Attract-and-Kill bait for controlling the Small Hive Beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Authors: Stuhl, Charles

Submitted to: Apidologie
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2019
Publication Date: 6/24/2020
Citation: Stuhl, C.J. 2020. Attract-and-Kill bait for controlling the Small Hive Beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Apidologie. 51,(3)428-435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-019-00729-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-019-00729-1

Interpretive Summary: In laboratory studies, researchers at the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida investigated an attract-and-kill bait for in-hive control of the small hive beetle, a major insect pest to honey bee hives worldwide. The work was achieved by attracting the beetles to an in-hive trap with a feeding attractant/stimulant where a toxicant is delivered by consuming an edible bait. A commercially available disposable plastic trap that is pre-baited is the end goal of this research. The development of an inexpensive small hive beetle trapping system is essential for in-hive control of this devastating pest. This technology will provide beekeepers a tool to help control this pest species that is affecting honey bee survival throughout the world. Our research objective was to gain knowledge and disseminate this information regarding current cultural practices in honey bee husbandry and better management of small hive beetles.

Technical Abstract: This research investigates an attract-and-kill bait for in-hive control of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida. The control method employs attracting the beetles to an in-hive trap with a feeding attractant/stimulant where a toxicant is delivered by consuming an edible bait. Investigations of mild insecticides has led to the use of boric acid. At low doses, boric acid is non-toxic to humans, but lethal to insects. This research was designed to identify key compounds that would attract small hive beetles, develop an edible bait using those compounds and if the diet would be consumed by the beetle, determine the lethal dose with the lowest amount of toxicant, and the effects the toxicant would have on the honey bee. Attractive compounds were identified from honey bee pollen patties inoculated Kodamaea ohmeri yeast and resulted in the identification of three key components: ethyl propionate, isobutyl propionate and ethyl butyrate. A diet comprised of corn gluten meal, barley flour, soy flour, Brewer’s yeast, and glycerin containing the attractant/feeding stimulant was highly attractive and readily consumed. In laboratory trials the treatments containing the attract-and-kill with 2% boric acid reduced the beetle population to zero within a few days. There was no significant difference between the sex of the beetle for survival on any of the treatments. Honey bee survival was greatly reduced by ingesting the treatment. The development of an inexpensive small hive beetle trapping system is essential for in-hive control of this devastating pest. This technology will provide beekeepers a tool for control of this pest species that affects honey bee health and survival worldwide.