Abstract
Background: The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida is an invasive pest of the honey bee. Although no previous methods have led to its successful management, yeast inoculated pollen baited-traps have showed promise as quick monitoring tools. In this study, we evaluated the role of olfaction in SHB response to Apicure®, an essential oil-based biopesticide that has shown potential for the management of honey bee pests and diseases. Methods: Volatiles from Apicure® were collected using super Q adsorbent traps. Subsequent analysis was done using Gas chromatography- mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) to ascertain the components of Apicure®. The selectivity and sensitivity of antennal receptors of A. tumida adults to the volatile compounds were determined using behavioral assays and Gas Chromatography-Electroantennodetection (GC-EAD). Results: GC-MS analysis showed that Apicure® consists of 40 compounds. GC-EAD analysis isolated 11 compounds that elicited antennal response with the SHB. Of these, linalool, camphor, geraniol and α-terpineol were confirmed to be strongly repellant, while limonene was attractive to SHB in dual-choice olfactometer assays. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the major components in Apicure® are mainly repellants thus prospective in disrupting the host recognition by the SHB. The product therefore can be up-scaled for the management of SHB.
Highlights
Biological invasions pose a global threat to both food security and natural ecosystems[1,2]
Our study demonstrated that Apicure® is generally a repellant to the small hive beetle (SHB) and this is related to its chemical composition
Identification of Apicure® volatiles Gas chromatography- mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analyses identified a total of 40 compounds that varied in their relative abundance in Apicure®
Summary
Biological invasions pose a global threat to both food security and natural ecosystems[1,2] One of such invasive organisms is the small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, a pest of honey bees which has the capacity to significantly affect the health of both managed and feral eusocial bees[3]. Intra-colony destruction has been accredited to the feeding behavior of adult and larval beetles[7] This pest infests bee colonies as either individuals or in swarms with both adult and larval stages known to cause damage as they feed on pollen, honey, brood and young worker bees[8,9], causing fermentation of hive products and damage to combs reducing the brood area. The product can be up-scaled for the management of SHB
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