Aethina tumida (Small hive beetles) were confirmed in the United States, being found in a Florida apiary, in 1998. Prior to that they were only known to exist in sub-Saharan Africa. In America they originally seemed restricted to sandy soil regions, which are ideal for the beetles to successfully complete their life cycle, but unfortunately they can now be found throughout the United State. They also are found in Australia.
Life Cycle – Adult females lay egg masses on or near combs and then a few days later they emerge. The larvae, for the next 10 to 16 days, will consume pollen, wax, honey, bee eggs and bee larvae after which they will then drop to the ground to pupate in the soil. Three to four weeks later they emerge as adults. They are excellent flyers and can easily move into new hives where they deposit eggs and begin the cycle again. They are able to readily take over strong colonies with little resistance from the bees. It only takes a few beetles to produce masses of larvae.
They are most active beginning in spring and continue through fall.
In addition to consuming the resources of the colony, the adult beetles defecate in the honey causing it to ferment and run out of the combs. Even frames full of honey stored in honey houses are vulnerable. When small hive beetle infestations are heavy, even in strong colonies, queens will stop laying eggs and the bees may abscond.
Best preventions:
Maintain strong healthy colonies.
Keep apiaries clean of ALL equipment not in use.
Extract honey as soon as it is removed from colonies
Destroy these beetles as soon as they are detected.
Maintain strong healthy colonies.
Keep apiaries clean of ALL equipment not in use.
Extract honey as soon as it is removed from colonies
Destroy these beetles as soon as they are detected.
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Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia Family: Nitidulidae
Phylum: Arthropoda Genus: Aethina
Class: Insecta Species: tumida
Order: Coleoptera
Delaplane, K. (2010). Order coleoptera: family nitidulidae. Unpublished raw data, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Retrieved from http://maarec.psu.edu/pdfs/Small_Hive_Beetle_-_PMP.pdf
Ellis, J., & Ellis, A. (2010). Featured creatures. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida. Retrieved from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/small_hive_beetle.htm
I can definitely see how the small hive beetle is a major pest to both bees and their keepers. The way the egg larvae drop to the ground and pupate in the soil, makes it seem nearly impossible to eradicate the small hive beetle in one of its more vulnerable developmental stages. I seem that they have to be adult beetles to get caught in the traps indicated by the video, but as adults they are able to lay egg masses and defecate ruining the honey and destroying the hive. Is there no way to eliminate small hive beetle populations while they are more vulnerable?
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Possibly the most difficult thing about killing these beetles is how the larvae drop to the ground. Are scientists working on ways to stop the larvae from successfully becoming beetles? Also what I have noticed is that the beetles lay a massive number of eggs, giving their species a better chance at survival. Good job on your work by the way.
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I loved the video that shows how small hive beetles trick the guard bees into feeding them! I would’ve never thought a beetle could be such a mastermind, especially while being held captive. Their larvae look disgusting and remind me of maggots. All of the information I have learned about bees makes me very interested in possibly becoming a bee keeper one day. I love to garden, so I think having a garden and honeybees around eager to pollinate my crops would be counter productive. (Word Count: 85)
ReplyDelete-Becky
Oh goodness, I do not know how you are brave enough to work with bees! I am so scared of them; I could not imagine taking care of them. I thought it was very interesting that they were not found in the United States until 1998. Who knows, maybe if you keep working with bees you will discover a new species of them!
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I agree with Becky. The pupae or larvae do look disgusting in the second video. How could such oddly grown, dirty little bugs create something as tasty as honey? Also,I did not know these same bugs were so intelligent and thier hives so complex.I have to now give you more appreciation for your love of bees. Very interesting ma'am. (59 words)
ReplyDeleteWow, so not only does the beetle just waltz straight into their home but he also just takes their food from straight from them! This is a very unique beetle, and organism to have adapted to be able to infiltrate and then obtain food from other organisms such as bees.
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