External attractant trap for small hive beetle by D M Leemon, R A Hayes, B A Amos, S J Rice, D K Baker, K McGlashan February 2018 External attractant trap for small hive beetle D M Leemon, R A Hayes, B A Amos, S J Rice, D K Baker, K McGlashan February 2018 AgriFutures Australia Publication No 18/062 AgriFutures Australia Project No PRJ-009334 © 2018 AgriFutures Australia. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-76053-018-1 ISSN 1440-6845 External attractant trap for small hive beetle Publication No. 18/062 Project No. PRJ-009334 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, AgriFutures Australia, the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, AgriFutures Australia, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to AgriFutures Australia Communications Team on 02 6923 6900. Researcher Contact Details Name: Dr Diana Leemon Address: Agri-Science Qld, Level 2AW, Ecosciences Precinct. GPO Box 267 Brisbane . 4001 Phone: +61 (7) 3708 8366 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to AgriFutures Australia publishing this material in its edited form. AgriFutures Australia Contact Details Building 007, Tooma Way Charles Sturt University Locked Bag 588 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 02 6923 6900 [email protected] www.agrifutures.com.au Electronically published at www.agrifutures.com.au by AgriFutures Australia in November 2018 AgriFutures Australia is the new trading name for Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC), a statutory authority of the Federal Government established by the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989. 2 Foreword This research has developed a simple method for trapping small hive beetles before they enter hives and delivered the most comprehensive seasonal data on small hive beetle movement in Australia to date. Small hive beetle is now a serious pervasive pest of beekeeping in Australia in areas with mild winters and humid wet summers. Although a number of internal trapping systems are available, it is desirable to intercept small hive beetles before they enter a hive. This research will benefit the Australian honey bee industry by providing a trapping system for small hive beetle including a simple trap and knowledge of when best to deploy traps and where best to locate the trap in respect of hives. The key findings are that natural fermentation attractants while useful are subject to variation; thus development of a synthetic lure blended from the key attractant components in fermentation volatiles should be the ultimate goal. Results from investigations into the placement of traps and movement of small hive beetles throughout the year in Australia have provided invaluable ecological data to inform external trapping and monitoring strategies. This study emphasises the importance of beekeepers managing the increase in numbers of small hive beetles potentially entering their hives during spring and after wet periods during late summer and early autumn. This report is an addition to AgriFutures Australia’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications and it forms part of our Honey Bee and Pollination Program. The R&D program aims to support research, development and extension that will secure a productive, sustainable and more profitable Australian beekeeping industry and secure the pollination of Australia’s horticultural and agricultural crops into the future on a sustainable and profitable basis. Most of AgriFutures Australia’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.agrifutures.com.au. John Harvey Managing Director AgriFutures Australia 3 Acknowledgments We are very grateful for assistance and support from the Stradbroke Organic Beekeepers, Phill and Theresa Bowman, who allowed us to use their Gumdale apiary in our field studies. Phill often helped with the fieldwork and kindly starred in our educational video. We also greatly appreciate support from the Wheen Bee Foundation who provided financial and in kind support, especially allowing us to use the Wheen Bee Foundation research apiary in Richmond after it was launched early in 2017. The Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers moved heaven and earth to get the research apiary ready for us to conduct our 2017 research trials. We thank Bruce White and the Hawkesbury Amateur Beekeepers Inc. who in a voluntary capacity carried out the 2017 fieldwork for us at the research apiary. We also thank Laura Rittenhouse and Frank for so enthusiastically helping us with earlier fieldwork from 2016 as well as hosting our visits to the Wheen Bee Foundation site. Queensland Beekeepers’ Association is acknowledged for its financial support provided for this project. We would also like to thank other various Beekeepers who provided the brood and honeycomb samples used for the study of the geographical variation of hive products (Michael Duncan, Wayne Fuller, James Kershaw, Peter McMahon, Rob Stephens, John Zitgerman). We are also appreciative to a number of people who provided sites for testing traps (Chris Butcher of Corinda State High, Stephen Firth, Manon Griffiths, Lloyd Hancock, Wayne Jorgensen, Charles and Mary-Ann Millar, Helen Nahrung). Dr David Mayer of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries provided support for statistical analyses. The late Dr Peter Teal and Dr Charlie Stuhl (USDA) for sharing their knowledge and experience with SHB chemical ecology. All photos in this report were taken by the research team, most being taken by Diana Leemon or Andrew Hayes. 4 Abbreviations DAF – Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland) GC – Gas chromatography MS - Mass spectrometry NSW – New South Wales QLD - Queensland RH – Relative humidity SHB – Small hive beetle USA – United States of America 5 Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................. 3 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................... 4 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ............................................................................................... 13 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 17 Objectives ............................................................................................................... 20 Methodology........................................................................................................... 21 2.1 Colony .......................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Location of field studies ................................................................................ 21 2.3 Fermentation of hive products ...................................................................... 21 2.3.1 Geographical variation in source of hive materials ............................... 22 2.3.2. Behavioural bioassays ........................................................................ 22 2.3.3 Chemical analysis ................................................................................ 23 2.4 Individual compounds attractive to SHB ....................................................... 25 2.5 Synthetic lure development .......................................................................... 27 2.5.1. Carpophilus system evaluation ........................................................... 27 2.5.2 Blend development and testing ............................................................ 27 2.6 Aggregation pheromone ............................................................................... 30 2.6.1 Arena aggregation trials ....................................................................... 30 2.6.2 Chemistry of aggregation ..................................................................... 32 2.7 Volatile profiles of hives ................................................................................ 34 2.8 Trap design .................................................................................................. 34 2.8.1 Trap evaluations .................................................................................. 35 2.9 Evaluation of efficacy of synthetic lure