HONEY BEE & POLLINATION

Feasibility Study into In-Hive Fungal Bio-Control of Small Hive Beetle

  • 30 pages

  • Published: 29 Jul 2009

  • Author(s): Leemon, Diana, McMahon, Jacinta

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The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), a native to South Africa where is it only a minor pest, was discovered in Australia in 2002. Since this time small hive beetles have become an increasing problem in bee hives in the eastern states of Australia and appear to be spreading at a rapid rate. There is concern for even greater damage from this pest to the beekeeping industry in the warm moist regions of Australia where it can reproduce faster.
This RIRDC research identified a number of local isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana that show good efficacy against adult and larval small hive beetles. The report is targeted at the beekeeping industry in Australia, particularly those in the warmer regions affected by small hive beetles.