The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, is well known as a parasite of African and Western honey bees. Now, a short note published in Apidologie reports the first evidence of Aethina tumida in giant honey bee colonies (Apis dorsata) in India.

Wild colonies in the Sundarbans mangrove forest showed combs covered with a slimy substance and emitted a fermented smell, typical clinical symptoms of small hive beetle infestation. Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the presence of Aethina tumida.

According to the researchers, this finding raises concerns about the conservation of wild giant honey bees and highlights the need for adequate control and mitigation measures.

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