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Title: A SCIENTIFIC NOTE ON SMALL HIVE BEETLE (AETHINA TUMIDA MURRAY) OVIPOSITION AND BEHAVIOR DURING EUROPEAN (APIS MELLIFERA) HONEY BEE WINTER CLUSTERS AND ABSCONDING EVENTS

Author
item ELLIS, JAMES - RHODES UNIV., S. AFRICA
item HEPBURN, RANDALL - RHODES UNIV. S. AFRICA
item DELAPLANE, KEITH - UNIV. GEORGIA
item Elzen, Patti

Submitted to: Journal of Apicultural Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2003
Publication Date: 4/24/2003
Citation: Allis, J.D., Hepburn, R., Delaplane, K.S., Elzen, P.J. 2003. A scientific note on small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) oviposition and behavior during European (Apis mellifera) honey bee clustering and absconding events. Journal of Apicultural Research. 42(1-2):47-48.

Interpretive Summary: The small hive beetle is a serious pest of honey bees in the U.S., newly introduced from Africa. In the U.S., as well as in Africa, the beetle will leave nests of absconding host bees. Because beetles will also congregate in the warm bee cluster during cooler temperatures, directed treatments during that time may increase control of beetles.

Technical Abstract: In field studies conducted in Georgia, U.S., small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) populations were observed to display a high propensity to migrate with absconding host bee clusters. Ovipositional behavior by female beetles also appeared different between bees in the U.S. and in Africa: in Africa beetles oviposit in combs only in the absence of adult bees, whereas in the U.S. beetles oviposit in combs in the presence of adult bees. Finally, our data demonstrated that beetles in the U.S. remain in the bee cluster during cooler months, suggesting optimization of treatment approaches.