Inquiline insects of the honey bee Apis mellifera in Western Siberia (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

The multi-species associations of insects (symbiocenosis) in honey bee hives currently include more than 15 orders of Insecta. We present the results of studying the inquilines of bee hives in the south of Western Siberia. In the honeybee hives of this region 37 insect species from 8 orders (Dermaptera, Thysanoptera, Psocoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera) were identified. Inquiline insects were observed in 77% of hives in 81.5% of the studied apiaries. Coleoptera prevailed among the orders, accounting for 94% of observations. The overall eudominant was Cryptophagus scanicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (87.8%); the subdominants were Dermestes lardarius Linnaeus, 1758 and Contacyphon variabilis (Thunberg, 1787). The smallest number of insect species can be attributed to specific groups. These are C. scanicus, a detritophage that primarily feeds on mold fungi hyphae, but can also consume bee supplies; and Galleria melonella (Linnaeus, 1758), a widespread pest of bee colonies, that feeds on bee bread, honey, wax and bee brood. The facultative group includes detritophages, pollen- and honey-feeding species, that find suitable conditions for feeding and developing in beehives (Vespidae, Formicidae, etc.). Representatives of accidental group were the most diverse in species composition and type of nutrition but they were always individually found in hives. In total, 42 species of insects are currently recorded in the beehives of Western Siberia.