Olfactory responses of Aethina tumida murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) to some major volatile compounds from hive materials and workers of Apis mellifera

Abstract

Abstract The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) is an invasive pest affecting honey bee colonies. The beetles are known to be attracted to volatiles from hive products and honey bees like Apis mellifera L. Previously we reported the presence of five major compounds from the volatile extracts of hive materials; ethyl linolenate and ethyl palmitate from pollen dough, oleamide and tetracosane in fermenting honey, and oleamide and 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole from A. mellifera worker bees. This study tested the attractiveness of the aforementioned five volatile organic compounds to small hive beetles (SHB) by Y-tube olfactometric bioassay. Ethyl linolenate was highly attractive to both male and female adults of SHB. Ethyl palmitate was attractive to SHB only at higher concentration (0.01–01 mg/ml). Interestingly, tetracosane, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole and oleamide were repellent for SHB of both sexes, but ethyl linolenate and ethyl palmitate as components of honey bee brood pheromone attracted SHB. The results highlight that SHB differentially utilizes volatile chemicals from hive materials and honey bees as cues to locate honey bee hives.