Small Hive Beetle returns
Thanks to some translating work from the International Bee Research Association (IBRA), we have an update of the latest on the spread of Aethina tumida, the Small Hive Beetle (SHB).
Last autumn we reported on the first appearance of SHB in southern Italy. The last case was found on 23 December 2014 and, since there were no further reports until now, the hope was been that it hadn’t spread. But the latest news is not good.
This week adults and larva were found in an Apiary in Figurelle, a village in San Martino di Taurianova, Calabria. SHB was found in eight of the 32 colonies in the apiary. Last year’s burnings appear not to have been fully effective.
Here, in Italian, is the list of SHB sightings to date and the map (original pdf from Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie here) is below:
Don’t forget, Vita’s Beetle Blaster gives early warning of SHB’s arrival.