The Small Hive Beetle Pest

The provided documents offer a comprehensive history and biological profile of the small hive beetle, an invasive species first identified by Andrew Murray in 1867. These insects migrated from South Africa to the United States in the late 1990s, spreading rapidly across North America through the movement of commercial bee packages and migratory beekeeping. The sources detail the beetle's complex life cycle, explaining how larvae ruin honey through fermentation caused by the yeast Kodamaea ohmeri, which can also pose health risks to vulnerable humans. Adult beetles are physically adapted to evade bees by hiding in dark crevices and can even trick their hosts into feeding them. To combat these pests, the text suggests utilizing natural predators like fungi and nematodes while maintaining strong, sunlight-exposed colonies. Finally, beekeepers are advised to follow strict sanitation protocols to prevent the "slimeout" conditions that lead to hive abandonment.