Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
Muridae spp.
Mice and small rodents
Small rodents can enter hives during cold periods or when entrances are wide, damaging comb, consuming stores, and contaminating the interior.
Agent
Muridae spp.
Notifiable in Portugal
No
Signs to watch for
Adult bees
- Droppings
- Nest material
- Gnawed wax
- Odor
- Noise
Brood
- Gnawed comb
- Consumed stores
- Disturbance
- Contamination by urine and feces
Colony
- Large entrances
- Weak colonies
- Dense vegetation
- Untidy storage areas
Confirmation and identification
Field observation and monitoring
- Droppings
- Nest material
- Gnaw marks
- Characteristic odor
- Inspect entrances, floors, and storage areas
Laboratory methods
- Avoid contact with droppings without adequate protection.
Control and impact reduction
Good practices
- Remove contaminated material
- Block access points
- Use control methods that do not expose bees
- Professional control in buildings when needed
Prevention
- Install suitable reducers or guards
- Control vegetation
- Rodent-proof storage areas
- Rodenticides accessible to bees, animals, or wildlife
- Poison inside hives
Ongoing monitoring
Indicators
- Affected hives
- Frame damage
Recommended frequency
- Risk is usually highest in autumn and winter, when rodents seek shelter.