Comparison of two attractants to small hive beetles, Aethina tumida, in honey bee colonies

The small hive beetle Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) continues to be a persistent honey bee pest, particularly in the southeastern USA. A small hive beetle (SHB) attractant using pollen substitute inoculated with the yeast Kodamaea ohmeri (NRRL Y-30722) was tested in newly established honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies for its effectiveness over a six month period from May to November 2006. Thirty two test colonies were established with 0.9 kg packages of bees with queens. Eight colonies were placed in each apiary, and colonies received one of three treatments: 1) yeast based attractant 2) apple cider vinegar, a known SHB attractant, and 3) control, consisting of an empty trap. The delivery system for the test was the Hood small hive beetle trap. Both the yeast-based (56.2%), and the cider vinegar attractants (43.4%), increased SHB trapping compared to control traps (0.3%). The yeast based attractant showed an increase in SHB trapping efficiency during the warmer months, July and August. There were more capped brood and fewer beetles in colonies with attractant loaded traps as compared to control traps having no attractant or mineral oil. There was no significant difference in the effect of the two attractants on capped brood and colony beetle numbers.