scholarly journals Monitoring of Small Hive Beetle (Aethina Tumida Murray) in Calabria (Italy) from 2014 to 2016: Practical Identification Methods

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Rivera-Gomis ◽  
Ales Gregorc ◽  
Andrea Maroni Ponti ◽  
Francesco Artese ◽  
Gertruida Zowitsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Aethina Tumida ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Small Hive Beetle ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Early Appearance ◽  
Examination Method ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
Bee 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.

scholarly journals New Matrixes to Diagnose Aethina Tumida Presence at Apiary Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Cersini ◽  
Marco Pietropaoli ◽  
Gabriele Pietrella ◽  
Jorge Rivera-Gomis ◽  
Giovanni Federico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Aethina Tumida ◽  
Small Hive Beetle ◽  
Notifiable Disease ◽  
Veterinary Services ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Bad Weather ◽  
Bee Colonies

Abstract Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae - Small Hive Beetle - SHB), is a parasite of honey bee colonies that causes the notifiable disease called aethinosis. In 2014, SHB was detected in Southern Italy, where it is still present (Calabria region). As part of surveillance activities, official diagnosis of the disease is performed by veterinary services via visual inspection of single hives in the apiaries. New outbreaks can be eradicated and the spread of SHBs limited by early detection of new introductions. We report an alternative protocol for the diagnosis of SHB through swabs and hive debris analysis by PCR. This was tested in three apiaries through the evaluation of different SHB infestation levels with a hive inspection method. This approach for sampling, followed by biomolecular methods, was fast and useful in unfavorable conditions (bad weather, aggressiveness, robbing), could be integrated in the official diagnosis procedures and may act as pre-clinic indicator.

Susceptibility of small honey bee colonies to invasion by the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 138 (7) ◽  
pp. 547-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Mustafa ◽  
S. Spiewok ◽  
M. Duncan ◽  
R. Spooner-Hart ◽  
P. Rosenkranz
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Aethina Tumida ◽  
Small Hive Beetle ◽  
Bee Colonies

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

Insects ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Updates on the Mobile Divider and Its Use in Calabria Region to Monitor and Control Aethina tumida Infestation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 10637
Author(s):  
Camilla Di Ruggiero ◽  
Ziad Mezher ◽  
Franco Mutinelli ◽  
Alessandra De Carolis ◽  
Naomi Pocci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Aethina Tumida ◽  
Official Method ◽  
Small Hive Beetle ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Calabria Region ◽  
Divider Method ◽  
And Control

The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida was first detected in the Calabria and Sicily region (Southern Italy) in 2014. In this regard, a more effective and faster inspection method than the Official one (Ministry of Health) was tested to detect the beetle in the hive. In collaboration with Calabria beekeepers’ association, a “mobile divider”-based method was tested, in order to facilitate the detection of A. tumida and save time during hive inspection. In this short communication, we provide an update on the mobile divider technique and its related inspection procedure, which was first proposed and used in Calabria (Southern Italy) from 2014 to 2016. We report preliminary data concerning the number of detected SHBs and the time spent for their detection, based on the inspection of two apiaries in Calabria region, using both methods (official method and mobile divider method). The preliminary data presented here show that, on average, the mobile divider method seems to be able to recover a slightly higher number of beetles (0.9 adults) per inspected hive, in a shorter time (25 s).

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2667-2670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Silacci ◽  
Claudine Biolley ◽  
Corinne Jud ◽  
Jean-Daniel Charrière ◽  
Benjamin Dainat
Keyword(s):  
Aethina Tumida ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Small Hive Beetle

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

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.

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

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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