The effects of adult small hive beetles, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), on nests and flight activity of Cape and European honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Abstract

-This study identifies differences in the effects of small hive beetles on flight activity and nests of European-derived honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the United States and Cape honey bees (Apis mellifera capensis) in South Africa. Treatments consisted of control colonies (< 5 beetles/colony) and experimental colonies receiving beetles (treatment). Absconding day did not differ significantly between treatment or bee race but absconding was greater between the two treatments in European colonies than in Cape ones. Cape bees used significantly more propolis than European bees. Honey stores were significantly greater in Cape honey bee colonies than in European ones. Bee weight did not differ significantly between treatments or bee race. Treatment did not significantly affect bee populations, brood area, or average flight activity in Cape colonies but it did significantly lower all of these in European colonies. The effects of treatment in European colonies are symptomatic of absconding preparation. Treatment significantly lowered the amount of pollen stores in Cape colonies, but this effect was not found in European colonies. The number of beetles in control colonies was significantly higher in European colonies than Cape ones while the percentage of beetles remaining in non-absconding treated colonies was higher in Cape colonies than European ones. These data indicate that adult small hive beetles are sufficient to cause significant harmful effects on colonies of European, but not Cape, honey bees.Aethina tumida / Apis mellifera / Apis mellifera capensis / flight activity / honey bee nests

Organic acids and thymol: unsuitable for alternative control of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)?

“…For example, in the laboratory, the beetles were exposed to the agents without any hiding places. In contrast, eggs laid in crevices or in capped brood cells (Ellis et al 2003;Neumann and Elzen 2004;Spiewok et al 2007), as well as larvae that mine within combs (Lundie 1940;Schmolke 1974), are likely to be less exposed to the treatments. A high portion (>50%) of the introduced adult SHBs could not be relocated in the colonies neither in longer-term trials (e.g., 13 days in the formic acid investigation) nor in shorter trials (e.g., 48 h in the oxalic acid investigation).…”

Issues affecting British honey bee biodiversity and the need for conservation of this important ecological component

“…However, the beetles have recently gained considerable international attention since they escaped their endemic range in the mid1990s, being first found in the United States in 1998 (Elzen et al, 1999). The main reason for this heightened attention is the beetles' ability to cause substantial damage to colonies of European races of honey bees (Hood, 2000;Ellis et al, 2003;Neumann and Elzen, 2004;Spiewok et al, 2007). With the recent discovery in 2005 of small hive beetle larvae in a consignment of queens imported illegally from Texas into Portugal (Murilhas, 2005), awareness throughout the EU of the poten tial threat of exotic incursions must be heightened.…”

Impacto da precipitação pluviométrica sobre a atividade de vôo de Plebeia remota (Holmberg, 1903) (Apidae, Meliponini)

“…Esta atividade tem sido muito mais estudada nas abelhas sociais dos gênero Apis (Lundie 1925, Woyke 1992, Ellis et al 2003, Huang & Seeley 2003, Danka & Beaman 2007 e Bombus (Morse 1982, Spaethe & Weidenmüller 2002, Inoue et al 2007). Na contagem de abelhas sem ferrão, Nogueira-Neto et al (1959) foram os pioneiros ao registrarem o número de forrageiras em flores de café.…”