ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of the efficacy of small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) baits and lures.

Submitted to: The Science of Bee Culture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 10, 2012
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Citation: De Guzman, L.I., Rinderer, T.E., Frake, A.M., Wakefield, M., Marris, G., Budge, G., Brown, M. 2013. Evaluation of the efficacy of small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) bait and lures. The Science of Bee Culture. 5:3-6.

Interpretive Summary: Small hive beetles (SHB) continue to cause problems especially to beekeepers in the southeastern region of the United States. Although different designs of in-hive SHB traps are now commercially available, attractive baits or lures have yet to be developed. We compared the attractiveness of a new lure (=UK lure) to adult SHBs with USDA fermented pollen dough, banana scent, apple cider and their combinations (Experiment 1), and with USDA fermented pollen dough, slow-released ethanol (SRE), SuperBoost (SB), apple cider and combinations of these products (Experiment 2). Overall, the USDA pollen dough inoculated with the yeast, Kodamaea ohmeri, was the most attractive bait for adult SHBs especially when used in combination with SB and SRE. It is possible that the pheromones associated with the yeast had synergistic effect when combined with the brood pheromone. Also, the alcohol from SRE may have increased the amount of alcohol from the fermenting pollen dough improving pollen dough’s attractiveness. The attractiveness of UK lure was inconsistent, which may be contributed by its rapid evaporation rate. Hence, further development to decrease the evaporation rate of the UK lure is recommended. Different ratios of these various baits should also be assessed to determine if a more attractive lure can be developed.

Technical Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of a lure developed by the Food and Environment Research Agency (=UK lure) to adult small hive beetles (SHB). Experiment 1 compared the UK lure with: USDA fermented pollen dough, banana scent, apple cider and their combinations while Experiment 2 included: USDA fermented pollen dough, slow-released ethanol (SRE), SuperBoost (SB), apple cider and combinations of these products. Overall, the USDA pollen dough inoculated with the yeast, Kodamaea ohmeri, was the most attractive bait for adult SHBs especially when used in combination with SB (the brood pheromone), and SRE. It is possible that the pheromones associated with the yeast had synergistic effect when combined with the several compounds that made up SB. Also, the possible increase in the amount of alcohol from both SRE and fermenting pollen dough significantly improved trap catch. The unattractiveness of the UK lure to SHB may be due to insufficient amount used per trap exacerbated by its rapid evaporation rate. Hence, further development to decrease the evaporation rate of the UK lure is recommended.