beetles in a bee hive

[timeout892]

Hi ...new to this, I have been given some rubbish from the bottom of a bee hive, it has a few things which I can not ID. So help please. One of the items is a small beetle about 2-4mm in length, dark brown. I have found 6 of them. I hope to take some pics down the microscope and post later. This is not a small hive beetle. Does anyone know if the is a list of UK beetles which have been found in bee hives? thanks for your help in advance.....paul

[Jason Green]

Hi Paul, and welcome to WAB!

Sounds interesting, I'll look forward to the photos! So, you're into microscopes too? You'll fit right in here!

Take care,

Jason

[Selwyn]

The Small Hive Beetle (Athena tumida) is a statutory notifiable pest under both EU and UK legislation - so If you find anything suspicious - (either like SHB or other potential problems such as Tropilaelaps mites) you must contact the National Bee Unit immediately. Samples should be sent to the NBU for ID - it is always better to be safe than sorry. There are so many scavenger beetles and mites found in the floor scrapings of hives some of the more common ones found include the Plaster or mold beetles (Lathrididae). Advice is always available from the NBU, so if you do find anything you are worried about, do not hesitate to contact the NBU directly or your local Appointed Bee Inspector. For more info go to nationalbeeunit.com.

[timeout892]

I dont think they are s.h.b. but I do now have some pics to post. One of the mites has a smaller mite on it.

[Beekeeper]

There is a small mite which hitches a ride on the back of a bee and is called Braula if my memory serves me correctly, they are not parasitic and generally not a problem, many years ago, i had one hive which always had a population of those insects, never did get rid of them, the colony of bees were otherwise very healthy and hard working, the mite is a sort of reddish brown and visible to the naked eye, that is if the person has good eyesight which mine is not these days.

Ian

[Jason Green]

I think this is your photo...



...I think it's a Phoretic mite as opposed to a beetle - though you've seen it in the flesh - or chitin!

If so, they tend to hitch a lift on the insect, as opposed to using it for anything untoward. They'll just eat detritus matter I believe, ad move on.

What microscope did you use?

[timeout892]

Hi Jason... the big blob is a mite of some sort its dark brown but with the back light of a microscope it looks light brown. If you look at that pic you will see that the mite has a mite on it. I though it might be on Acari sp, but which one?....paul