Prevent spread of the small hive beetle

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 1
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Effectiveness

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Calculating overall effectiveness category

Study locations

Key messages

One replicated trial in the USA tested the effect of using mite-killing strips in commercial honey bee Apis mellifera transport packages, to reduce the spread of small hive beetle. More than half the beetles escaped the packages and were not killed by the strip.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

In a replicated, controlled trial, Baxter et al. (1999) tested methods to control the spread of small hive beetle in packages for transporting honey bees Apis mellifera for the beekeeping industry in Texas, USA. They placed 'Checkmite strips' (containing the organophosphate coumaphos) in various positions inside or on the packages and intentionally introduced ten or twenty adult beetles. More than half the beetles escaped from the packages through a ventilation panel and were not trapped or recovered. A Checkmite strip hanging in the middle of the package killed 94% of the remaining beetles. Beetles were not lured out of the packages by light traps.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Baxter J.R., Elzen P.J., Westervelt D., Causey D., Randall C., Eischens F.A. & Wilson W.T. (1999) Control of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida in package bees. American Bee Journal, 139, 792-793.

Please cite as:

Dicks, L.V., Showler, D.A. & Sutherland, W.J. (2010) Bee conservation: evidence for the effects of interventions. Pelagic Publishing, Exeter, UK

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bee Conservation

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