Small Hive Beetle Biology Jeff Pettis Institute for Bee Health, Univ. of Bern, Switzerland

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1 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

2 Aethina tumida, Small hive beetles, native to sub-saharan Africa

3 Hive beetle introduction(s) to the U.S. Southeast U.S. Southern Africa

4 Possible means of small hive beetle introduction Swarms on ships Queen bees in cages Soil Fruit

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6 Distribution of small hive beetles in the United States, 2002

7 Adult beetles live and overwinter within honey bee colonies Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle

8 Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle Adult beetles live and overwinter within honey bee colonies Eggs are laid and larvae develop in 5-15 days on pollen and bee brood

9 Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle Adult beetles live and overwinter within honey bee colonies Eggs are laid and larvae develop in 5-15 days on pollen and bee brood Rain can trigger dispersal to the soil Larvae produce a cavity in which to pupate, soil moisture and type can be limiting factors

10 Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, Life Cycle Adult beetles live and overwinter within honey bee colonies Eggs are laid and larvae develop in 5-15 days on pollen and bee brood Teneral adults begin emergence from the soil in 13 days at 30 0 C and fly off in search of new hives Rain can trigger dispersal to the soil Larvae produce a cavity in which to pupate, soil moisture and type can be limiting factors

11 SHB Reproductive Potential? Alexis Park Univ. of Delaware Single brood frame = 6,000 larvae 5 Frames of brood x 6,000 = 30, Frames of brood x 6,000 = 60,000 Cryptic reproduction vs. Mass reproduction

12 What triggers migration?

13 Worker bee beetle interactions brood pollen honey social encapsulation

14 Worker bee beetle interactions brood pollen honey social encapsulation

15 Environmental effects on small hive beetle development? Temperature Soil Type Soil Moisture

16 Effects of soil type, moisture and temperature on larval development Place 20 larvae on soil and count percent adult emergence Variables Soil type Moisture Temperature

17 30 0 C 20 0 C

18 Environmental effects on small hive beetle development Temperature < 10 C Soil Type Sand > Loam > Clay Soil Moisture < 5% & > 25%

19 Cultural control of small hive beetles in stored honey Reducing relative humidity below 50%will provide protection from damage caused by larval small hive beetle feeding

20 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 / treatment held at 30C and 55% RH)

21 Survival of adult small hive beetles (n=30/trt) held on water, queen candy, or no food or water = 9 beetles given diet on day 12

22 Oviposition by small hive beetles (n=7) held for 12 days on water only, then fed pollen diet

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24 Small hive beetle research sponsored by Germany Dr. Peter Neumann Sebastian Spiewok Dorothee Hoffmann Katha Merkel Sven Bucholtz Sandra Mustafa Marc Schaefer Biology and Control Of SHB

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26 Research gaps with small hive beetles - Beetle Bee interactions - Mode of introduction - Dispersal swarms flight range brood pollen honey - Improved diagnostics - Control methods chemical and cultural

27 Dealing with SHB in the honey house Extract honey in 3-5 days Pull honey without brood or pollen Use queen excluders Reduce humidity in honey house below 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

28 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

29 Thank you for your attention

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31 West trap is messy Coumaphos trap is easy but chance for resistance Hood trap, better bait and possible location change