Well what a surprise

In June I did a blog on the latest in diseases that were heading our way or rather our bees way.
One of which was the Small Hive Beetle which has spread from Africa and was discovered in Italy in 2014.
The beetle is endemic in Africa but not considered a pest as African bees are able to deal with them. This is similar to the situation with varroa that has been imported from Asia where Asian bees are able to cope with the mite.
At the time the Italian government assured everyone the beetle would not be allowed to cross its borders and being the cynic I suggested:-

Doubtless controls and regulations will be introduced and strategies implemented to stop their spread.  I'm sure they will be effective.

The National Bee unit now inform us

On the 16th September 2015, 9 months from the last detection, an infested apiary was confirmed in the municipality of Taurianova, Reggio Calabria. This case is within the existing 20km protection zone of the first detection. Both adult beetles and larvae were found in an apiary of 32 hives. Eight of the hives were infested. The same eradication control measures were taken by the Italian authorities including destruction of all hives within the affected apiary.

 You will note This case is within the existing 20km protection zone of the first detection.. Obviously its working well. Not.
At the time of the first outbreak there were calls to ban the importation of Italian bees but as this is against the principle of free trade, it went nowhere.
You can buy your Italian queens from here, here and here

Although perhaps not as grisly as varroa SHB is equally dangerous. The beetles multiply to huge numbers, their larvae tunnel through comb to eat brood, ruin stored honey, and ultimately destroy infested colonies or cause them to abscond.

As we have completely failed to deal with varroa I'm not sure why we think we can control SHB, particularly as its able to fly. Its managed to get to Australia, something the varroa mite hasn't managed yet.
Perhaps the hugely irritating Jeff Goldblum had a point.


Should/when SHB arrives what can be done about it?
The National Bee Unit say:-

Could we eradicate the Small hive beetle from the UK?

Probably not. Unless the Small hive beetle is detected very soon after its arrival, it will rapidly spread into the surrounding honey bee population,making eradication very difficult.