Aiming for the management of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, using relative humidity and diatomaceous earth

Abstract

International audienceSmall hive beetles (SHBs) are a global pest of European honeybee colonies. In the laboratory, the survival of adult SHBs was evaluated in relation to relative humidity (RH = 56, 64, 73, 82 and 96 %) and treatment with diatomaceous earth (DE) across 4 days. Low RH reduced survival. The application of DE reduced survival in addition to RH. Adults treated with corn flour (control) showed no difference in survival from untreated beetles. Scanning electron microscopy images showed no scarification of adult beetle cuticle after exposure to DE; therefore, water loss is likely facilitated through non-abrasive means such as the adsorption of cuticular lipids. The data agree with the hypothesis that DE causes mortality through water loss from treated insects. Egress, ingress, mortality and the egg-laying behaviours of beetles were observed in relation to a popular in-hive trench trap with and without the addition of DE. Traps filled with DE resulted in 100 % mortality of beetles compared with 8.6 % mortality when no DE was present. A simple method for visually determining beetle sex was used and documented

Increased attractiveness of honeybee hive product volatiles to adult small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, resulting from small hive beetle larval infestation

“…Adult SHB used in the study were sourced from laboratory cultures maintained at the Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland, as outlined in Cribb et al (2013). The beetles were up to 3 weeks old and predominantly had no previous exposure to hive products before being used in attraction assays and cultures to generate slime.…”

A six-month-long assessment of the health of bee colonies treated with APITHOR ™ hive beetle insecticide

“…The value of APITHOR™ lies in its ability to prevent colonies from being destroyed by beetles -a dead hive having no productivity. Numerous other trapping devices containing various substances such as oils and vinegar (Hood & Miller, 2003) or diatomaceous earth (Cribb, Rice, & Leemon, 2013), sometimes in association with food lures, are available for use inside hives but these require additional or replacement hive hardware (Hood, 2006) and frequent servicing, especially if hives need to be relocated. In the United States of America, traps comprising coumaphosimpregnated plastic strips (Checkmite+™) attached beneath pieces of stripped-back corrugated cardboard have been used under a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency to kill beetles in managed hives (Elzen et al, 1999;Hood & Miller, 2003).…”

Behavioural responses of the small hive beetle to volatile components of fermenting honeybee hive products

“…Small hive beetles used in assays were cultured in an insectary at the Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia, using the method of Cribb et al (2013). Beetles were up to 21 days old (post emergence from soil) and had no previous exposure to hive products as adults.…”