Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) rearing and in-hive pesticidal protein control

Small hive beetles (SHB) (Aethina tumida) have become a global pest of honey bees throughout the world. Colony infestation can result in honey fermentation and colony abscondence, especially in weak colonies, leading to economic losses for commercial and small-scale beekeepers alike. Conventional pesticides, such as the organophosphate insecticide coumaphos, have been used to treat infestations, but population-wide resistance has emerged recently in the southern United States, and many of these pesticides are not bee-safe. Pesticidal proteins have significant effects on survival of pests such as the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis), but the efficacy of these proteins has not been thoroughly tested for SHB management. Although comparatively little research has been done on these pests, research surrounding small hive beetles is growing rapidly. Here, I provide an updated and improved protocol for small hive beetle rearing and bioassay that emphasizes control over small hive beetle age, genetic similarities, and number that is useful for many different types of controlled experiments with SHB. I then used this protocol to produce larvae for pesticidal protein feeding bioassays, in which 11 pesticidal proteins were tested for toxicity to small hive beetles. Three proteins, Cry2Ab, App6Aa2, and Mpp51Aa1, caused significant mortality and thus show potential as SHB control agents; all three also appear bee-safe, causing no effects on adult honey bee survivorship. This is the first report of pesticidal protein effects on SHB larvae and shows the potential of pesticidal proteins as a source of safe and practical SHB control.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Chiavini, Benjamin E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dolezal, Adam G
• Berenbaum, May R
• Hanks, Lawrence M

• Small Hive Beetle
• Pest Management
• Pesticidal Proteins
• Honey Bee
• Bioassay
• Rearing
• Protocol
• Method

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Benjamin Chiavini

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121279

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121279