African Hive Beetles
A major new pest has been introduced to the southeastern US coast, and it is
killing hives.....
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Dozens of beetles can be seen along with a few bees and some burr comb on the bottom board. When exposed they scurry to hiding places or fly off. |
| Sour honey is flowing from the entrance, along with thousands of beetle larvae. | |
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Ruined frames of honey, that the bees won't touch, because of the fermentation. |
A worker bee in hot pursuit of a beetle. The workers don't seem to be able to harm the beetles. Sometimes they try to sting, but the beetles have a hard shell. |
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Bees driven out of the hive and preparing to abscond, because of the beetles. These hives are in a watermelon field for pollination. All the hives were badly infested with beetles. |
Thanks to Fred Singleton, bee insepector, Department of Plant Industry, South Carolina for the video from which these stills were taken.
