Longevity and Reproductive Success of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) Fed Different Natural Diets

Abstract

The longevity and reproductive success of newly emerged, unfed adult Aethina tumida Murray assigned different diets (control = unfed; honey-pollen; honey; pollen; empty brood comb; bee brood; fresh Kei apples; and rotten Kei apples) were determined. Longevity in honey-fed small hive beetle adults (average maximum: 167 d) was significantly higher than on other diets. Small hive beetles fed empty brood comb lived significantly longer (average maximum: 49.8 d) than unfed beetles (average maximum: 9.6 d). Small hive beetle offspring were produced on honey-pollen, pollen, bee brood, fresh Kei apples, and rotten Kei apples but not on honey alone, empty brood comb, or in control treatments. The highest reproductive success occurred in pollen fed adults (1773.8 +/- 294.4 larvae per three mating pairs of adults). The data also show that A. tumida can reproduce on fruits alone, indicating that they are facultative parasites. The pupation success and sex ratio of small hive beetle offspring were also analyzed. Larvae fed pollen, honey-pollen, or brood had significantly higher pupation success rates of 0.64, 0.73, and 0.65 respectively than on the other diets. Sex ratios of emerging adults fed diets of pollen or brood as larvae were significantly skewed toward females. Because small hive beetle longevity and overall reproductive success was highest on foodstuffs located in honey bee colonies, A. tumida are efficient at causing large-scale damage to colonies of honey bees resulting in economic injury for the beekeeper. Practical considerations for the control of A. tumida are briefly discussed.

Standard methods for small hive beetle research

“…Maintaining adult SHB in the laboratory and transport 3.1.1.1. SHB diet SHB feed and reproduce on honey, pollen, and most rapidly, on bee brood (Lundie, 1940;Ellis et al, 2002b). A diet of bee brood alone is impractical, however, because (1) many colonies are needed to produce enough brood to sustain a SHB rearing program, especially a large one, (2) of the destructive nature of removing brood from a colony and (3) using brood is not economical (a full brood frame can be easily consumed by the offspring of 10-15 breeding pairs; Neumann et al, 2001a).…”

“…Although other Nitidulidae are often reared on fruits (see Peng and Williams, 1990b), rearing SHB on fruits alone is impractical because of the beetle's low fecundity on such diet (Ellis et al, 2002b;Buchholz et al, 2008). We also recommend avoiding artificial diets This recipe makes enough for 20, 400 g sections of diet.…”

“…reproductive success (Ellis et al, 2002b;Buchholz et al, 2008)), the food should be frozen first, especially if field collected (e.g. fruit) to kill any other insect eggs that may be present.…”

“…Note: When sexing many adult beetles (Ellis et al, 2002b;Spiewok and Neumann, 2012), it is recommended to slow them down by placing them in a fridge or in a vial on ice for at least 5 min. (up to 10 min.…”

Organic acids and thymol: unsuitable for alternative control of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)?

“…Each dish was then transferred into a beaker. On the fruit slices, the eggs were unlikely to desiccate, and the hatching larvae were provided with food and moisture (Eischen et al 1999;Ellis et al 2002;Buchholz et al 2008). All beakers were covered with nylon gauze to prevent SHB escape and facilitate gas exchange.…”