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Oral Presentation

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Student 10-Minute Presentation Competition

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Student Competition

Student

Grad 10-min Competition: SysEB, Sampling and Models

Longitudinal and spatial population dynamics of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) in Mississippi

Monday, November 10, 2025

8:24 AM - 8:36 AM Pacific

Location: Oregon Convention Center, B115, OCC

Presenting Author(s)

JH

Julie Marie Hardy

Mississippi State University
Cleveland, Mississippi

Co-Author(s)

OM

Omar Martinez

Texas A&M University
Fort Worth, Texas
DC

Donald Cook

Mississippi State University
Stoneville, Mississippi
NK

Natraj Krishnan

Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
JC

Jian Chen

Research Entomologist
Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS
Stoneville, Mississippi
AS

Arathi Seshadri

USDA
Stoneville, Mississippi
NK

Narayanan Kannan

Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research Unit, USDA - ARS
Stoneville, Mississippi
EA

Esmaeil Amiri

Mississippi State University
Stoneville, Mississippi

The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida, SHB) is a persistent pest of honey bee colonies in the southern United States. It causes damage to brood, stored honey, pollen, and comb structures. It has been shown that environmental factors such as soil type and temperature are the main drivers of SHB population growth. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of climatic variables on SHB populations across four apiaries in Mississippi over two beekeeping seasons, with the ultimate goal to predict SHB infestations and inform integrated pest management strategies for managed apiaries. In May 2024, four apiaries, each consisting of 15 colonies, were established across different regions of Mississippi, and 2 SHB traps/colony were installed in each colony at all four locations. Traps were collected and reset weekly to monitor beetle activities. Captured beetles were sexed and their body length and width were measured to assess morphological variation across time and space. Concurrently, environmental data—including air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, and precipitation—were obtained from nearby weather stations at each site. Preliminary data indicate that SHB populations begin to increase in May and peak in August, although the rate and magnitude of growth vary among apiaries. Strong correlations were observed between SHB population growth and climatic variables particularly air and soil temperature, across all sites. Further results will be discussed how environmental variables affect SHB sex ratio and body size distribution over time and space.