Q. The Small Hive Beetle (SHB), a non-native or alien species, was recorded for the first time in which Indian state?
Answer: West Bengal
Notes: The Small Hive Beetle (SHB), a non-native or alien species, was recorded for the first time in India in West Bengal. SHB, or Aethina tumida, is originally native to Sub-Saharan Africa and usually causes minimal damage there. However, outside Africa, SHB can be very harmful to bee colonies and honey production. It is an oval-shaped, reddish-brown beetle, around 5–7 millimetres long, and goes through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Female beetles enter beehives through small openings to lay eggs, and the larvae feed on pollen, honey, and bee eggs while spoiling honey with waste.