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Identification of an Aggregation Pheromone from the Small Hive Beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Newly emerged adult small hive beetle Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) emerge from the soil and seek refuge in honey bee hives. Observations of wild and colony reared populations indicate that the beetles form aggregations of many individuals of both sexes. Volatile collections performed on males and females have identified a male produced aggregation pheromone comprised of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, nonanal and decanal. Synergistic effects of the pheromone and a blend of fruit volatiles provide for an effective attractant for both sexes of the small hive beetle. Laboratory assays were performed with the pheromone blend and kairomone blend tested individually combined. This was done using a synthetic aggregation blend along with a fruit-based attractant containing ethanol, ethyl butyrate, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde. Our results showed that the synthetic aggregation blend along with a fruit-based attractant captured significantly more beetles than the control. The key to a good trapping system is and effective attractant. Our pheromone/kairomone based attractant shows promise to be used as an effective outside the hive control measure for small hive beetle. The identification of the aggregation pheromone is an important step in the search to provide effective control and monitoring of the small hive beetle.