Bug FAQSmall Hive Beetle
Aethina tumida · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Nitidulidae
Source: Wikipedia
The small hive beetle lives inside beehives where its larvae grow to about 1 cm long and are white in color. Adults and larvae feed on pollen, honey and dead bees, and their activity can ruin honeycomb and ferment honey.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The beetle’s body is segmented and it has three pairs of legs positioned in front of the head.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Fully developed larvae reach roughly one centimetre in length and are white.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Infestations can severely damage honeycomb, spoil stored honey and degrade pollen supplies.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
- Biological options include applying certain fungi and encouraging fire ants.
- Beekeepers can reduce problems by maintaining good hive hygiene.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It mainly inhabits the interior of honeybee colonies.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Both adults and larvae consume pollen, honey and dead bees found in the hive.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
After about 13.3 days developing inside the hive, the larvae spend roughly three more days in soil before pupating.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They use pheromone-mediated gatherings to overcome the colony’s defenses.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It originates from sub-Saharan Africa but has spread to places such as North America, Australia and the Philippines.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Florida, Indiana, California, Virginia, Missouri.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What damage does the small hive beetle cause?
Its larvae tunnel through combs, discoloring and fermenting honey and destroying pollen stores.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I control a small hive beetle infestation?
Use biological agents such as specific fungi or fire ants, and keep hives clean and well-maintained.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Nitidulidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_hive_beetle
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.