Small hive beetle

The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, is a beetle in the sap beetle family Nitidulidae, order Coleoptera. It measures 5 to 7 millimeters long and 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide, with three pairs of walking legs and two antennae, and its body color ranges from orange brown to dark brown or black. The species is native to sub-Saharan Africa but has spread to many other regions including North America, Australia and the Philippines, reaching the United States in 1996 and subsequently colonizing 27 states, a spread accelerated by migratory beekeeping and the movement of package bees. Its larvae tunnel through honeycomb, feeding and defecating as they go, which discolors and ferments the honey and in severe infestations can cause a colony to abandon its hive altogether; adults also feed on pollen, honey and dead bees, so the species causes real economic losses to beekeepers through damaged colonies and spoiled honey. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/