Occurrence of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) in Melipona rufiventris colonies in Brazil

Abstract

The small hive beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida, a honey bee colony scavenger/parasite native to sub-Saharan Africa, has been recorded in Brazil since 2016 in Africanized honey bees. Now we detected the intruder parasitizing other susceptible social bees. The present study reports the first occurrence of SHB in stingless bees in Brazil, and is an alert to authorities and stingless beekeepers to prevent infestations.