Bee Brothers Apiary
Silver Bay on Lake George , New York
Copyright © 2006, Beebrothers.org.
If you have questions or comments please Contact Us!
Producers of the finest raw honey, and natural honey products.
If you have questions or comments please Contact Us!
Producers of the finest raw honey, and natural honey products.
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Hive Beetles
The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida
was first discovered in the U.S. (Florida)
in June of 1998 and has now been found
in 7 other U.S. states. To date, the beetle
has not been found in Virginia, but the
movement of migratory beekeepers from
Florida may have transported the beetle
to other states. Recent findings also indicate transport of the beetles in packages.
The small hive beetle can be a destructive pest of honey bee colonies, causing damage to comb, stored honey and pollen. If a beetle infestation is sufficiently heavy, they may cause bees to abandon their hive. The beetles can also be a pest of stored combs, and honey (in the comb) awaiting extraction. Beetle larvae may tunnel through combs of honey, feeding and defecating, causing discoloration and fermentation of the honey.
The primary damage to colonies and stored honey caused by the small hive beetle is through the feeding activity of the larvae. Hives and stored equipment with heavy infestations of beetles have been described as a mess. A summary taken from various reports of damage caused by these beetles is listed below:
Larvae tunnel through comb with stored honey or pollen, damaging or destroying cappings and comb. Larvae defecate in honey and the honey becomes discolored from the feces. Activity of the larvae causes fermentation and a frothiness in the honey; the honey develops a characteristic odor of decaying oranges. Damage and fermentation cause honey to run out of combs, creating a mess in hives or extracting rooms. Heavy infestations cause bees to abscond; some beekeepers have reported the rapid collapse of even strong colonies.
was first discovered in the U.S. (Florida)
in June of 1998 and has now been found
in 7 other U.S. states. To date, the beetle
has not been found in Virginia, but the
movement of migratory beekeepers from
Florida may have transported the beetle
to other states. Recent findings also indicate transport of the beetles in packages.
The small hive beetle can be a destructive pest of honey bee colonies, causing damage to comb, stored honey and pollen. If a beetle infestation is sufficiently heavy, they may cause bees to abandon their hive. The beetles can also be a pest of stored combs, and honey (in the comb) awaiting extraction. Beetle larvae may tunnel through combs of honey, feeding and defecating, causing discoloration and fermentation of the honey.
The primary damage to colonies and stored honey caused by the small hive beetle is through the feeding activity of the larvae. Hives and stored equipment with heavy infestations of beetles have been described as a mess. A summary taken from various reports of damage caused by these beetles is listed below:
Larvae tunnel through comb with stored honey or pollen, damaging or destroying cappings and comb. Larvae defecate in honey and the honey becomes discolored from the feces. Activity of the larvae causes fermentation and a frothiness in the honey; the honey develops a characteristic odor of decaying oranges. Damage and fermentation cause honey to run out of combs, creating a mess in hives or extracting rooms. Heavy infestations cause bees to abscond; some beekeepers have reported the rapid collapse of even strong colonies.
