Lethal effect of boric acid and attractants against the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Abstract

The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, is a parasite native to sub-Saharan Africa that does not cause further damage to African bees; in its spread to other countries with strains of bees that are vulnerable, this parasite has caused loss of hives and their products. There are few advances in obtaining SHB-resistant bee strains; hence, it is imperative to develop alternative control techniques to prevent economic losses. New apicultural practices, including periodic revisions and cultural controls for detecting and eliminating adult beetles and larvae, are only effective when they are adopted by many beekeepers within a region. In the search for a suitable treatment, this article discusses the effectiveness of an in-hive trap with boric acid (BA) and different attractants to control the spread of the SHB. Although BA is widely used as an insecticide, we observed that it is only effective when a mixture of live yeast, pineapple, and sugar is used; this attractant for adult beetles mimics the fermentation process caused by the yeast Kodamaea ohmeri associated with the beetle. Results of bioassays conducted in the city of Valladolid, Yucatan (Mexico) from June to July 2014 show that two of the proposed baits are effective for controlling SHB after 168 h as they achieve a mortality (mean ± SE) of 90 ± 3.9% and 81.67 ± 5%, respectively.

El pequeño escarabajo de la colmena (PEC), Aethina tumida Murray, es un parásito originario del África subsahariana que no causa daños mayores a las abejas africanas; en su diseminación a otros países con razas de abejas vulnerables, este parásito ha causado pérdida de colmenas y sus productos. En la actualidad hay pocos avances para obtener abejas resistentes al PEC por lo que es apremiante desarrollar alternativas de control que eviten pérdidas económicas. Las nuevas prácticas apícolas, que incluyen revisiones periódicas y controles para detectar y controlar el PEC, sólo son eficaces si se adoptan por todos los apicultores de cada región. En la búsqueda de un tratamiento eficaz, este artículo expone la efectividad del ácido bórico (AB) y distintos atrayentes para eliminar al PEC. Los bioensayos realizados en el municipio de Valladolid, Yucatán (México) en junio y julio de 2014, muestran que dos de los cebos propuestos son efectivos para controlar al PEC ya que después de 168 horas lograron de mortalidad (media ± EE) de PEC 90% ± 3.9% y 81.67% ± 5%, respectivamente.

Keywords:

• small hive beetle
• boric acid
• attractants
• control

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank to the Zapata-Mauy and Monforte-Rosas families for supplying some of the data used in this study; to the beekeepers of the “Sociedad Cooperativa Chu’ujuk kab SC de RL de CV,” “Apicultores de Champotón SPR de RI,” and to Oscar Romero for their willingness and support; to Manuel Guerrero López for his advice in preparing the bait. We would also like to thank to Jamie Ellis from the University of Florida, and Raúl Rivera from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for their valuable advice and feedback on the subject; We are indebted to Francisco José Gurria Treviño, General coordinator of Livestock-SAGARPA for responding to this animal health emergency.