Abstract
Increasing small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) density changes prison construction and guarding behaviour in European honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). These changes include more guard bees per imprisoned beetle and the construction of more beetle prisons at the higher beetle density. Despite this, the number of beetles per prison (inmate density) did not change. Beetles solicited food more actively at the higher density and at night. In response, guard bees increased their aggressive behaviour towards beetle prisoners but did not feed beetles more at the higher density. Only 5% of all beetles were found among the combs at the low density but this percentage increased five-fold at the higher one. Successful comb infiltration (and thus reproduction) by beetles is a possible explanation for the significant damage beetles cause to European honeybee colonies in the USA.
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References
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Acknowledgements
We thank Gilbert and Grace Smith of Warren County, Georgia, USA for providing the study site; Keith S. Delaplane for donating the European bees used in this study; and Sarah Radloff and Martin Villet for statistical advice. The US Department of Agriculture, Georgia Beekeepers Association (Georgia, USA), and Rhodes University provided financial support.
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Ellis, J.D., Hepburn, H.R., Ellis, A.M. et al. Prison construction and guarding behaviour by European honeybees is dependent on inmate small hive beetle density. Naturwissenschaften 90, 382–384 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-003-0447-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-003-0447-y