Scientific note on small hive beetles infesting giant honey bee colonies (Apis dorsata)

Abstract

The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) is known to infest colonies of cavity nesting honey bees, Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, bumble bees and stingless bees. The adult beetles lay eggs inside the invaded colony and together with their larvae feed on the honey, pollen and young bees and consequently induce colony collapse or absconding. Here, we present the first evidence of small hive beetles infesting colonies of open nesting giant honey bees, Apis dorsata. In May 2024, some unknown beetles and larvae were found associated with damaged wild colonies of A. dorsata in a routine survey in the Sundarbans mangrove forest in India. The infested combs were covered by a slimy substance and smelled like fermented honey, like known clinical symptoms of small hive beetle infestation. The observations also suggest that the beetles can induce absconding in infested A. dorsata colonies like in A. mellifera. Morphological and molecular data confirmed the beetles to be A. tumida. The present study suggests that the pest has expanded its host range towards wild A. dorsata colonies. Our observations are raising serious concern for the conservation of this native honey bee population and are calling for adequate mitigation.