The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, (commonly abbreviated to SHB) is a bee hive pest native to sub-Saharan Africa. Only a minor pest in its native regions, SHB has a more significant impact on honey bees and wild bees in areas it has invaded.
SHB can multiply to huge numbers within infested colonies, where they eat brood, honey and pollen, destroy combs and cause fermentation and spoiling of honey. If beetle infestations are uncontrolled, they destroy the colony.
SHB is a statutory notifiable pest; any beetles suspected of being SHB present in a hive must be reported to the National Bee Unit in England & Wales or [email protected] in Scotland.
Small hive beetle is not currently present in the UK
The SHB has been accidentally introduced into many countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, The Philippines, Korea, Mauritius, China and La Reunion. In Latin America, SHB has been found in Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Guatemala, Cuba, Costa Rica, Columbia, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. Of most concern to UK beekeeping, SHB has been found in Italy and Portugal. The beetle did not establish in Portugal but has become a persistent, contained, problem in Italy.
It has been demonstrated that SHB is a highly mobile pest that can be easily introduced into new regions through global trade in beeswax, or importation of package bees or queens. The halted SHB invasion of Portugal was traced back to a shipment of infested queens from the USA, while the SHB invasion of Canada was traced back to beeswax imports from the USA.
If SHB invaded the UK, it would be a major threat to the long-term sustainability of UK beekeeping.
Sentinel apiaries
Exotic pest surveillance is an important defence against invasive pests. Since 2010, a voluntary network of beekeepers in England and Wales have been specifically monitoring their colonies for exotic pest species on behalf of the NBU.
These ‘sentinel apiary’ (SA) holders represent a valuable additional front-line defence against exotic pest incursion. There are over 50 enhanced sentinel apiaries (ESAs) and over 150 voluntary sentinel apiaries (VSAs). VSAs are in both ‘at risk’ and random areas to maximise the likelihood of detection. Hives within the VSAs are regularly examined by the beekeepers, according to specific monitoring protocols. Twice in each season, samples of hive debris are submitted to the NBU and tested for the presence of SHB and Tropilaelaps. ESAs are in the highest risk areas and are visited by inspectors, who perform full exotic pest surveillance inspections three times a season. The use of SAs improves the chances for early interception and successful eradication of exotic pests.
How can I help?
The most important thing that individual beekeepers can do to help prevent SHB incursion into the UK is to strictly observe the guidance for importing honey bees.
It is also recommended to learn how to identify small hive beetle adults and larvae so that you can identify suspect insects. To learn more about SHB, including how to perform a hive inspection specifically to look for signs of this pest, please read our advisory leaflet ‘The small hive beetle: a serious threat to European apiculture’.
Have I found SHB?
Many types of beetles, insect eggs and larvae may sometimes be found in bee hives. Check to see if those you have found match the key identification points below:
Adult beetles:
A close-up of the small hive beetle; it is black and very dark brown. It has a very large body with six stocky legs and two club shaped antennae.
size: 5 to 7 mm long; 2.5 to 4 mm wide
colour: black & dark brown
description: clubbed antennae, short wing cases
behaviour: hides from the light
Larvae:
size: up to 10 or 11 mm
colour: beige
description: spines along the back, 3 pairs of legs at the head end
Eggs:
size: 1.5 x 0.25 mm (two-thirds size of honey bee eggs)
colour: white
location: masses of eggs in hive crevices or hive floor
What to do if you think you have seen small hive beetle
If you think you have seen suspect looking eggs, larvae, or beetles in a colony, they should be collected and killed by freezing. Contact the NBU to report your sighting (beekeepers in Scotland should contact [email protected]). SHB are a statutory notifiable pest so you are legally obliged to report suspected SHB.
For further information
Read our small hive beetle advisory leaflet
Read our small hive beetle ID fact sheet
The NBU contingency plan for small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps
Legal responsibilities of beekeepers
Defra have completed a risk assessment on the potential for small hive beetle to be associated with produce and other plant products from Italy, which can be read here.