Bumble bee colonies as potential alternative hosts for the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray)

Three bumble bee (Bombus impatiens Cresson) colonies, each containing 100-200 adult bees and enclosed in separate containment chambers, were artificially infested with 20 small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) adults. A fourth colony was not infested and served as a control. Beetle-infested and control colonies were sacrificed on three separate days to evaluate colony status and beetle population over time. At the termination of the study, between 1,900 and 4,200 small hive beetle larvae, pupae, and new adults were recovered from each of the colonies to which adult beetles were introduced, No adult, pupal, or larval beetles were found in the control colony when sacrificed, In addition, beetle-infested colonies had fewer live adult bees, more dead bees (and a greater proportion of which were no longer intact), and more comb damage than did the control colony. Adult beetles were successfully reared from adult to adult, thus demonstrating their ability to complete an entire lifecycle in association with Bombus colonies. The effects of beetle infestation on a nest scavenger, the Indian meal moth [Plodia interpunctella (Hubner)], are also described.