Comparitive size of three adult Small Hive Beetles with an adult honeybee. The Small Hive Beetle is about a third the size of a worker bee (photo by Todd Lowe).
Several adult Small Hive Beetles scurry for a hiding place as this frame is removed from the hive. It was noted that the Small Hive Beetles do not like the light very much. From this picture, you can see several hive beetle darting for cells to hide in. If possible, the beekeeper should look in the brood chamber since it's a nice dark place to hide (photo by Todd Lowe).
The adult Small Hive Beetle is about a third the size of an adult worker bee. This is a picture of a hive beetle in the palm of a hand. No Small Hive Beetle larve were found in the hives nor were any pupae found it the soil surrounding the hive (photo by Todd Lowe).
Although the beetle can be easily seen with the naked eye, care should be taken to examine your hives very carfully. Here is a photo of one adult Small Hive Beelte among many worker bees. Can you find the beetle? (photo by Todd Lowe)
"Destructive Beetles Found in Florida Hives", NAPIS, Perdue University
"New Bee Pest Found in Florida",APISERVICE
"A Honeybee Pest New to Florida and the Western Hemisphere",FDA&CS
"A New Beehive Pest in the U.S.",Bee Culture
"A New Beehive Pests Invades the Southeastern US",NCDA&CS
"Small Hive Beetles, A New Beekeeping Pest", Mississippi State University
"Various pictures of infestations of Aethina tumida ", Dr. M. T. Sanford
Beekeeping Homepage, Cumberland County, NC