Small Hive Beetle Aethina tumida Murray Ellis and

Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida Murray Ellis, and Hodges. January 2007. NPDN Publication No. 0018

Outline • • • Introduction Description Life Cycle Damage Control Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Introduction • The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, is native to sub-Saharan Africa • Confirmed in the Southeastern US in 1998, probably introduced at ports • Initially problematic in FL, SC, and GA • Has spread throughout the entire Eastern US, also found in TX and CA Special thanks to Johomaps. com http: //www. johomaps. com/as/maps. html

Description • Adults are dark brown to black • Adults are about 5. 6 mm long, but naturally occurring SHB can vary greatly in size Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Description • SHB eggs are pearly white in appearance • Rice-shaped, about 1. 4 x 0. 26 mm SHB eggs on honey bee prepupa. Photo: K. Delaplane, University of Georgia http: //www. ipmimages. org

Description • Larvae have numerous protuberances covering their bodies • Mature larvae about 9. 5 mm in length • Early stage pupae are pearly white • Later-stage pupae darken as exoskeleton develops and hardens Photos: Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services http: //www. ipmimages. org

Life Cycle • Newly emerged adults locate bee colonies by odor. • Adults fly shortly after dusk. Adult SHB on honey comb. Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Life Cycle • In the hive, SHB seek cracks and crevices to hide from aggressive bees. • Honey bees station guards around the cracks where beetles hide Adult honey bees guarding SHB. Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Life Cycle • • If allowed to oviposit, female beetles will lay eggs directly on pollen and brood comb. Female ovipositors are long and flexible and eggs may also be laid in cracks and crevices. Photo left: Hole made by female beetle. Photo right: Capping pulled back revealing eggs laid by the female on bee prepupa. Photo: K. Delaplane, University of Georgia http: //www. ipmimages. org

Life Cycle • A females can lay 1, 000+ eggs in her lifetime • Majority of eggs hatch within 3 days • Larvae immediately feed on pollen, honey, and brood • Maturation time – 10 to 14 days SHB larvae on honey comb. Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

• • Life Cycle After larval feeding is completed, they begin a “wandering phase” and exit the colony to find suitable soil in which to pupate. Most larvae pupate within 90 cm of hive Most burrow less than 10 cm into soil Adults emerge after 3 -4 weeks Larva beginning pupation in the soil. Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Damage • • In its native range SHB does not damage healthy colonies. Most SHB damage has occurred in SC, GA, and FL In 1998, FL beekeepers experienced losses of $3 million Most other states have reported isolated incidences of apiary-wide damage Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Damage SHB damage to European honey bee colonies displays the following cycle: 1. 2. 3. 4. Adults invade colony Population build-up Reproduction Feeding larvae cause damage to brood, pollen, and honey 5. Larvae exit hive 6. Pupation in the soil 7. Emergence of adults and re-infestation of colonies Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Damage • Honey damaged by SHB ferments and is unfit for human consumption • Colonies heavily infested with adult SHB may abscond (entirely leave the nest) • SHB can be a significant problem in the honey house – stored supers of honey or pollen are targets • Typically, SHB are considered a secondary pest of bee colonies, only a problem when colonies are weakened by other bee diseases or pests Photo left: Brood comb protected from SHB. Photo right: Brood comb exposed to SHB. Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Control/Management • Methods include the following: – Chemical (short term and limited value) – Cultural/Mechanical – Biological – Genetic Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Control/Management • Cultural/Mechanical – Minimize foodstuffs to which beetles may be attracted (honey, bits of comb, cappings, etc. ) – Extract supers of honey quickly to reduce beetle damage – Eliminate, requeen, or strengthen weak colonies – Reduce colony stresses – brood diseases, pest problems and activity, failing queens, excessive swarming, and over-supering Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Control/Management • Cultural/Mechanical – In-hive trapping devices • Hood beetle trap • West beetle trap – Attractive baits • Researchers currently developing bait based on yeast associated with SHB Hood Beetle Trap Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org

Control/Management • Biological – Soil-dwelling nematodes have demonstrated activity against pupating SHB • Genetic – Honey bees have natural defenses against SHB, such as Hygenic Behavior – bees able to detect and remove brood that has been oviposited on by SHB Photo: J. D. Ellis, University of Florida http: //www. ipmimages. org Honey bee removing prepupa from colony after SHB infestation.

Control/Management • SHB has continued to spread across the US but most damage has been confined to the southeastern U. S. • If you suspect Aethina tumida… – Contact your local cooperative extension agent http: //www. csrees. usda. gov/qlinks/partners/s tate_partners. html – Contact your local NPDN diagnostic lab http: //www. npdn. org

References • Ellis, JD (2005) Reviewing the confinement of small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) by western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Bee World, 86(3): 56 -62. • Ellis, JD, Hepburn, HR (2006) An ecological digest of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), a symbiont in honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera). Insectes Sociaux, 53(1): 8 -19. • Hood, WM 2004. The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida: A review. Bee World, 85(3): 51 -59.

Additional Information • http: //www. cals. ncsu. edu/entomology/apiculture/ • http: //www. ento. vt. edu/~fell/apiculture/hive beetle/index. html • http: //www. bugwood. org/factsheets/small_ hive_beetle. html • http: //edis. ifas. ufl. edu/AA 257 • http: //www. msstate. edu/Entomology/Beek eeping/smallhivebeetles. htm • http: //www. ent. uga. edu/bees

Authors • Amanda M. Ellis, University of Florida, SPDN Currently, Florida Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry • James D. Ellis, Ph. D. , jdellis@ufl. edu Assistant Professor, University of Florida • Amanda C. Hodges, Ph. D. , achodges@ufl. edu SPDN Assistant Director, University of Florida

Acknowledgments Editorial Review • Jerry Hayes, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry • Steve Bambara, Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University

Publication Details • This publication can be used for non-profit, educational use only purposes. Photographers retain copyright to photographs or other images contained in this publication as cited. This material was developed as a topic-based training module for NPDN First Detector Training. Authors and the website should be properly cited. Images or photographs should also be properly cited and credited to the original source. • Publication Number: 0018 • Publication Date: January 2007