ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES The Small Hive Beetle: ANR-1186 A New Pest of Honey Bees

he small hive beetle beetles and re-enter the hive a week later. This process may (Aethina tumida repeat itself several times a T Murray) is a year, especially during the recently discovered pest warmer months. to honey bees in the United States. The small Hive Abandonment Colony damage does not hive beetle (SHB), origi- occur when only a few adult nally from South Africa, Figure 1. The adult and larval stage of 3 beetles are present in the colony. the small hive beetle. (Adults are ⁄8” in Before it can take over and has established itself in length.) some honey bee colonies destroy a hive, the small hive Small Hive Beetle beetle must build up its popula- in various southeastern, tion significantly. The beetles, in midwestern, and north- Life Cycle their various development stages, eastern states. The small What They Look Like feed on honey and pollen in the hive, foul the honey, and destroy hive beetle appears to be The adult small hive beetle the comb and bee brood. The (SHB) is dark brown to black primarily a pest of stored beetles’ armor protects them from and about one third the size of a equipment—especially full honey bee stings. The destruction worker bee. Larvae are elongated, eventually causes the bees to honey supers awaiting whitish grubs that have three leave the hive. extraction. Within a state pairs of legs (Figure 1). They can where the beetle has be mistaken for wax moth larvae; however, small hive beetle larvae Honey Destruction become established, this do not spin cocoons and must Because they defecate in the pest is a problem in some complete their development honey and the resulting fermenta- areas while being of little outside the beehive in the soil. tion and odor make it unattractive consequence in others. In severe infestations, larvae may to the bees, larvae of the small be seen crawling out of the hive hive beetle are most objectionable Many beekeepers are entrance or from stored honey to adult bees. The SHB larvae using the Varroa mite supers. also damage wax honeycombs— introduction experience especially newly drawn, delicate Eggs to Adults in 45 Days combs. When wax combs stand as a protocol for the for a few days to a few weeks in Beetles, like moths and bees, arrival of the small hive the honey house, ready to be undergo complete metamor- extracted, beetle larvae infestation beetle. So far, thisARCHIVE has not phosis. The beetles’ life cycle can be most troublesome. This been the case. Though the starts with eggs, which are laid in damage to honey combs happens the hive and hatch into larvae beetles, under specific when beetles are actively repro- within 2 to 3 days. Ten to 16 days conditions, can be very ducing in the colony and are later, the larvae crawl from the taken into the honey house. Due destructive, they have not hive and drop to the ground out- to this behavior, the small hive been as serious as the side, where they burrow into the beetle is considered to be more soil and pupate. In about 3 to 4 Varroa mite experience. of a pest of the honey house than weeks, they emerge as adult of the hive.

www.aces.edu How to Rid Hives of the Small Hive Beetle

Proper Diagnosis Preventative use of unap- proved insecticides in and around beehives is potentially risky and not recommended. Beekeepers should become familiar with the small hive beetle so they can properly diagnose and manage the beetle should it occur. Sound pest management begins with positive diagnosis of the pest. Again, for verification of sus- pected small hive beetles, call the Alabama Department of Agri- culture at (334) 240-7225.

Figure 2. An adult small hive beetle on a screen inner cover Good Hive Management Several colony management Location of the tools are effective against infesta- Beetle in the Hive tions when integrated with the use of available insecticides. They Beekeepers are urged to are the following: call the Alabama Department of Agriculture at (334) 240-7225 if • Maintaining a strong bee popu- they suspect that their colonies lation in each hive are infested by the small hive • Inspecting every hive at least beetle (Figure 2). Also, all bee- once a month keepers should check their • Moving the hive to disrupt the colonies at least monthly—espe- life cycle of the beetle Figure 3. A deep hive body posi- cially beekeepers who have tioned on an outer cover. If present, • Maintaining close mowing or purchased packaged bees from adult beetles can be seen crawling in bare ground around the hive to outside Alabama. the outer cover. facilitate chemical controls and provide less shelter for beetle Difficulty in Finding A simple technique used to larvae leaving the hive to the Small Hive Beetle look for beetles in bee colonies is pupate Since the adult beetle is dark- to remove the outer cover, place colored, moves fast, and avoids the cover upside down on the Chemical Controls light, looking for small hive bee- ground, remove the deep super A pesticide selected for appli- tles may be difficult. Beetles are or brood chamber, and place on cation within or around a beehive likely to be found in crevices in the upturned outer cover. If bee- must have usage directions specif- the hive or on the bottom board tles are present, they will move ically for the control of hive bee- although when temperatures are out of the super, away from the tles. Beekeepers must read and cooler the beetles remain with the light, and into the outer cover. follow all use precautions on the bee cluster and do notARCHIVE move onto They may be seen crawling in the pesticide label to protect them- the bottom board. Many times cover (Figure 3). selves, their bee colonies, and the when separating a hive consisting honey crop. of two deep hive bodies, the beetle may be found along the frame rest grooves.

