Influence of colony and hive attributes, landscape, and seasonality on occurrence of large hive beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Taita Taveta County, Kenya

Recently, an unexpectedly large number of large hive beetles, Oplostomus haroldi (Witte), was observed in Taita Taveta County (TTC), Kenya, suggesting a potential threat to the apicultural industry. This study investigated the influence of colony and hive attributes, landscape characteristics, and seasonality on the occurrence of O. haroldi within beehives in TTC. Field surveys assessed beetle populations alongside colony strength parameters, environmental variables, and hive types using standard protocols. Our findings revealed significant positive correlations between beetle occurrence and colony phenotypes, such as capped brood, pollen, and honey quantities. Higher beetle populations were also observed in areas with tree cover compared to cropland, and seasonal variation was evident, with beetle populations peaking during rainy seasons. Langstroth hives exhibited higher infestation levels due to larger entrance areas than Kenya Top-Bar hives and other locally made hive types, which have smaller entrances. These findings suggest that reducing hive entrance sizes with entrance reducers could be an effective management option to limit hive invasion by the beetle, thereby protecting colony health and enhancing productivity in Taita.