Post on 29-Sep-2020
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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