Small Hive Beetle
Aethina tumida Murray
Keith Tignor
Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services
804-786-3515
[email protected]
Background
• Small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray
• Native to sub-Saharan Africa
• Confirmed in the Southeastern US in 1998
• Probably introduced at ports
• Initially problematic in FL, NC, and GA
• Spread throughout the entire Eastern US
• Found in TX, MN, and CA
SHB Adult
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Dark brown to black color
5.6 mm long
Can vary greatly in size
Pointed pronotum
Clubbed antenna
Short elytra
Photo: J. D. Ellis,
University of Florida
http://www.ipmimages.org
SHB Eggs
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Pearly white in appearance
Rice-shaped, about 1.4 x 0.26 mm
Layed in clusters
Found in cracks and crevices
SHB eggs on honey 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
SHB Larvae
• Numerous protuberances covering body
• About 9.5mm in length at maturity
• 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 and Lilia de
Guzman United States Department of Agriculture
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 (3 feet)
• Most burrow less than 10 cm into soil (4 inches)
• Adults emerge after 3-4 weeks
Larva
Photo: J. D. Ellis,
University of Florida
http://www.ipmimages.org
beginning pupation in the soil
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
Small Hive Beetle
Damage
• Considered a secondary pest of bee colonies, only
a problem when colonies are weakened by
other bee diseases or pests
• Honey ferments - unfit for human consumption
• Colonies may abscond (entirely leave the nest)
• Significant problem in the honey house - stored
supers of honey or pollen are targets
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
Damage
Most susceptible hives and locations
• Weak, under-populated hives
• Late season nucs
• Hives in shade
• Dead and Abandoned hives with honey/pollen
• Stored equipment with honey/pollen
• Cappings
• Burrcomb
Photo: K. R. Tignor,
Virginia Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services
Control/Management
Methods include the following:
• Cultural
• Mechanical
• Biological
• Genetic
• Chemical
Photo: J. D. Ellis,
University of Florida
http://www.ipmimages.org
Control
Cultural
– Minimize access to food (honey, bits of comb,
cappings)
– Extract and dry supers of honey quickly
– Eliminate, combine, requeen, or strengthen
weak colonies
– Reduce colony stresses
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hive disturbance – excessive inspections
brood diseases
pest problems
over-supering
swarming
Photo: J. D. Ellis,
University of Florida
http://www.ipmimages.org
Control
Mechanical
– In-hive trapping devices
• Hood beetle trap
• West beetle trap
• AJs Beetle Eater
• Cutts Better Beetle Blaster
– Attractive baits
• Researchers currently developing bait based on
yeast associated with SHB
– Dehydration
– Cold
Hood Beetle Trap
Photo: J. D. Ellis,
University of Florida
http://www.ipmimages.org
Average Supercooling Point for the Life Stages of the
Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida Murray
Life Stage
Adult
-11.7
-12.9
-13.2
-14.00
Pupae
-13.00
Prepupae
-12.00
Late Instar Larvae
-11.00
Early Instar Larvae
Supercooling Point (Celsius)
-10.00
-13.2
-13.3
Control
Biological
– Soil-dwelling nematodes have demonstrated
activity against pupating SHB
– Fungi identified in infested hives
Nematodes infesting SHB larvae.
Control
Genetic
– Honey bees station guards
around the cracks where
beetles hide
Photo: J. D. Ellis,
University of Florida
http://www.ipmimages.org
– Honey bees have natural
defenses against SHB,
such as Hygenic Behavior
– Bees able to detect and
remove brood infested with
SHB
Honey bee removing
prepupa from colony after
SHB infestation.
Breeding for hygienic behavior
Freeze-killed brood assay
• Length of removal time of frozen brood is correlated with removal of
mite-infested and diseased brood
Pin Prick Method:
An alternative to
liquid nitrogen
Control
Chemical
– GardStar® - permethrin soil drench
– CheckMite® - organophosphate strips
• Short term
• Limited value
– Paradichlorobenzene
CheckMite® strips on
corrugated cardboard
Paradichlorobenzene Lethal Time for Control
of Small Hive Beetle Larvae and Adult
6.7
7
6
Larvae
5.8
Adult
Days
5
4
3
2.6
2
1.0
1
0
50
90
Lethal Time Interval
Recommendations
• Observe sanitary practices in:
– Apiary
– Honey house
– Equipment storage areas
• Maintain strong, healthy, active colonies
Bottom Board from Hive
with Severe SHB
Infestation