| Description |
The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray 1867 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), is a parasite and scavenger of honey bee colonies. Adult and larvae small hive beetles feed on honey bee brood,
honey and pollen, thus causing brood death, fermentation of honey and comb destruction. The beetles can promote structural collapse of the nest and cause the adult honey bees to abscond. |