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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #97841
Title: CONTROL OF THE SMALL HIVE BEETLE AETHINA TUMIDA MURRAY

Author
item Baxter, James
item Elzen, Patti
item Wilson, William

Submitted to: American Bee Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Laboratory and field studies were conducted to test the efficacy of eight insecticides to be used in controlling the newly discovered small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray, a potentially serious threat to the U.S. honey bee industry. Laboratory results showed that three synthetic pyrethroids and two organophosphates proved to be highly effective with 100% mortality of both adult and prepupae life stages. However, two of th synthetic pyrethroids and one of organophosphates are toxic to bees and no further tests were conducted. In field trials, coumaphos, an organophosphate, gave 99.9% control of the adult beetle as an in-hive treatment. Permethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, applied as a ground drench killed greater than 90% of the adults and prepupae.