The Small Hive Beetle

How to keep this beekeeping pest from destroying your hives and honey harvest.

History of the Small Hive Beetle:

Indigenous to Africa
1998 came to Florida

Traits of the Small Hive Beetle:

It multiplies to huge numbers in a colony and eats brood and destroys combs.

Adults are 1/3 the size of a honeybee. They have clubbed antennae. They are reddish brown and change to black as they mature. They hide from the light. They have short wing cases.

Eggs are 2/3rd the size of bee eggs and hatch in 2-3 days.

The feeding of the larvae (up to 30 in a cell) causes fermentation and spoilage of honey. It has a green slimy appearance and smells of rotten oranges. Major damage can occur in the honey house in stored supers.

Reproduction:

Females produce 1,000 eggs in their 4-6 month life. The larvae have three pair of prolegs and spines. There are 2 large spines that protrude from the rear, distinguishing them from was moth larvae. They mature in 10-14 days. They have no webbing.

Pupation:

The mature larvae mass on the hive bottom board and in the corners of the frames, before moving outside. Then they crawl onto the soil at night to pupate. Adults emerge 3-4 weeks later. One week later they search for colonies in which to lay eggs. They disperse over 10 miles.

Damage caused to beekeeping:

Huge numbers of larvae tunnel through comb to eat the brood and pollen, they ruin stored honey and they destroy infested colonies or cause them to abscond.

They are attracted to melon and apple crops.

They love to pupate in sandy soils.

Preventatives:

You should stir up the soil around hives and keep it free of debris. (chickens work well for this task, and I know one beekeeper who writes off his chicken feed!)

Clean up bee yards and melt down old comb, because they can live and breed in it. They can live for 2 weeks without food.

Bloomfield Bees Honey offers bee hives, nucs and wonderful queen bees to Sonoma County beekeepers.