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In May 2026, the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) was detected in Gaeta, Italy, following the illegal movement of a swarm and empty hives from Calabria, where the pest is established. Rapid eradication measures were implemented by competent authorities. The outbreak highlights unauthorized bee movements as the main pathway for long-distance SHB spread.
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Bertola et al. (2026) studied this question.
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