Small hive beetle,Aethina tumida, populations II: Dispersal of small hive beetles

Abstract

-Small hive beetles (= SHB), Aethina tumida, are parasites and scavengers of honeybee colonies and actively disperse for host finding. We investigated the re-infestation levels of SHB-free colonies within ten infested apiaries in South Africa, Australia and the USA. Re-infestation of 95% of the colonies indicates a high SHB exchange between colonies. Colony position and queen status had no influence on colony infestation levels. Spread into apiaries was determined at twelve SHB-free apiaries. While apiaries in Maryland remained un-infested, those in Australia showed high infestation numbers. Apiary density, SHB population levels and ongoing SHB mass reproduction seem to govern SHB infestation of newly installed apiaries. Those located in forested habitats showed higher infestation levels possibly due to the presence of wild/feral colonies. The results elucidate factors influencing SHB dispersal and the role of human-mediated spread, enabling improved control of SHB.Aethina tumida / Apis mellifera / dispersal / honeybees / small hive beetle

Global warming promotes biological invasion of a honey bee pest

“…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, ).…”

Bees and flowers: How to feed an invasive beetle species

“…Instead, SHBs are known to aggregate in specific colonies suggesting the existence of a respective pheromone (Neumann & Elzen, 2004). Since the colonies were already infested prior to the experiment, short-range dispersal (Spiewok, Duncan, Spooner-Hart, Pettis, & Neumann, 2008) may have been governed by the putative SHB aggregation pheromone (Neumann & Elzen, 2004), thereby overriding any kairomones from the M. rotundata nests whatsoever. Taken together, it appears as if solitary bees M. rotundata may potentially serve as alternative hosts in the absence of honeybees and/or other social bees.…”

“…Due to traps with diatomaceous earth within the colonies (reviewed by Neumann et al, 2016), the overall SHB infestation rate was fairly low, which might have reduced chances for host shifts. Since the colonies were already infested prior to the experiment, short-range dispersal (Spiewok, Duncan, Spooner-Hart, Pettis, & Neumann, 2008) may have been governed by the putative SHB aggregation pheromone (Neumann & Elzen, 2004) Despite earlier negative evidence (Buchholz et al, 2008;Willcox et al, 2017) The significant positive correlation between adult SHB survival and foraging intensity suggests that food availability and attraction varies between the tested plant species. Furthermore, SHBs' distribution within an apiary is not random.…”

Small hive beetle,Aethina tumida, as a potential biological vector of honeybee viruses

“…It has become an invasive species (Neumann and Article published by EDP Sciences 420 M. Eyer et al Elzen, 2004;Neumann and Ellis, 2008) and a severe pest in some regions (USA: Elzen et al, 2000;Australia: Spiewok et al, 2007). Freeflying SHB adults invade host colonies over several kilometers, mate and reproduce within hives (Neumann and Elzen, 2004;Spiewok et al, 2008). Although the pest status of the SHB in honeybee colonies is now well known and control and diagnosis are available (cf.…”