scholarly journals Behavioral Genetics of the Interactions between Apis mellifera and Varroa destructor

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Beaurepaire ◽  
Christina Sann ◽  
Daniela Arredondo ◽  
Fanny Mondet ◽  
Yves Le Conte
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Behavioral Genetics ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Infestation Level ◽  
Microsatellites Markers ◽  
Reproductive Phase ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Infestation Status

The western honeybee Apis mellifera exhibits a diverse set of adaptations in response to infestations by its most virulent disease-causing agent, the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor. In this study, we investigated the effect of honeybee pupae genotype on the expression of four host and parasite traits that are associated with the reproductive phase of the mite in the brood of its host. We first phenotyped cells containing bee pupae to assess their infestation status, their infestation level, the reproductive status of the mites, and the recapping of cells by adult workers. We then genotyped individual pupae with five microsatellites markers to compare these phenotypes across full sister groups. We found that the four phenotypes varied significantly in time but did not across the subfamilies within the colonies. These findings show that V. destructor mites do not differentially infest or reproduce on some particular honeybee patrilines, and that workers do not target preferentially specific pupae genotypes when performing recapping. These findings bring new insights that can help designing sustainable mite control strategies through breeding and provide new insights into the interactions between A. mellifera and V. destructor.

scholarly journals Diagnosis of Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor) and Sustainable Control in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies—A Review

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleš Gregorc ◽  
Blair Sampson
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Reliable Methods

Determining varroa mite infestation levels in honey bee colonies and the proper method and time to perform a diagnosis are important for efficient mite control. Performing a powdered sugar shake or counting mites that drop from combs and bees onto a hive bottom board are two reliable methods for sampling varroa mite to evaluate the efficacy of an acaricide treatment. This overview summarizes studies that examine the efficacy of organic acids and essential oils, mite monitoring, and brood interruption for integrated varroa mite control in organic beekeeping.

scholarly journals A Meta-Analysis Shows That Screen Bottom Boards Can Significantly Reduce Varroa destructor Population

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 624
Author(s):  
Fang Liu ◽  
Xinjian Xu ◽  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Hongxia Zhao ◽  
Zachary Y. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Small Sample Sizes

Varroa destructor is by far the most serious threat to the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. A screen bottom board, a cultural method for mite control, is a modified bottom board with a screen that allows mites to fall onto a sticky board, or the grass or soil below the screen. Whether or not a screen bottom board can reduce varroa significantly has been controversial. Most studies show a trend of lower varroa populations in colonies with these boards, but the results are usually not statistically significant. To understand whether the negative results have been due to small sample sizes, or because the board is actually ineffective, we conducted a meta-analysis with seven published studies with a total of 145 colonies. Meta-analysis showed that the confidence intervals of the combined effect sizes were negative with a Hedges’ g of −1.09 (SE 0.39, 95% CI −2.0 to −0.19, p < 0.01), which suggests that the varroa population in colonies with screen bottom boards is significantly lower compared to those with traditional wooden floors. We thus conclude that the screen bottom board does have a significantly negative impact on the varroa population and can be part of tool kits for mite control.

scholarly journals The acaricidal effect of flumethrin, oxalic acid and amitraz against Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Ivana Smodiš Škerl ◽  
Mitja Nakrst ◽  
Lucija Žvokelj ◽  
Aleš Gregorc
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Mite Mortality

During 2007 and 2008, natural mite mortality was recorded in honey bee colonies. These colonies were then treated with various acaricides against Varroa destructor and acaricide efficacies were evaluated. In 2007, experimental colonies were treated with flumethrin and/or oxalic acid and in 2008 the same colonies were treated with flumethrin, oxalic acid or amitraz. The efficacy of flumethrin in 2007 averaged 73.62% compared to 70.12% for three oxalic acid treatments. In 2008, a reduction of 12.52% in mite numbers was found 4 weeks after flumethrin application, while 4 oxalic acid applications produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) mite mortality, an average of 24.13%. Four consecutive amitraz fumigations produced a 93.82% reduction on average in final mite numbers and thus ensure normal colony development and overwintering. The study is important in order to demonstrate that synthetic acaricides should be constantly re-evaluated and the use of flumethrin at low efficacies need to be superseded by appropriate organic treatments to increase the efficacy of mite control in highly-infested colonies during the period of brood rearing.

