Temperature-dependent modelling of adult performance of small hive beetle Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

The small hive beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is an invasive pest of honey bees reported in Korea in 2016. This study was carried out to understand adult performance of SHBs under different temperatures and to construct an oviposition model as a part of the population model. Newly emerged adults were subjected to constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 37 degrees C), their longevity and oviposition were measured and an oviposition model was built afterwards. The longevity of SHBs female decreases from 160.1 to 57.9 days with increasing temperature from 20 to 37 degrees C. SHB males lived significantly shorter than the females. No oviposition was recorded at 15 degrees C. The fecundity showed a parabolic trend with a maximum of 1381.6 eggs/female at 30 degrees C and reduced to 515.8 eggs/female at 37 degrees C. The model combining all parameters of the SHB females simulated oviposition between 20 and 37 degrees C and predicted that SHBs could perform better at moderately higher temperatures which are in line with the brood area temperature (34-35 degrees C) of the honey bee, Apis mellifera.

Automated summary

The study found that the longevity of female small hive beetles decreases and egg production reduces at higher temperatures, with males having shorter lifespan; no oviposition below 15 degrees C; maximum egg production at 30 degrees C; the model predicts that SHBs could perform better at moderately higher temperatures.