Mass infestation of black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on colonies of the Indo-Malayan stingless bees Geniotrigona thoracica and Heterotrigona itama

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/08/2017
Views (244) Download (10)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Mass infestation of black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on colonies of the Indo-Malayan stingless bees Geniotrigona thoracica and Heterotrigona itama

Nur Aida Hashim, A. R. Shamsul Bahri, Norasmah Basari, Nur Hafizah Sharudin
J. Bio. Env. Sci.11( 2), 9-15, August 2017.
Certificate: JBES 2017 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Meliponiculture, a stingless bees beekeeping has become an important industry in Malaysia. Reports on mass infestation of pests on colonies of domesticated stingless bees (Geniotrigona thoracica and Heterotrigona itama) were received in mid-June 2016 from the beekeepers in northern peninsular Malaysia. The infestation destroyed thousands of stingless bee colonies within one week of attack, resulting in huge losses to the bee industry. This research was conducted to determine the species of pest infested the bees colonies in the northern peninsular Malaysia. Samples of larvae from the infested colonies were collected manually using entomological forceps from a stingless bees farm in the state of Kedah and the larvae were reared in the laboratory until adult stage. Identification of the larvae and adult pest confirmed that the invading species were the black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) that had not hitherto been regarded as a pest, but as a beneficial insect. The four major signs of attack by this pest on the stingless bee colonies are: 1) the nest entrance became smaller, 2) Honey in the honey pots developed bubbles 3) The presence of white larvae in the nest topping, and 4) honey spilled from the honey pots and flowed out from the nest topping. This is the first report on mass infestation of domesticated stingless bee colonies by the BSF. Therefore it is important to monitorthe spread and the potential threat poses by BSF on the stingless bee for sustainability of stingless bees itself and meliponiculture in Malaysia.

VIEWS 12

Carvalho CJB de, Mello-Patiu CA de. 2008. Key to the adults of the most common forensic species of Diptera in South America. The Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52(3), 390-406. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S008556262008000300012

Cuthbertson AGS, Wakefield ME, Powell ME, Marris G, Anderson H, Budge GE, Mathers JJ, Blackburn LF, Brown MA. 2013. The small hive beetle Aethin atumida: A review of its biology and control measures. Current Zoology 59(5), 644–653. https://doi.org/10.1093/czoolo/59.5.64.4

Diener S, Zurbrügg C, Tockner K. 2009. Conversion of organic material by black soldier fly larvae – establishing optimal feeding rates. Waste Management &Research 27, 603-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X09103838.

Gonzalez JV, Young WR, Genel MR. 1963. Reducion de la problacion de Musca domestica en gallinzazpor la moscasoldado en el Tropica. Agric Tec Mexico 2, 53-57. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S071858392008000200009

Hall DC, Gerhardt RR. 2002. Flies (Diptera). In: Mullen G, Durden L, Eds. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. San Diego, California: Academic Press, 127-161.

Heard TA. 1999. The role of stingless bees in crop pollination. Annual Review Entomology 44, 183-206. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.44.1.183

Kim JG, Choi YC, Choi JY, Kim WT, Jeong GS, Park KH, Hwang SJ. 2008. Ecology of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in Korea. Korean Journal Applied Entomology 47(4), 337-343. http://dx.doi.org/10.5656/KSAE.2008.47.4.337

Kim W, Bae S, Park H, Park K, Lee S, Choi Y, Han S,  Koh Y. 2010. The Larval Age and Mouth Morphology of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). International Journal of Industrial Entomology 21(2), 185-187. http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/ksss/E1IEAM/2010/v21n2/E1IEAM_2010_v21n2_1.85.pdf

Krishnan KT, Neumann P, Ahmad AH, Pimid M. 2015. A scientific note on the association of Haptoncus luteolus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) with colonies of multiple stingless bee species. Apidologie 46(2), 262–264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0312-3

Newton GL, Sheppard DC, Watson DW, Burtle GJ, Dove CR, Tomberlin JK, Thelen EE. 2005. The Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens, as a Manure Management/Resource Recovery Tool. State of the Science, Animal Manure and Waste Management. Jan. 5-7, San Antonio, TX. www.organicvaluerecovery.com/studies.studies_htm_files/bsf_value_added.pdf

Nguyen TTX, Tomberlin JK, Vanlaerhoven S. 2015. Ability of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae to Recycle Food Waste. Environmental Entomology 44(2), 406-410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvv002

Sheppard DC, Tomberlin JK, Joyce JA, Kiser BC, Sumner SM. 2002. Rearing methods for the black soldier by (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 39, 695- 698. https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-39.4.69.5

Smith KGV. 1989. An Introduction to the Immature Stages of British Flies Diptera Larvae, With Notes on Eggs, Puparia and Pupae. In: Dolling WR, Askew RR, Eds. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects Vol. 10, Part 14. Cromwell Road, London: British Museum (Natural History), 1-163. http://www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol10_Part14_Main.Text.pdf

Thyssen PJ. 2010. Chapter 2: Keys for Identification of Immature Insects. In: Amendt J, Goff ML, Campobasso CP, Grassberger M, Eds. Current Concepts in Forensic Entomology, Dordrecht Netherlands: Springer Science +Business Media B.V., 25-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9684-6_2

Vit P, Medina M, Enriquez ME. 2004. Quality Standards for Medicinal Uses of Meliponinae Honey in Guatemala, Mexico Na Venezuela. Bee World 85(1), 2-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2004.11099603