High and rapid infestation of isolated commercial honey bee colonies with small hive beetles in Australia

Neumann, Peter; Hoffmann, Dorothee; Duncan, Michael; Spooner-Hart, Robert

doi:10.3896/ibra.1.49.4.10

Cited by 36 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In the native range of sub‐Saharan Africa, feral honey bee populations show higher densities compared to other regions in the world (Jaffé et al, ). However, in Asia, Europe and the United States managed honey bee populations are much more prolific and colonies are concentrated in apiaries, probably affecting invasion dynamics of SHBs accordingly (Neumann et al, ; Spiewok, Duncan, Spooner‐Hart, Pettis, & Neumann, ). Especially when considering the good flight ability of adult SHBs (Neumann, Hoffmann, Duncan, Spooner‐Hart, & Pettis, ), such high host densities likely benefit the establishment and further spread of SHB in addition to movement of colonies or bee products (reviewed by Neumann et al, ), in particular in the absence of early detection systems (Schäfer et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impact of SHBs on honey bee colonies in the invasive ranges is well documented (Neumann & Elzen, ) and depends on infestation levels, with higher infestation levels more likely leading to host colony collapse (Spiewok et al, ). When SHBs mass reproduce, with often thousands of larvae (Neumann & Elzen, ), they can kill even strong colonies of European honey bee subspecies within 10 days (Neumann, Hoffmann, Duncan, & Spooner‐Hart, ), often resulting in the full structural collapse of the entire nest (Hepburn & Radloff, ). This is very rare in the native range of SHB in Africa in colonies of the respective local honey bee subspecies (Lundie, ; Neumann, ; Schmolke, ), where SHBs probably mostly rely on non‐destructive low‐level reproduction (Ouessou Idrissou, Straub, & Neumann, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Global warming promotes biological invasion of a honey bee pest

Cornelissen

Neumann

Schweiger

2019

Global Change Biology

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Climate change and biological invasions are two major global environmental challenges. Both may interact, e.g. via altered impact and distribution of invasive alien species. Even though invasive species play a key role for compromising the health of honey bees, the impact of climate change on the severity of such species is still unknown. The small hive beetle (SHB, Aethina tumida, Murray) is a parasite of honey bee colonies. It is endemic to sub‐Saharan Africa and has established populations on all continents except Antarctica. Since SHBs pupate in soil, pupation performance is governed foremost by two abiotic factors, soil temperature and moisture, which will be affected by climate change. Here, we investigated SHB invasion risk globally under current and future climate scenarios. We modelled survival and development time during pupation (=pupal performance) in response to soil temperature and soil moisture using published and novel experimental data. Presence data on SHB distribution were used for model validation. We then linked the model with global soil data in order to classify areas (resolution: 10 arcmin; i.e. 18.6 km at the equator) as unsuitable, marginal and suitable for SHB pupation performance. Under the current climate, the results show that many areas globally yet uninvaded are actually suitable, suggesting considerable SHB invasion risk. Future scenarios of global warming project a vehement increase in climatic suitability for SHB and corresponding potential for invasion, especially in the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere, thereby creating demand for enhanced and adapted mitigation and management. Our analysis shows, for the first time, effects of global warming on a honey bee pest and will help areas at risk to prepare adequately. In conclusion, this is a clear case for global warming promoting biological invasion of a pest species with severe potential to harm important pollinator species globally.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global warming promotes biological invasion of a honey bee pest

Cornelissen

Neumann

Schweiger

2019

Global Change Biology

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“…SHB was first reported from Florida, USA, in 1998 (Elzen et al, 1999), and by 2004 had spread widely throughout the USA and was estimated to be causing US$3 million annually in losses to the beekeeping industry (Hood, 2004). This beetle has since established in Australia (Gillespie et al, 2003;Neumann et al, 2010) and been detected in Egypt (Mostafa & Williams, 2002;Hassan & Neumann, 2008), Portugal (Ritter, 2004), and Canada (Clay, 2006). In Australia, SHB was first reported from an apiary in Richmond, New South Wales (Somerville, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Hayes

Rice

Amos

et al. 2015

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), is a recent but significant pest of honeybee [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)] hives in various regions throughout the world, including Eastern Australia. The larval stage of this beetle damages hives when they feed on brood, pollen, and honeycomb, leaving behind fermented wastes. In cases of extreme damage, hives collapse and are turned to an odorous mass of larvae in fermenting hive products. The yeast Kodamaea ohmeri (Etchells & Bell) Yamada et al. (Ascomycota) has been consistently isolated from the fermenting material as well as each life stage of this beetle. Various studies have noted that the small hive beetle is attracted to volatiles from hive products and those of the yeast K. ohmeri, although earlier studies have not used naturally occurring hive products as their source of fermentation. This study investigated changes through time in the attractiveness of natural honeybee hive products to the small hive beetle as the hive products were altered by the action of beetle larvae and fermentation by K. ohmeri. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and choice-test behavioural assays to investigate these changes using products sampled from three apiaries. Attractiveness of the fermenting hive products ('slime') increased as fermentation progressed, and volatile profiles became more complex. Fermenting hive products remained extremely attractive for more than 30 days, significantly longer than previous reports. These results have strong implications for the development of an external attractant trap to assist in the management of this invasive pest.

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“…Neumann et al. showed that small hive beetle from infested feral bee colonies became established in managed colonies within 5 days of hives being deliberately placed in the area . Once feral colonies become infested, any attempt at eradication and/or control of bee pests and diseases becomes much more difficult.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%