Small Hive Beetle Biology Jeff Pettis Institute for Bee Health, Univ. of Bern, Switzerland

First finds of SHB in the US

Life Cycle

Factors that impact SHB biology

Aethina tumida, Small hive beetles, native to sub-Saharan Africa

Hive beetle introduction(s) to the U.S.

Southern AfricaSoutheast

U.S.

Possible means of small hive beetle introduction

➢ Swarms on ships

➢ Queen bees in cages

➢ Soil

➢ Fruit

Distribution of small hive beetles in the United States, 2002

Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle

Adult beetleslive and

overwinter within honeybee colonies

Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle

Adult beetleslive and

overwinter within honeybee colonies

Eggs are laidand larvae develop in5-15 dayson pollen

and bee brood

Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle

Adult beetleslive and

overwinter within honeybee colonies

Eggs are laidand larvae develop in5-15 dayson pollen

and bee brood

Rain can trigger dispersalto the soil

Larvae produce a cavityin which to pupate,

soil moisture and typecan be limiting factors

Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle

Adult beetleslive and

overwinter within honeybee colonies

Eggs are laidand larvae develop in5-15 dayson pollen

and bee brood

Rain can trigger dispersalto the soil

Larvae produce a cavityin which to pupate,

soil moisture and typecan be limiting factors

Teneral adults beginemergence from the

soil in 13 daysat 300 C and fly off in search of

new hives

SHB Reproductive Potential ?

Alexis Park – Univ. of Delaware

Single brood frame = 6,000 larvae

5 Frames of brood x 6,000 = 30,00010 Frames of brood x 6,000 = 60,000

Cryptic reproduction

vs.

Mass reproduction

What triggers migration ?

brood

pollen

honey

Worker bee – beetle interactions

“social encapsulation”

brood

pollen

honey

Worker bee – beetle interactions

“social encapsulation”

Environmental effects on small hive beetle development ?

Temperature Soil TypeSoil Moisture

Effects of soil type, moisture and temperature on larval developmentPlace 20 larvae on soil and count percent adult emergence

Variables

Soil typeMoistureTemperature

300

C

200

C

Environmental effects on small hive beetle development

Temperature < 10 CSoil Type Sand > Loam > ClaySoil Moisture < 5% & > 25%

Reducing relative humidity below 50%will provide protectionfrom damage caused by larval small hive beetle feeding

Cultural control of small hive beetles in stored honey

Adult beetle survival

On honey and water can survive for > 12 months

Adult beetles held on - water only- candy only- no water no candy

(n=30 beetles / treatmentheld at 30C and 55% RH)

Survival of adult small hive beetles (n=30/trt) held onwater, queen candy, or no food or water

= 9 beetlesgiven dieton day 12

Oviposition by small hive beetles (n=7) held for 12 days on water only, then fed pollen diet

Small hive beetle research sponsored by Germany

Dr. Peter Neumann

Sebastian SpiewokDorothee HoffmannKatha MerkelSven BucholtzSandra MustafaMarc Schaefer

Biology and ControlOf SHB

Research gaps withsmall hive beetles

- Beetle – Bee interactions

- Mode of introduction

- Dispersal swarms flight range

- Improved diagnostics

- Control methodschemical and cultural

brood

pollen

honey

Dealing with SHBin the honey house

Extract honey in 3-5 days

Pull honey without brood or pollen

Use queen excluders

Reduce humidity in honey housebelow 50% or chill with AC

Use in light traps to lure wandering larvae

Place extracted wet supers back on hives

Treat soil around honey house

How are beekeepers dealing with SHB

Keep strong hives

Remove weak hives or combine

High bee to comb ratio….no extra comb

Make splits with more bees…less brood

Use in hive traps to reduce adult SHB

Treat soil if beetle larvae are present

Keep hives in sun vs shade

Thank you for your attention

West trap is “messy”

Coumaphos trap is easy but

chance for resistance

Hood trap, better bait and

possible location change