A new exotic pest of honey bees was discovered in early June 1998, in Florida. The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Family Nitidulidae), was originally found in four beekeeping operations on the east coast of Florida in the Fort Pierce and St. Lucie area.

Varroa Mites Infesting Honey Bee Colonies by Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Varroa mites were first reported in Kentucky in the Bluegrass region of the Commonwealth in 1991. They have spread to and become a major pest of honey bees in many states since their introduction into Florida in the mid 1980's.

Cause: Nosema apis, a protozoan. Effect: Nosema disease is widespread and can cause extensive losses of adult bees. It may also be responsible for some supercedure of queens. Symptoms: No symptoms are specifically indicative of Nosema. Inability of bees to fly, excreta on combs or lighting boards, and a pile of dead or dying bees on the ground in front of the hive may be manifestations of Nosema infection, but they may also be caused by other abnormal conditions.

Fact Sheet: Wax Moth Control in Bee Hives - OARDC/The Ohio State University, Horticulture and Crop Science. Produced in cooperation with the Department of Entomology, Auburn University.

Keith S. Delaplane, Professor of Entomology, The University of Georgia: The Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, a new beekeeping pest.

Wax moths were first reported in North America in 1806. It is believed that they were accidentally brought here with honeybees imported from Europe. Wax moths are also called wax worms, web worms, and bee moths by people in different parts of North America. There are two species of wax moth in North America, the Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella and the lesser wax moth Achroia grissella.

American foulbrood (AFB) is one of the most important beekeeping diseases. It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus larvae. The spores are resistant to heat and drought and can remain dormant many years.

Acarine Mite, Acarapis Woodii (Tracheal Mite). Acarine mites are parasites that invade the trachea of bees, but they are not much of a nuisance to beekeepers in the UK at this moment. In many texts the acarine mite is considered the causal agent of "Isle of Wight Disease".

Transmission of Kashmir bee virus by the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor. The ability of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor to transmit Kashmir bee virus (KBV) to the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) was investigated by exposing pupae from a KBV-negative colony to varying numbers of adult female mites from KBV-positive colonies.

The small hive beetle (Aetina tumida) ( Figure 1 ) is native to South Africa. The name differentiates it from the larger hive beetle also found in South Africa, Hyplostoma fuligineus. Both inhabit almost all colonies of honey bees (Apis sp.) in South Africa, but are generally not considered significant problems. In 1998, the small hive beetle was discovered in Florida and identfied by Dr. Michael Thomas of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.