scholarly journals Correction: Floris, I., et al. How the Infestation Level of Varroa destructor Affects the Distribution Pattern of Multi-Infested Cells in Worker Brood of Apis mellifera. Veterinary Science 2020, 7, 136

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Ignazio Floris ◽  
Michelina Pusceddu ◽  
Alberto Satta
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Infestation Level ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Journal Editorial ◽  
Worker Brood

We have recently been made aware by the reviewer and the Journal Editorial Offices of the following weaknesses in our recent paper [...]

scholarly journals Combating Varroa destructor in Honeybee Colonies Using Flumethrin or Fluvalinate

2007 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gregorc ◽  
M. I. Smodiš Škerl
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Treatment Efficacy ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
The Other ◽  
Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
High Level ◽  
Mite Mortality

Mite mortality in two apiaries, one with 32 and the other with 15 honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies, was recorded prior to and after flumethrin or fluvalinate treatments and after a control, oxalic-acid application. During the 42- and 51-day pre-treatment periods, the average daily natural mite drop was 0.04 (± 0.04) and 2.82 (± 2.19), respectively, which represents 1.09% (± 1.06) and 3.84% (± 3.04) of the total number of mites found during the experiment. The flumethrin or fluvalinate applications resulted in an average mite mortality at the two apiaries of 214.46 (± 260.02) and 4,098.64 (± 2,508.31). The treatments resulted in a 19.11% (± 14.62) and a 39.28% (± 10.47) reduction in the number of mites in slightly infested colonies and 94.30% (± 4.26) and 96.24% (± 3.14) in highly infested colonies. The difference in treatment efficacy between both apiaries was significant (P < 0.001) and indicates that fluvalinate and flumethrin are highly efficacious in dealing with highly infested honeybee colonies with sealed brood. The importance of effective mite control in colonies with a high level of natural mite mortality is discussed in this study.

scholarly journals Using Citizen Science to Scout Honey Bee Colonies that Naturally Survive Varroa destructor Infestations

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 536
Author(s):  
Arrigo Moro ◽  
Alexis Beaurepaire ◽  
Raffaele Dall’Olio ◽  
Steve Rogenstein ◽  
Tjeerd Blacquière ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Successful Recruitment ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Colony Survival

Citizen Science contributes significantly to the conservation of biodiversity, but its application to honey bee research has remained minimal. Even though certain European honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations are known to naturally survive Varroa destructor infestations, it is unclear how widespread or common such populations are. Such colonies are highly valuable for investigating the mechanisms enabling colony survival, as well as for tracking the conservation status of free-living honey bees. Here, we use targeted Citizen Science to identify potentially new cases of managed or free-living A. mellifera populations that survive V. destructor without mite control strategies. In 2018, a survey containing 20 questions was developed, translated into 13 languages, and promoted at beekeeping conferences and online. After three years, 305 reports were collected from 28 countries: 241 from managed colonies and 64 from free-living colonies. The collected data suggest that there could be twice as many naturally surviving colonies worldwide than are currently known. Further, online and personal promotion seem to be key for successful recruitment of participants. Although the survivor status of these colonies still needs to be confirmed, the volume of reports and responses already illustrate how effectively Citizen Science can contribute to bee research by massively increasing generated data, broadening opportunities for comparative research, and fostering collaboration between scientists, beekeepers, and citizens. The success of this survey spurred the development of a more advanced Citizen Science platform, Honey Bee Watch, that will enable a more accurate reporting, confirmation, and monitoring of surviving colonies, and strengthen the ties between science, stakeholders, and citizens to foster the protection of both free-living and managed honey bees.

УГРОЗЫ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ ВИРУСНЫХ ИНФЕКЦИЙ У ПЧЕЛ (Apis mellifera L.) И РОЛЬ КЛЕЩА Varroa destructor В РАЗВИТИИ ПАТОЛОГИЙ

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-171
Author(s):  
А.В. СПРЫГИН ◽  
◽  
Ю.Ю. БАБИН ◽  
Е.М. ХАНБЕКОВА ◽  
Л.Е. РУБЦОВА ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Varroa Destructor
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document