What pest is known to affect honey bee colonies and is referred to as Aethina tumida?

Aethina tumida is the scientific name for the small hive beetle, which is indeed a significant pest affecting honey bee colonies. This pest can invade hives and cause considerable damage to the honeycomb, honey stores, and even the bees themselves by disrupting the hive environment. The small hive beetle larvae feed on the honey and pollen, leading to fermentation of honey and potential ruin of the entire hive's food stores.

In contrast, wax moths, varroa mites, and fruit flies do not carry the designation Aethina tumida. Wax moths primarily affect colonies by damaging the beeswax and comb structures, while varroa mites, officially known as Varroa destructor, are notorious for attacking honey bees directly, weakening their immune systems and spreading viruses. Fruit flies, on the other hand, have no direct association with honey bees and typically do not infest bee colonies. Thus, small hive beetle stands unique in this context as the specific pest represented by the name Aethina tumida.