2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Pesticide Treatment Inside the Hive The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved emergency exemption for beekeepers to use pest control strips containing the chemical coumophos. The strips can be used in Alabama under the trade name CheckMite+ Bee Hive Pest Control Strip. The insecticide is impregnated into a plastic strip that is placed in the bottom of the hive body. There the beetles Figure 4. Paint paddle attached to a corrugated board with absorb a lethal dose of insecticide CheckMite+ strips attached when they contact the strip. the center. Staple the CheckMite+ Basic Precautions for Basic Precautions strip halves to the ridged side of Using GardStar 40% EC the 4” x 4” corrugated cardboard. GardStar 40% EC poses a for Using CheckMite+ Place this cardboard as close to higher risk to bees and humans CheckMite+, which can be the center of the bottom board than does CheckMite+. Because used for control of Varroa mites, as possible, with the strips facing it is highly toxic to bees, use extra has different use directions for down. Leave the cardboard and caution when applying Perme- control of the hive beetle. These strips on the bottom board for at thrin around a beehive because it differences include when and least 3 days, but not more than is highly toxic to bees. If a hive is where the chemical should be the time specified on the label. SHB-infested, there are two ways applied and how long the treat- For convenience of installation, to approach the problem. ment should last. For example, a paint paddle can be stapled to when treating for the beetle, the cardboard (Figure 4). Again, • Move a hive to a site where CheckMite+ strips should be always follow the directions on GardStar 40% EC has been pre- placed in the hive for no more the product label. Beetles will viously applied to reduce than 7 days at a time. A hive crawl beneath the cardboard into potential insecticide exposure should be treated with this pesti- the paper ridges to hide and will to bees. cide no more than four times per be exposed to the chemical • Dilute GardStar 40% EC in year. A hive with honey destined coumaphos. water and apply to soil in front for human consumption should of the hive using a sprinkling not be treated with any chemical Pesticide Treatment can or low-pressure sprayer. including CheckMite+. Even small amounts of pesti- Specifically, honey supers must Outside the Hive cide spilled or sprayed onto the not be on the hive during treat- Beekeepers will also want to hive can be dangerous to bees. ment (whether for SHB or Varroa) exploit a vulnerable point of the Caution: If splashed in the to avoid the possibility of this beetle’s life cycle—when mature eyes, GardStar 40% EC in con- pesticide coming in contact with larvae enter the soil near the hive centrated form can cause irre- honey intended for human food. to pupate. GardStar 40% EC is a versible eye damage. Wear a Coumaphos works better when concentrated formulation con- face shield or safety glasses the air temperature is over 70 taining the insecticide permethrin when mixing concentrate from degrees F. Complete use direc- and is commonly used to control the original container. tions are listed on theARCHIVE product fire ants. This product is directed label. at control of the hive beetle Acknowledgement: The information Prepare a piece of corrugated larvae. It kills the larvae when in this publication was predominantly compiled by the Ohio Department of cardboard box, approximately they come into contact with Agriculture in cooperation with Ohio 4” x 4” by removing one side, insecticide-treated soil near State University Extension (Entomology), thereby leaving a series of paper the hive. Auburn University Department of ridges. Remove a CheckMite+ Entomology and Plant Pathology, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, strip from the original packaging and the Alabama Department and cut the strip in half across of Agriculture.

The Small Hive Beetle: A New Pest of Honey Bees 3 James E. Tew, Apiculture Advisor, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, and State Specialist, Beekeeping, Department of Entomology, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, phone: 330-263-3684, e-mail: [email protected] Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions, and restrictions that are listed. Do not use pesticides on plants that are not listed on the label. The pesticide rates in this publication are recommended only if they are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. If a registration is changed or cancelled, the rate listed here is no longer recommended. Before you apply any pesticide, check with your county Extension agent for the latest ARCHIVEinformation. Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar. For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. ANR-1186 UPS, 5M20, New March 2001, ANR-1186