives them a place to trap them. When it’s time to inspect, a quick press of the tool crushes the beetles inside—clean, fast, comb-safe, and backed by the satisfying crunch that tells you it worked.

How to Use

Place the Beetle Crusher™ across the top bars of brood frames and leave it in place. Bees will chase beetles into the narrow void under the tool, effectively jailing them.

When you open the hive for an inspection, press down on the Crusher. If you hear a crunch, remove it, clean any crushed beetles from the top bar and inside the Crusher, then reset it. If there's no crunch, simply reset and continue with your inspection.

The Beetle Crusher™ should remain in the colony at all times to provide ongoing suppression. You can scale the number used depending on beetle pressure—four per full-sized hive is recommended for typical infestations, and two for nucleus colonies.

Why Beetle Crusher™ Over Other SHB Tools?

Oil Traps
While effective, they can be messy and are often disposable by nature. The Crusher offers a cleaner, long-term option that works with your bees' instincts.

Swiffer Pads & Dryer Sheets
Can hinder vertical bee movement between boxes and require you to carry replacements at all times. The Crusher is reusable, unobtrusive, and built for long-term use.

Bait Traps
Often use food-based attractants but rely on chemical agents to kill the beetles once inside, requiring you to carry refills or replacement bait materials. The Beetle Crusher™ is chemical-free, always ready, and never needs restocking.

Simple. Scalable. Field-tested. The Beetle Crusher™ puts you and your bees back in control—eliminating beetles efficiently, every time you open the hive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if one stops working?
While we don’t offer a formal warranty, we take the Callahan Auto approach (yep, that one from Tommy Boy). If a Crusher stops performing as it should—and you can send us a photo or video showing the issue—we’ll make it right. That said, please don’t run it through a mower and then email us asking for a replacement. We’re beekeepers, not magicians. We just stand behind the tool when it’s used as intended.

Why is it more expensive than some traps?
The Beetle Crusher™ is built to last. Unlike disposable oil traps, this tool is reusable for years and doesn't require ongoing purchases of bait, oil, or inserts. It's a one-time investment in a long-term solution that works with bee behavior—not just gravity.

Additional Notes

Fitment Notes: Beetle Crushers are made from durable plastic, but minor adjustments can improve fit if needed. If you find the grip on your frame isn’t snug, you can gently bend the sides inward to create a tighter hold. This flexibility is by design and won’t compromise the integrity of the tool.

Offset Indicator: Each end of the Crusher has a "tic" mark to help you position it with the correct offset—enough space to allow beetles in, but not enough for bees to follow.

Propolis Buildup: Bees may propolize the Crusher over time. Just scrape it clean and reset.

Hive Safety: If installed with too much clearance above the top bar, it is possible to squish bees or, in rare cases, the queen. Check placement and fit during install.

Use With Other Tools: The Beetle Crusher™ works alongside other SHB control methods—it doesn't interfere with traps, pads, or boards.

Field-Tested: Yes, it has been tested in hives under SHB pressure.

Patent Status: Patent Pending

Bulk Orders: Orders of 140 units or more may require additional lead time. If you're ordering in that quantity for resale or group use, we offer the option to modify the design to include your company or contact info directly in the 3D print—for branding, resale, or theft prevention purposes.** Orders of 140 units or more may require additional lead time. If you're ordering in that quantity for resale or group use, we offer the option to modify the design to include your company or contact info directly in the 3D print—for branding, resale, or theft prevention purposes.

3D Printed Construction: Each Beetle Crusher™ is 3D printed using durable materials for long-term use. You may notice minor surface texture or layer lines—these are purely cosmetic and do not affect performance.

About Extras & Seconds: We offer “seconds” for sale at a discounted price. These are fully functional Beetle Crushers that didn’t meet our standards for full-price inventory but still perform as intended in the hive. They’re a great option for budget-minded beekeepers looking to cover more hives for less.

When we have extras on hand, we may also include a second or two as a freebie in regular orders. Use them yourself, or pass one along at your next bee club meeting to help someone else get ahead of SHB.

History of the Beetle Crusher: The original idea for the Beetle Crusher was developed by Dale Foley, a dedicated beekeeper with a knack for practical hive solutions. Dale created the first version as a simple, effective way to reduce hive beetle pressure without relying on oil traps or chemical treatments. His design offered a mechanical approach—crushing beetles as they sought shelter in the hive’s upper corners.

Seeing the potential in Dale’s idea, I worked with his permission to refine and adapt it into a repeatable, durable product. What started as a clever DIY solution is now a reusable, hive-tested tool built to last season after season. Every Beetle Crusher sold carries forward that original spirit of beekeeper ingenuity—with a few modern upgrades.