Review of the presence of small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) infesting colonies of native stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini)

Abstract

The breeding and care of native stingless bees is known as “meliponiculture”, an ancient activity of environmental and socioeconomic importance. In Costa Rica, there are more than 50 species of stingless bees, Melipona (Jicotes) and Tetragonisca (mariolas) being the most used genus by meliponiculturists. The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Murray 1867), is native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered a minor pest among African honey bees. However, since its detection in honey bee hives of European origin in the United States (1998), it is considered an invasive pest causing serious problems for beekeeping. Both larvae and adult beetles feed on honey, pollen, and bee brood in Apis mellifera nests. In addition, it has great adaptability to different environments, from tropical conditions to temperate climates. It has been reported in different countries, such as Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Brazil. The first report on Africanized bees in Central America was in El Salvador, then in Nicaragua, and was later confirmed in Costa Rica and Guatemala. It is reported that A. tumida can infest colonies of native stingless bees (meliponinos) and bumble bee (Bombus sp.). Its presence has been reported in colonies of Melipona beecheii, Dactylurina staudingerii, Trigona carbonaria, Austroplebeia australis, Melipona rufiventris, Plebeia frontalis, and Bombus impatiens. In Costa Rica, even though systematic research of the beetle in colonies of native stingless bees has not been conducted, to date its presence has not been reported. In a preliminary monitoring, colonies of M. beecheii, located near the initial focus of detection of the beetle in La Cruz, Guanacaste, were examined, resulting negative. Since meliponiculture is conducted in different regions of Costa Rica, native stingless bee colonies should be monitored for small hive beetles.