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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern

Project Title: Sustainable Management of the Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida), an Emerging Pest of Honeybees

Project Directors (PDs): Daniel Gruner [1] Cerruti R.R. Hooks [2] Galen Dively [3]

Lead State: MD Lead Organization: University of Maryland

Extension Funding: $17,446

Research Funding: $38,661

Start Date: Jul-01-2010 End Date: Jun-30-2012

Pests Involved: small hive beetles

Site/Commodity: honey bees, honeybees

Summary: With this joint research-extension project, we propose to develop and apply sustainable control practices for the small hive beetle (SHB, Aethina tumida), which infests honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies and vectors pathogens that may contribute to Colony Collapse Disorder. Honey bees - critical pollinators of a wide variety of fruit, nut and vegetable crops - are in protracted decline nationwide. The invasive SHB is rapidly expanding its range from the Southeast U.S., where it has been exceptionally destructive to colony health since 1998, into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Existing chemical controls are problematic for honey bee health because of exposure risks and associated costs. This project will develop, evaluate, and disseminate a multi-faceted, sustainable IPM strategy to disrupt the SHB life cycle. In functional hive experiments, we will evaluate two novel tactics - soil drenches of biopesticides and entomopathogenic nematodes to control wandering larvae - deployed in combination with in-hive trapping devices to capture invading adults (Objective 1). We will evaluate these IPM strategies through on-site demonstrations with cooperating master beekeepers and disseminate research results via eXtension education to help mid-Atlantic beekeeping associations rapidly implement recommendations (Objective 2). This project addresses thirteen NE-RIPM relevance criteria, three major priorities of the Northeast IPM center, and many specific directives from regional beekeeping organizations. Our approach will reduce environmental and human health risks by replacing hazardous pesticides with affordable traps, biorational organic-compatible pesticides, and augmentative biological control, and our demonstration and extension efforts will stimulate widespread adoption of IPM strategies across the region. Objectives: Objective 1 will: 1) evaluate entomopathogenic nematodes and biopesticides separately and in tandem for their ability to suppress wandering larval stages of the SHB; and 2) evaluate in-hive traps (both commercially available types and new, modified traps) for their ability to reduce SHB colonization and egg-laying. Objective 2 will involve 1) on-site demonstrations with master beekeepers to evaluate IPM methods, and 2) dissemination of recommendations through various extension outreach activities to help beekeepers and local beekeeping associations rapidly implement a sustainable IPM strategy. Throughout the two-year project, a continuous commitment will be made to learn more about SHB and their effects on colony health. In accomplishing these objectives, we hope to increase the long-term viability and survival of apiary operations by enhancing SHB management and lowering management cost. Proposal USDA CRIS research data USDA CRIS extension data

Interim Report: Sep-28-2012

Outcomes Our project seeks sustainable control solutions for the widespread infestation of honeybee colonies with the small hive beetle ("SHB", Aethina tumida). Field and laboratory research activities during the period June 2010 to June 2011 were pursuant to objective #1 (evaluate two novel tactics - soil drenches of biopesticides and entomopathogenic nematodes to control wandering larvae - deployed in combination with in-hive trapping devices to capture invading adults). Laboratory research in the offseason months of 2010 and 2011 tested the effects of two EPN species (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema feltiae), EPN inoculation densities, and soil type on SHB larvae and adult survival and performance. Under laboratory conditions, H. bacteriophora proved highly effective in killing SHB larvae and adults (more than 80% at high densities, relative to controls); S. feltiae was less effective but still caused nearly 60% mortality in some conditions. From these results, we moved forward with H. bacteriophora for field trials. During the growing seasons of 2010 and 2011, underneath replicated functional hives at the Beltsville facility (Central Maryland Research & Education Center, University of Maryland), we tested soil drenches of entomopathogenic nematodes ("EPN") and Azera, an organic biopesticide ("BP"), in a crossed randomized block design with the following treatments: control (water only), EPN+, BP+, EPN+&BP+. Prior to application of treatments, we repeatedly infested all hives with 25-50 SHB adults cultured in lab colonies. All drenches were applied to 4 m^2 area centered beneath free-standing hives. EPN (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) were added at a concentration of 250,000/m^2 for each hive (1,000,000/hive), and Azera drenches were applied at the label rate. At two week intervals for the summer, we surveyed colony health, production, size and SHB status. We monitored emergence of adult SHB using emergence traps secured to the ground in front of hives for 3 weeks post-treatment. Unlike under laboratory conditions, the field experiments from 2010 did not demonstrate an effect of EPN or BP on colony health or SHB infestation and emergence. Replicate trials following the first field season failed to show significant effects of biopesticides Azera and Entrust on larval SHB in lab mesocosms. Therefore, field experiments on functional hives during the 2011 field season dropped the biopesticide component and concentrated on the timing of EPN additions (before and after SHB infestation) and we repeated these trials 3 times over the summer. We used 30 hives, with 10 replicates of EPN pre-treated hives, EPN post-treated hives, and water controls. As before, we monitored honeybee colonies and SHB infestation and emergence over the course of the season. However, we infested hives at higher densities (200/hive) before each of the 3 trials, and we used the last larval stage instead of as adult SHB. Thus, larvae would drop to the soil beneath hives to pupate, and we monitored emergence using traps sealed to the ground in front of each hive. These trials did not replicate success from the lab, and showed no difference among the three treatments: water addition controls, and EPN additions prior to and after SHB infestation.

Impacts Laboratory trials for control of SHB with entomopathogenic nematodes were extremely promising in multiple parallel trials, however we did not achieve these levels of control in the field. The biopesticides used did not control the SHB in the lab or in the field. Showing the most promise are the in-hive trapping methods tested and demonstrated by Embrey. As documented in our proposal, these may break the life cycle of the SHB before eggs are laid, whereas soil drenches attempt to stop the life cycle of larvae transitioning to reproductive adults. Towards the goal of maintaining lower infestation levels in hives without the use of pesticides in hives, the trapping methods have great promise. We are engaged in the process of drafting a manuscript for the scientific literature that describes our methods and findings, and we anticipate several undergraduate students will be involved with this as full co-authors. Numerous students were involved in these research activities, including one female high school student (Montgomery-Blair High) and at least six dedicated undergraduates (4 females, 1 minority). Additional students from other projects rotated to help with aspects of the research and monitoring over the course of two field seasons.

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