Invasive Species Require Global Efforts: COLOSS Task Force Small Hive Beetle

Abstract

The small hive beetle (SHB) naturally occurs in Africa south of the Sahara (Neumann & Elzen, 2004), where it is generally considered to be a minor problem for endemic honey bees. Since the SHB was introduced into the USA 25 years ago, it has established itself as an invasive species. Although it was not noticed as a threat until 1998, the consequences for apiculture have become much clearer since that time. The characteristic smell of collapsed colonies and the image of fermented honey flowing from honey houses, both due to SHB larval feeding behaviour, sticks to the memory of many (Figure 1). Since then, SHBs have spread to all continents, except Antarctica, and many islands globally (Figure 2). New introductions can trigger national eradication policies, which impact beekeepers economically and socially. Once established, the SHB requires beekeepers to adapt, for instance by applying controls to hives or changing basic hygienic measures in/around honey houses and apiaries. The SHB impacts honey bee colonies through mass reproduction, with thousands of larvae often causing the full structural collapse of the entire nest within two weeks. This can occur even in strong colonies. With the global spread, novel potential hosts, including species of other honey bees native to Asia, bumble bees, and stingless bees, have also been exposed to the SHB; but the consequences and possible impact of which are mostly unclear and require further attention. While SHBs might not be a priority for many beekeepers now, studies indicate that climate change could alter the impact of SHB distribution detrimentally (Cornelissen et al., 2019). Therefore, knowledge gaps abound and range from appropriate policy requirements, including monitoring and control, to many ecological conundrums. These gaps led to the development of the SHB TF.