The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy
Aethinosis, the honey bee disease caused by small hive beetle, is listed in the Animal Health Law and requires mandatory surveillance and control measures. The Mobile Divider (MD) method has been proposed as a time-saving alternative to the official surveillance method outlined by the Ministry of He...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4890 |
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| author | Camilla Di Ruggiero Andrea Gyorffy Francesco Artese Alessandra De Carolis Angelo De Simone Marco Pietropaoli Camilla Pedrelli Giovanni Formato |
| author_facet | Camilla Di Ruggiero Andrea Gyorffy Francesco Artese Alessandra De Carolis Angelo De Simone Marco Pietropaoli Camilla Pedrelli Giovanni Formato |
| author_sort | Camilla Di Ruggiero |
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| description | Aethinosis, the honey bee disease caused by small hive beetle, is listed in the Animal Health Law and requires mandatory surveillance and control measures. The Mobile Divider (MD) method has been proposed as a time-saving alternative to the official surveillance method outlined by the Ministry of Health (MoH). The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the MD method in concentrating SHBs behind the MD and optimizing the number of SHBs detected during hive inspections, thereby improving the surveillance strategies required by European regulations and the WOAH. In late winter and autumn 2022, we conducted 431 hive inspections across six apiaries in the province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. A total of 379 adult SHBs were collected and killed; no larvae were detected. Using the MD method, 238 SHBs were found behind the MD, while 141 SHBs were found in the remaining volume of the hive. Chi-square analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the MD method, showing that the SHB distribution behind the MD and in the remaining volume of the hive was not random (<i>p</i> < 0.0005). Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness and potential benefits of the MD method in regions with higher SHB infestation levels. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ab7447d7a9c408ca296fb6e5490a64c2025-08-20T01:49:50ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01159489010.3390/app15094890The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, ItalyCamilla Di Ruggiero0Andrea Gyorffy1Francesco Artese2Alessandra De Carolis3Angelo De Simone4Marco Pietropaoli5Camilla Pedrelli6Giovanni Formato7Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M.Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, RM, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M.Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, RM, ItalyItalian Beekeeping Federation (FAI) Calabria, Via S.S.111, N. 351, 89013 Gioia Tauro, RC, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M.Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, RM, ItalyIndependent Researcher, Via Festo Avieno 66, 00136 Rome, RM, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M.Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, RM, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M.Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, RM, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M.Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, RM, ItalyAethinosis, the honey bee disease caused by small hive beetle, is listed in the Animal Health Law and requires mandatory surveillance and control measures. The Mobile Divider (MD) method has been proposed as a time-saving alternative to the official surveillance method outlined by the Ministry of Health (MoH). The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the MD method in concentrating SHBs behind the MD and optimizing the number of SHBs detected during hive inspections, thereby improving the surveillance strategies required by European regulations and the WOAH. In late winter and autumn 2022, we conducted 431 hive inspections across six apiaries in the province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. A total of 379 adult SHBs were collected and killed; no larvae were detected. Using the MD method, 238 SHBs were found behind the MD, while 141 SHBs were found in the remaining volume of the hive. Chi-square analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the MD method, showing that the SHB distribution behind the MD and in the remaining volume of the hive was not random (<i>p</i> < 0.0005). Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness and potential benefits of the MD method in regions with higher SHB infestation levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4890<i>Aethina tumida</i>small hive beetlehoney beesMobile Divider methodcontrol strategiessurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Camilla Di Ruggiero Andrea Gyorffy Francesco Artese Alessandra De Carolis Angelo De Simone Marco Pietropaoli Camilla Pedrelli Giovanni Formato The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy Applied Sciences <i>Aethina tumida</i> small hive beetle honey bees Mobile Divider method control strategies surveillance |
| title | The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy |
| title_full | The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy |
| title_fullStr | The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy |
| title_short | The Mobile Divider Method: An Effective Strategy to Detect Small Hive Beetle (<i>Aethina tumida</i>) Adults in Honey Bee Colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in Calabria, Italy |
| title_sort | mobile divider method an effective strategy to detect small hive beetle i aethina tumida i adults in honey bee colonies i apis mellifera i in calabria italy |
| topic | <i>Aethina tumida</i> small hive beetle honey bees Mobile Divider method control strategies surveillance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4890 |
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