International beeswax trade facilitates small hive beetle invasions

Abstract

International trade can facilitate biological invasions, but the possible role of beeswax trade for small hive beetles (SHBs), Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is poorly understood. SHBs are parasites of social bee colonies native to sub-Saharan Africa and have become an invasive species. Since 1996, SHBs have established in all continents except Antarctica. Here, we combine mitochondrial DNA analyses ( COI gene, N = 296 SHBs, 98 locations) with previously published beeswax trade data (FAO) for 12 confirmed SHB invasions. Our genetic data confirm previous findings and suggest novel SHB African origins. In nine out of 12 invasion cases, the genetic and beeswax trade data match. When excluding one confirmed pathway (bee imports) and two cases, for which no FAO data were available, the genetics and beeswax trade data consistently predict the same source. This strongly suggests that beeswax imports from Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and the USA, respectively, have mainly been responsible for the past invasion success of this beetle species. Adequate mitigation measures should be applied to limit this key role of beeswax imports for the further spread of SHBs. Combining genetics with trade data appears to be a powerful tool to better understand and eventually mitigate biological invasions.

Global warming promotes biological invasion of a honey bee pest

“…While it is well known that European honey bee subspecies are more susceptible to SHB infestations compared to African ones, probably due to quantitative differences in a range of defence behaviours (Ellis & Hepburn, 2006;Neumann & Elzen, 2004) (Richardson et al, 2000), which can be by natural spread of the beetle alone or via the bees, once it arrives in a new area, or by anthropogenic movement of colonies or bee products (Lounsberry et al, 2010;Neumann et al, 2016). Given the well-documented role of global trade and movement of bees and bee products for the spread of SHBs (Neumann et al, 2016;Ouessou Idrissou et al, 2019), introduction seems not to be a limiting factor for the invasion success of SHB.…”

“…Past invasions of SHB have resulted in an economic deficit to the beekeeping industry (Neumann & Elzen, 2004;Rhodes & McCorkell, 2007). The focus of management strategies should therefore firmly be on detection in the early stages of invasion (Hulme, 2009) by focussing on the global trade in bees and bee products (Neumann et al, 2016;Ouessou Idrissou et al, 2019).…”

“…Amongst the many factors potentially impacting honey bee health and thus pollination services, invasive parasitic species, e.g. introduced by global trade in honey bees and related products such as wax and honey (Chanpanitkitchote et al, 2018;Krongdang, Evans, Chen, Mookhploy, & Chantawannakul, 2018;Neumann, Pettis, & Schäfer, 2016;Ouessou Idrissou, Huang, Yañez, & Neumann, 2019;Schäfer et al, 2019), can play a key role (Neumann et al, 2016;Potts, Biemeijer, et al, 2010;Rosenkranz, Aumeier, & Ziegelmann, 2010;van Dooremalen, Cornelissen, Poleij-Hok-Ahin, & Blacquière, 2018). However, knowledge of the potential effects of climate change on such species is currently lacking (Le Conte & Navajas, 2008).…”

In silico identification and assessment of insecticide target sites in the genome of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida

“…The global wax trade acts as a conduit for the introduction of SHB to honey bee colonies across the globe [3]. Table 4 Location and number of types of post-translational modifications of octopamine receptors in Aethina tumida.…”

“…The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, is a global pest of honey bee colonies that is rapidly expanding its presence outside of its native range in Sub-Saharan Africa to recently reported infestations in Brazil [1] and South Korea [2]. This dynamic worldwide distribution is a consequence of the global trade in beeswax products that are infested with SHB [3]. The SHB can feed on stored food resources (i.e.…”