The small hive beetle, Aethina tumi

The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Order Caleoptera; Family Nitidulidae), was first discovered in Florida in June of 1998 and has now been found in six other states, George, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Minnesota. To date, the beetle has not been found in Virginia, but the movement of migratory beekeepers from Florida may have transported the beetle to other states. Recent finding also indicates transport of the beetles in packages. The small hive beetle can be a destructive pest of honey bee colonies, causing damage to comb, stored honey, and pollen. If a beetle infestation is sufficiently heavy, they may cause bees to abandon their hive. The beetles can also be a pest of stored combs and honey (in the comb) awaiting extraction. Beetle larvae may tunnel through combs of honey, causing discoloration and fermentation of honeyThis passage was most likely written to *2 分convince the Pure Food and Drug Administration to take the problem more seriouslyhelp customers understand how difficult it is to raise commercial honeywarn consumers that the price of honey is likely to raiseinform beekeepers about a menace that may be contaminating their hives