Tile Small Hive Beetle:
А
Pert of Honey Bee Colonies
The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, was first detected in the United States in 1 996 near
Charleston, South Carolina. In the spring of 1 998 in Fort Pierce, Florida, a scientist with the
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services positively identified this beetle
as the small hive beetle (SFIB), a destructive pest of honey bee colonies. Prior to its detec¬
tion in the United States, the only recorded sightings of this insect occurred in the south¬
ern regions of Africa.
During the summer of 1 998, the beetle was blamed for the loss of more than 20,000
honey bee colonies in Florida. The beetles spread quickly. That same year, beekeepers
and inspectors also reported occurrences in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Since 1998, the small hive beetle has become established in most counties in North Caro¬
lina as well as across most of the United States. This demonstrates its remarkable ability
to disperse by flight and human transport.
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DESCRIPTION
Adults
An adult small hive beetle is 5 to 7 mil¬
limeters long and brown to black in color
(Figure 1 A). The SHB is a member of the
beetle family Nitidulidae and, therefore,
has the club-shaped antennae that are
common within this family. For instance,
the picnic beetle, which is often mistaken
for the SHB, has similar antennae. Other
distinguishing characteristics include
a shield-shaped thorax and broad, flat¬
tened legs. Adult beetles tend to hide on
the bottom of the hive or just under the
inner cover, and they scatter quickly once
the hive is opened. This behavior can
make them difficult to locate. Therefore,
they may go unnoticed at low levels of
infestation.
Larvae
SHB larvae are small, white, worm-like,
and approximately 10 to 12 millimeters
long (Figure IB). The larvae appear simi¬
lar to wax moth larvae, but SHB larvae
are distinguished by their dorsal spines.
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A wax moth larva has legs on its thorax
and prolegs on its abdomen, whereas an
SHB larva has six legs on its thorax.
Figure 1 . (A) Adult beetle. (B) Small hive
beetle larvae in hive debris.
Photos courtesy N.C. State Apicultural Program
