Small hive beetle: the next threat to British honey bees?

Small hive beetles (SHB) (Aethina tumida Murray, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) are native to sub-Saharan Africa where they exist as scavengers in colonies of African subspecies of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) (Neumann and Elzen, 2004). The beetle feeds on pollen, honey as well as both adult bee...

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Published inBiologist (London) Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 35 - 39
Main Authors Cuthbertson, AGS, Mathers, J J, Blackburn, L F, Brown, MA, Marris, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.02.2010
Subjects
Aethina tumida
Apis mellifera
Coleoptera
Nitidulidae
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Summary:Small hive beetles (SHB) (Aethina tumida Murray, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) are native to sub-Saharan Africa where they exist as scavengers in colonies of African subspecies of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) (Neumann and Elzen, 2004). The beetle feeds on pollen, honey as well as both adult bees and larval stages. However, SHB within their native range rarely inflict severe damage on strong bee colonies (Lundie, 1940; Ellis et al, 2002). In extreme circumstances, feeding grubs certainly can destroy weakened or diseased hives, but this scenario is the exception rather than the rule. African honey bees, even if heavily infested, can usually prevent or postpone beetle reproduction.
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ISSN:0006-3347