Abstract
Small hive beetle (SHB) is an invasive species in populations of European honeybee subspecies, but underlying reasons for SHB success are not well understood. African and European honeybee, Apis mellifera, subspecies differ in absconding, and small hive beetle, greater wax moth (GWM) and ants all can exploit abandoned nests. However, the impact of host absconding on SHB reproduction and the role of GWM and ants as competitors are not known. Here, we conducted a survey in South Africa, Australia and the USA to evaluate SHB and GWM reproduction and foraging by ants in abandoned honeybee colonies. While the impact of competing ants and GWM was not significant, the data show higher SHB reproduction in abandoned nests of European honeybees compared to African ones, but less for GWM. The positive correlation between abandoned protein sources (brood, pollen) on SHB reproduction suggests that the less efficient preparation for absconding by European honeybee subspecies combined with their large colony sizes is a key factor for the invasion success of SHB.
Highlights
Small hive beetle (SHB) has recently become an invasive species and introductions have been recorded from America, Australia, Europe and Asia since 1996 (Neumann et al 2016)
Since African honeybee subspecies are more efficient in preparations for absconding (Spiewok et al 2006) compared to European ones (Hepburn and Radloff 1998; Hepburn 2006), abandoned nests of the former may leave fewer resources behind for SHB reproduction
No reproduction of SHB was found in any of the abandoned nests within 2 weeks after absconding, while greater wax moth (GWM) successfully reproduced in low numbers (< 100 larvae/ nest) in 28.6% of them (Table I)
Summary
An apparent option for SHB reproduction is associated with afterabsconding events (Hepburn et al 1999), when colony defence is obviously absent Both African and European honeybee colonies respond to heavy SHB infestations by absconding (Hepburn and Radloff 1998; Ellis et al 2003a; Villa 2004; Neumann et al 2016). GWMs may be competitors with SHBs for reproduction in abandoned honeybee nests, because mass reproduction of SHBS often results in the full structural collapse of the entire nest (Hepburn and Radloff 1998; Neumann et al 2010). The frequency and magnitude of SHB reproduction in abandoned honeybee nests and the impact of competitors such as GWM and ants in particular have never been quantified
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