Small hive beetles (SHBs) are parasites of bee colonies and is one of the invasive pest species worldwide. In this study, we aimed to investigate a chemical responsible for the attractiveness of a hive to this pest. Based on the laboratory observation, we found the fermented pollen dough (honey bee food) was highly attractive to adult SHBs. Olfactometer bioassay showed the crude methanol extract of this material is attractive to both sexes (> 60%). However, the methanol extracts of fresh honey and pollen patty which we used as a food of SHB were not attractive to the pest. The crude methanol extract of fermented pollen dough was subjected to partitioning with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The n-hexane and chloroform fractions were attractive > 80% for both sex SHBs. On the other hand, ethyl acetate and n-butanol were repulsive >70% and >80%, respectively. The wandering larvae of the pest showed a reverse response for the solvent fractions observed in adults. HPLC and GC-MS analysis indicated the methanol extract of fermented pollen dough constitute butanoic acid (7.70%), neopentylamine (7.29%), (E)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (3.89%) and hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester. While these compounds were not found even in a trace level in the methanol extract of honey and pollen patty. Based on this findings these constituents of the fermented pollen dough were formed by the action of SHB and its larvae and we believe these volatile organic compounds are responsible for attractiveness to SHB as pollen dough undergoes attach by SHB and ferment. We are working on investigating attractiveness of each of these chemicals toward the pest. We recommend further work on these chemicals for their application to control this pest.

아프리카 원산의 벌집꼬마밑빠진벌레(Small Hive beetle; SHB; Aethina tumida Murray)는 1998년대 미국 양봉장에서발견되면서 서양종꿀벌의 중요한 해충이 되었다. 이 곤충이 2016년 9월 경상북도 밀양시에서 국내 최초로 발견되었다.SHB의 국내 온도 환경에 적응성을 평가하기 위하여, 온도 처리에 따른 발육기간, 사망률을 조사하고, 발육영점온도,발육최적온도, 그리고 고온발육장애온도를 추정하였다. Incubator에서 6개의 온도(15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 38℃)를 이용하였으며, 24plate-wall에 개별사육 하였으며 하단부에 충분한 먹이를 투입하였다. 온도별 사망률은 각각 72.9, 97.9, 97.9,72.9, 54.2%(20, 25, 30, 35, 38℃)였으며, 15℃에서는 모든 알과 20℃에서 1령충까지 사육한 유충 모두 사망하였다.알에서 성충이 될 때까지 기간은 20℃ 47.8±0.4, 25℃ 38.6±0.3, 30℃ 33.5±0.4, 35℃30.6±0.5, 38℃ 28.0±0.6일로 조사되었다. 외부 온도가 15℃이하일 경우 SHB는 발육이 불가능 하며, 38℃ 이상일 경우도 50%이상이 사망하는 것을 보아SHB는 외부 온도 환경에 대한 발육속도와 사망률의 차이가 극심한 것을 확인하였다.

The Small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Murray, A. 1867) (commonly abbreviated to SHB), is one of notifiable pest in the world. SHB were confirmed in the southeastern United States in 1998 in a apiary in Florida. The SHB also was found in Korea in 2016. The SHB larvae have relatively large heads and numerous protuberances covering their bodies. Upon full maturation, larvae have reached a length of 10 mm. Adult females are length and width of ± 5.5 mm and ± 3.4 mm. Naturally occurring small hive beetles can vary greatly in size, possibly depending on diet, climate, and other environmental factors. Additionally, we were analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of the SHBs. The sequence of the COI gene of SHB was identical to that of SHBs in Korea, but different by fourteen positions from Italy.