Glossary
A destructive pest (Aethina tumida) of honey bee colonies, originally from sub-Saharan Africa. Adult beetles invade hives to lay eggs, and the larvae tunnel through honeycomb, eating honey, pollen, and brood while leaving a trail of slime that ferments the honey.
The small hive beetle (SHB) was first detected in the United States in 1996 in Florida and has since spread across the southeastern states and beyond. Adults are small (5-7mm), dark brown or black beetles that are surprisingly agile inside a bee hive. They are attracted to the scent of hive products and can fly several miles to find colonies.
Adult beetles enter the hive and hide in cracks and corners, dodging worker bees who chase and attempt to corral them. Strong colonies can keep beetle populations in check through this "corralling" behavior, essentially imprisoning groups of beetles in propolis jails. Weak colonies, split colonies, and hives with too much unused comb are especially vulnerable because the bees cannot patrol all the space effectively.
The real destruction comes from the larvae. A single female beetle can lay 1,000 to 2,000 eggs in clusters hidden in cracks of comb or in cells near honey and pollen. The larvae that hatch are white, segmented grubs that tunnel through comb, consuming honey, pollen, and bee brood. As they feed, they defecate in the honey, introducing yeasts that cause the honey to ferment. Infested honey becomes slimy, bubbly, and foul-smelling. A severe infestation can cause bees to abandon the hive entirely.
Florida's warm, humid, sandy-soil environment is ideal for the hive beetle's life cycle. When larvae are mature, they leave the hive and burrow into the soil to pupate, emerging as adult beetles 3 to 4 weeks later. In northern states, cold winters interrupt this cycle. In Florida, the beetle reproduces year-round.
Control strategies include maintaining strong, populous colonies (the best defense), using beetle traps inside the hive (oil traps or chemical traps between frames), minimizing unused comb space, and ensuring the apiary site is not in waterlogged soil that favors beetle pupation. Keeping the colony's population high relative to the amount of comb they need to defend is the single most effective management strategy.
Yes. A weak colony overwhelmed by hive beetles can have its comb destroyed and honey fermented to the point of collapse. Strong colonies with adequate populations can typically keep beetle numbers manageable. The beetle is most dangerous to already-stressed or recently-split colonies.
Adult beetles are visible during hive inspections, often running away from light when you lift the inner cover. Larvae in the comb, slimy or fermenting honey, and a sour smell are signs of a more advanced infestation. Beetle traps placed inside the hive can help monitor population levels.
Yes. Beetle larvae defecate in the honey, introducing yeasts that cause fermentation. Infested honey becomes bubbly, slimy, and develops an off-putting sour odor. Honey from beetle-free colonies is unaffected. Our honey is harvested only from healthy, well-managed hives.
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