New Record of the Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida Linnaeus) In Apis mellifera Linnaeus Bee Colonies from Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, India
Koteswara Rao S R *
Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla – 522101, India.
Sai Kumar M.
Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla – 522101, India.
Subhash T
Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla – 522101, India.
Srikanth K
Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla – 522101, India.
Y Shaliraju
Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla – 522101, India.
Jhikmik
Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata 700053, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Small Hive Beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida Murray, 1867(Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) a pest of honey bees, is reported from colonies of European honeybees, Apis mellifera Linnaeus in Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. Larvae cause enormous damage to the hives, digging tunnels among the cells of the honeycomb to feed on pollen, honey and bee brood. The SHB larvae caused 80 per cent damage to the bee colonies present in Burlavaripalem by feeding bee wax and pupae of bees, ultimately led to destroy entire colonies as well as stored unextracted honeycombs. The finding is important, as it poses a serious threat to Apis mellifera colonies by damaging combs, honey and weakening colony and health. Early detection and reporting of such invasive species are critical for implementing timely management strategies.
Keywords: Honey bee, Apis mellifera, small hive beetle Aethina tumida, invasive species, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh