In which stage of its life cycle does the Small Hive Beetle pupate?

The Small Hive Beetle undergoes pupation in the soil. After the larvae stage, mature larvae leave the hive to find suitable soil to burrow into for pupation, typically digging down in the top few inches of soil. This terrestrial pupation allows them to transform into adult beetles away from the hive's environment, which is important because they can be a pest to the bee colony.

Pupation in the soil is a critical part of their life cycle, enabling them to emerge later as adults, ready to infest new hives. The need for the larvae to exit the hive to pupate is a vital aspect that distinguishes their developmental process from that of other insects that may pupate within their food sources or remnants, such as inside honeycomb.