A Low Cost Trapping System for Control of the Small Hive Beetle Aethina Tumida Murray, A Pest of Honey Bee Colonies

A Low Cost Trapping System for Control of the Small Hive Beetle Aethina Tumida Murray, A Pest of Honey Bee Colonies

Summary

The project evaluated the efficiency of an In-Hive trapping system for control of the small hive beetle from hives located at four apiaries in Delaware and Pennsylvania, one in Lake City, Florida and the bee yards of four hobbyists in Gainesville, Florida during the summer of 2004. Significantly large populations of adults and larvae of the small hive beetle and wax moth larvae were trapped from these hives. Most of the wax moth larvae were trapped from hives located in Florida. The results from these studies were presented at five different beekeepers meetings held in the country during the winter period of 2004 and early February of 2005.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Monitoring of beetle populations from honeybee hives at sites in Florida, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Quantification of bee hygienic behavior with respect to removal of small hive beetle larvae.
Quantification of brood area in colonies.
Monitoring wax moth larval populations.
Monitoring of the number of queen replacements.
Monitoring number of larvae leaving host colony to pupate.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Significantly large populations of the small hive beetle were trapped from most of the experimental hives.
Wax moth larval populations trapped from hives varied significantly and were mainly found in hives located in Florida.
In Florida honey and pollen stores and brood areas monitored qualitatively by beekeepers varied with the hives. In general, honey and pollen stores were found to improve greatly in the hives from which large populations of beetles were trapped.
The number of larvae leaving host was insignificant at all sites. Larvae captured in traps were predominantly offsprings of captured adults.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Beekeepers participating in the trials in Florida reported that overall hive health improved significantly after trapping of small hive beetles from their hives. In the trial conducted in Lake City, Florida, the beekeeper reported that bees in 90% of the hives from which small hive beetles and wax moth larvae were trapped when left unattended survived the winter season, while the mortality in those in hives at the site from which beetles were not controlled was 100%. Overall, participating beekeepers were generally satisfied with the performance of the in-hive trap, so requested the project team to return to work with them during the 2005 season.

The research results for the 2004 season were presented at the Florida State Beekeepers Association 84th Annual Convention, held in Chipley, the 100th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association, and the 2005 American Beekeepers Federation held in Reno. Collaborators participating in the project also presented aspects of the use of the small hive beetle In-Hive trap at the 2004 Tennessee State Beekeepers Association meeting and the 2005 North Carolina State Beekeepers Association meeting.

Collaborators: