First record of wax beetle, Platybolium alvearium Blair (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), in Eastern Himalaya: A new threat to Indian honey bee (Apis cerana fabricius) colonies

The wax beetle, Platybolium alvearium Blair (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is a new pest of the Indian honey bee (Apis cerana himalaya) in north-eastern Indian state of Meghalaya. Adult beetles were observed feeding directly on wax, and grubs fed exclusively on wax flakes. The infestation level of colonies was measured by counting number of beetles per cm² of comb at 15 day intervals. The developmental time for eggs, larvae, and adult were 9.16 ± 0.14 days, 117.55 ± 0.73 days, and 153.35 ± 0.5 days, respectively.