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Manchester and District Beekeepers’ Association |
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Phone: 0161-747 7292 To contact us: Email: |
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M.& D.B.K.A. |
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PESTS AND DISEASES Cont. |
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The Small Hive Beetle (SHB) Latin Name Aethina tumida (Murray).
Host Mainly lives and breeds on its primary host the honey bee in colonies, stored comb and beekeeping equipment, but it can also survive and reprduce on certain types of fruit, particularly melons. SHB lifecycle Adult beetles lay large numbers of eggs in the hive. Beetle lavae eat brood, pollen and honey. Larvae crawl out of the hive to pupate. Pupation usually occurs in soil outside the hive. Preference for warm sandy soils. Adults can fly at least 5 miles to infest new colonies. Current distribution Indigenous to Africa. First found in United States (Florida) in 1998.Now widespread in the USA. First found in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales in 2002. Well established. Detected in Canada (Manitoba) in 2002. Not yet established UK status Exotic pest not currently considered present in the UK Quarantine pest status with surveillance programmes in place Methods of spread Spread by movement of package bees, honey bee colonies. swarms, honeycomb, beeswax, soil, and fruit. Adults can survive for two weeks without food and water, 50 days on used comb and several months on fruit. Damage caused to beekeeping In Africa it is a minor pest to beekeeping as native African bees have natural defences. For European honey bees in America and Australia (and therefore almost certainly the UK) the SHB is an extremely serious problem. The beetles multiply to huge numbers, their larvae tunnel through comb to eat brood, ruin stored honey, and ultimately destroy infested colonies or cause them to abscond. |
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Fig.23 Small Hive Beetle courtesy of DEFRA |
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Control methods used overseas The SHB cannot be eradicated once well established. In the USA, beekeepers control SHB by using pesticides within the hive and in the surrounding soil, together with improved bee husbandry and changes to honey handling procedures.
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