Hive beetles with honey bees and stingless bees

摘要

Species include the small hive beetle Aethina tumida and several species of large hive beetles including Oplostoma fuligineus and Oplostomus haroldi.Hive beetles occur naturally in Africa where they are considered as minor secondary pests. In sub-Saharan Africa the small hive beetle is found in most Apis mellifera honey bee colonies throughout the year and seems to co-habit with them. However most large hive beetles are nectar feeding and are found in hives when nectar and pollen from plants become scarce. They are opportunistic pests and can live without honey bees, unlike the small hive beetle which is dependent on bees. Small hive beetles can now be found in honey bee colonies in Australia, and the warmer parts of the USA, causing considerable damage to beekeeping. They were found in Italy in 2014 but have not been detected in 2015.