Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
As the larvae tunnel through the comb they defecate, which causes the honey to ferment
and become runny and is fondly called slime. In extreme cases the slime will run right
out the front door. The bees will abandon the hive long before it gets to that point.
Small Hive Beetle
Small hive beetles and our honey bees have had a decade or so to become acquainted
since the beetles accidentally arrived in the southern United States from South Africa.
They had a few years head start before beekeepers realized what the problem was, but
almost immediately they became a problem—especially in small, weak colonies, and in
honey houses after harvest. Beekeepers in Australia have had similar experiences and
between the two countries, beekeepers have arrived at several IPM management tech-
niques that help deal with this pest.
Small hive beetles are not an issue in South Africa because there the aggressive
African honey bees manage to keep them in check. However, the more docile and
inexperienced European honey bees common in South, Central, and North America
were less prepared for their onslaught. And since they arrived, it's clear the beetles are
primarily a tropical insect. Hives infested with these beetles can be moved from the
warmer parts of the United States to the more northern areas, but generally (and I use
that term carefully) both the colder winters and the less-sandy soil types in the north
keep populations in check. There are occasional outbreaks when beekeepers aren't pay-
ing attention and the beetles cause problems.
Beetles can fly long distances and are attracted to colonies that have been disturbed,
primarily due to the production of alarm pheromone, the scientists tell us. Queen pro-
ducers (in the southern region of the United States) who use small mating nucs have
problems because there aren't enough bees to defend the colony, and very often colon-
ies that go queenless decline and are destroyed by the beetles.
Even in southern United States winter takes a toll on these beetles and their popula-
tions don't build until midsummer or so. It's unlikely you will see beetles in your pack-
age colony—perhaps a very few early on that came with the package. But if you do see
them early, you will likely see them in greater numbers as the summer moves along.
You will notice them especially on the top of the inner cover when you remove the cov-
er, or on solid bottom boards. Generally, they hang out in locations in the hive that are
isolated or protected from the bees. Bees will harass them, sometimes to such a degree
that they will imprison them within walls of propolis on top bars and other locations to
keep them from roaming and destroying.
