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Small Hive Beetle

Aethina tumida[3]

The small hive beetle is an invasive beetle from sub-Saharan Africa whose larvae damage honey bee colonies and stored combs.[1][2]

Group
Insect
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Nitidulidae
US records
23 states
Sources
3 cited
Updated
2026-10-16
Small hive beetle, an oval dark brown beetle, on honeycomb
Small hive beetle, an oval dark brown beetle, on honeycomb. (c) Justine Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0
On this page
  1. Identification
  2. Look-alikes
  3. Where it lives
  4. Biology
  5. Damage and signs
  6. Health risk
  7. Control
  8. Related profiles
  9. Common questions
  10. Sources

How to identify it

  • Adults are oval, brown to black and about 1/4 inch (5.7 mm) long, about one-third the size of a honey bee; new adults are light brown.[1][2]
  • Larvae are off-white and grow to about 1/2 inch; they look like greater wax moth larvae.[1][2]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Sap beetlesRelated sap beetles in the same family can be mistaken for small hive beetles.[2]

Where it lives

Confirmed in Florida in 1998 and now reported in 35 states, Canada, Australia and Mexico; it favors hot, humid climates.[1][2]

US map: public records from 23 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Females lay eggs in cracks in the hive or in cells with brood or bee bread; eggs hatch in two to four days.[1][2]

Grown larvae leave the hive and pupate about 4 inches deep in soil for three to six weeks; adults then fly to new colonies.[1][2]

Damage and signs

  • Larvae eat brood, honey and pollen; heavy infestations leave slimy, discolored comb and masses of larvae.[1][2]
  • Adults hide in cracks where bees can't evict them, protected by tough wing covers.[2]

Health risk

No risk to people; it is a pest of honey bee colonies.[1][2]

Control

Prevention

Keep colonies strong and the apiary clean of abandoned combs and dead-out equipment.[2]

Keep them out

Placing hives on rocky or clay ground or on platforms keeps larvae from reaching soil to pupate.[2]

Sanitation

Freeze frames with beetle eggs or larvae for at least 48 hours, and keep honey houses clean.[2]

Common questions

Why is the honey in my hive slimy?
Small hive beetle larvae feeding in combs cause slimy, fermenting honey.[2]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS, Featured Creatures), “Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida (EENY-474).” ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN854 (accessed 2026-10-16)
  2. Oregon State University Extension, “The Small Hive Beetle: A Potential Pest in Honey Bee Colonies in Oregon (EM 9143).” extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9143-small-hive-beetle-potential-pest-honey-bee-colonies-oregon (accessed 2026-10-16)
  3. iNaturalist, “Aethina tumida taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/457066 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-16. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.