Mr Yin Xun Tan1, Dr Théotime Colin1, Dr Ajay Narendra1, Dr Fleur Ponton1

1Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia

Biography:

Yin Xun (Zach) Tan is a PhD candidate supervised by Fleur Ponton of the Eco-Immunology Lab Group. He was awarded the International Macquarie Research Excellence Scholarship (“iMQRES”) for his PhD candidacy. His research interests include microbiome studies and entomology to answer exciting questions in biology and solve global issues in agriculture and conservation. His current research involves studying the microbial symbionts and behaviour of the small hive beetle, which is a major honeybee pest in Eastern Australia. From his research outcomes, he hopes to develop methods to control the small hive beetle pest and reduce its negative impact on Australian apiculture and agriculture, in accordance with his supervisor's research grant provided by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAFF), Australia.

Abstract:

The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida is a major Australian apicultural pest. As gravid female beetles deposit eggs in honeybee hives, larvae that hatch from the eggs consume hive products and cause significant damage to honeybee colonies. To control beetle populations by trapping deposited eggs, oviposition (egg-laying) choice assay experiments have previously been carried out and have identified microbes with odours that attract beetles and encourage oviposition. However, to explain the preference of oviposition sites with certain microbial substrates, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of female oviposition preference on larval growth and development. We investigated the developmental effects of exposing deposited beetle eggs to certain microbes, such as bacterial species associated with the beetle and their honeybee host (Gilliamella apicola and Snodgrasella alvi), and also a fungal species from whole beetles (Kodamaea ohmeri). After exposing the eggs to the microbes, the development of larvae was examined and recorded after 12 days of exposure. For the measurement of larvae length, eggs exposed to K. ohmeri displayed the highest average length. Preliminary results of other developmental measurements such as egg hatching rate and beetle weight will be presented at the conference, to understand oviposition preferences of female small hive beetles that are potentially adaptive, as gravid females deposit eggs on sites that optimise the survival and fitness of their offspring. The results of our study will contribute to a holistic understanding of small hive beetle oviposition behaviour, to develop eco-friendly traps that encourage oviposition for the management of the small hive beetle pest.