An improved DNA method to unambiguously detect small hive beetle Aethina tumida
, an invasive pest of honeybee colonies

Abstract The Small Hive Beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, is an invasive pest of honey bee colonies that causes significant damage to the beekeeping sector. SHB was detected in southern Italy (EU) in 2014 and despite adopted eradication measures, is still present there. After three years of observations of SHB in Calabria (2014-2016), we provide here some practical tips for improving control measures. A new time-saving colony examination method, including the use of an internal divider reduced the time needed for hive inspections by 31.86 % on average. Prioritizating the inspection of pollen and honey combs rather than brood combs is advised. Sentinel apiaries with no more than five colonies without supers are suggested for each beekeeping location in order to attract and to monitor the early appearance of SHB. The use of these methods will enable early detection and prompt control measures application before this destructive pest can spread in the region.

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Characterization of Cold Tolerance of Immature Stages of Small Hive Beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12050459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 459

Author(s):

Muhammad Noor-ul-Ane ◽

Chuleui Jung

Keyword(s):

Cold Tolerance ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Aethina Tumida ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Small Hive Beetle ◽

Cold Temperatures ◽

Cold Tolerant ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

The Impact

The small hive beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida Murray, (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is now a global invasive pest of honey bees, but its cold tolerance potential has not been yet explored. Therefore, we measured the supercooling point (SCP) of different stages of SHBs and also the impact of acclimation on their SCPs and survival as a measure for cold tolerance. Combinations of different temperatures (0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 ∘C) for different hours (1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 24, 35, and 48 h) were used to assess SHB survival. The supercooling points occurred at lower temperatures (−19.4 ∘C) in wandering larvae than in the other stages (pupae: −12.5 ∘C, and feeding larvae: −10.7 ∘C). A lethal temperature (LT50) of feeding larvae was achieved earlier at 4.9 ∘C after 7 h exposure than the wandering larvae (3.7 ∘C at 48 h) and pupae (5.6 ∘C at 48 h). The sum of injurious temperature (SIT) is the most suitable estimation to describe cold resistance of the SHB immatures. The wandering larvae were the most cold tolerant, followed by pupae and feeding larvae based on SIT values of −286.8, −153.7 and −28.7 DD, respectively, and also showed more phenotypic plasticity after acclimation than feeding larvae and slightly more than pupae. Our results show that all stages, i.e., feeding larvae, wandering larvae and pupae, are chill susceptible. However, these stages, especially wandering larvae and pupae, showed the capacity to acclimate to cold temperatures, which may help them to survive in winter for the continuity of the SHB population, especially in a scenario of climate change.

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Successful Pupation of Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), in Greenhouse Substrates

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toaa224 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (6) ◽

pp. 3032-3034

Author(s):

Bram Cornelissen ◽

Peter Neumann ◽

James D Ellis

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Development Time ◽

Plant Root ◽

Aethina Tumida ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Small Hive Beetle ◽

Crop Pollination ◽

Coconut Fiber ◽

Important Host ◽

Small Hive Beetles

Abstract The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray, is an invasive pest that has spread globally. Western honey bees, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are considered the most important host and infestations can lead to collapse of colonies. Larvae feed on honey, pollen, and brood inside the hive and leave the hive as postfeeding wandering larvae to pupate in the surrounding soil. Other host species include bumble bees, stingless bees, and solitary bees, all of which can facilitate small hive beetle reproduction and are used for greenhouse crop pollination worldwide. Here, we investigated if small hive beetles can complete their life cycle when soil is absent by pupating in plant root-supporting substrates commonly used in greenhouses. Wandering small hive beetle larvae were introduced into containers with coconut fiber, perlite, a mixture of both and stone wool substrates to investigate pupation success and development time. Sand was used as control substrate. In all but one substrate (perlite), small hive beetles developed into adults equally well as they did in the sand. Development time ranged between 23 and 37 d and was not different from that of the control. We showed that small hive beetles can pupate in greenhouse substrates. This could constitute a problem for greenhouse pollination as well as it could facilitate small hive beetle survival in areas which otherwise would be deemed unsuitable or marginal environments for small hive beetles to become established. Our study highlights the opportunistic nature of the small hive beetle as an invasive species.

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Behavioral response of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) to volatiles of Apicure®, a plant-based extract

AAS Open Research ◽

10.12688/aasopenres.12946.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 9

Author(s):

Ednah Komen ◽

Lucy K. Murungi ◽

Janet Irungu

Keyword(s):

Gas Chromatography ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Aethina Tumida ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Host Recognition ◽

Small Hive Beetle ◽

Pests And Diseases ◽

Monitoring Tools ◽

Baited Traps ◽

Antennal Response

Background: The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida is an invasive pest of the honey bee. Although no previous methods have led to its successful management, yeast inoculated pollen baited-traps have showed promise as quick monitoring tools. In this study, we evaluated the role of olfaction in SHB response to Apicure®, an essential oil-based biopesticide that has shown potential for the management of honey bee pests and diseases. Methods: Volatiles from Apicure® were collected using super Q adsorbent traps. Subsequent analysis was done using Gas chromatography- mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) to ascertain the components of Apicure®. The selectivity and sensitivity of antennal receptors of A. tumida adults to the volatile compounds were determined using behavioral assays and Gas Chromatography-Electroantennodetection (GC-EAD). Results: GC-MS analysis showed that Apicure® consists of 40 compounds. GC-EAD analysis isolated 11 compounds that elicited antennal response with the SHB. Of these, linalool, camphor, geraniol and α-terpineol were confirmed to be strongly repellant, while limonene was attractive to SHB in dual-choice olfactometer assays. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the major components in Apicure® are mainly repellants thus prospective in disrupting the host recognition by the SHB. The product therefore can be up-scaled for the management of SHB.

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Detection of Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae and Replicative Forms of Deformed Wing Virus and Kashmir Bee Virus in the Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida)

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10030372 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 372

Author(s):

Antonio Nanetti ◽

James D. Ellis ◽

Ilaria Cardaio ◽

Giovanni Cilia

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Aethina Tumida ◽

Small Hive Beetle ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Queen Cell ◽

Kashmir Bee Virus ◽

Acute Bee Paralysis Virus ◽

Bee Virus ◽

Paralysis Virus ◽

Lotmaria Passim

Knowledge regarding the honey bee pathogens borne by invasive bee pests remains scarce. This investigation aimed to assess the presence in Aethina tumida (small hive beetle, SHB) adults of honey bee pathogens belonging to the following groups: (i) bacteria (Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius), (ii) trypanosomatids (Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae), and (iii) viruses (black queen cell virus, Kashmir bee virus, deformed wing virus, slow paralysis virus, sacbrood virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus, acute bee paralysis virus, chronic bee paralysis virus). Specimens were collected from free-flying colonies in Gainesville (Florida, U.S.A.) in summer 2017. The results of the molecular analysis show the presence of L. passim, C. mellificae, and replicative forms of deformed wing virus (DWV) and Kashmir bee virus (KBV). Replicative forms of KBV have not previously been reported. These results support the hypothesis of pathogen spillover between managed honey bees and the SHB, and these dynamics require further investigation.

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