scholarly journals Grooming behavior and gene expression of the Indiana “mite-biter” honey bee stock

Apidologie ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Morfin ◽  
Krispn Given ◽  
Mathew Evans ◽  
Ernesto Guzman-Novoa ◽  
Greg J. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Marker Assisted Selection ◽  
Mite Population ◽  
Grooming Behavior ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Colony Survival ◽  
Biting Behavior

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate the Indiana “mite-biter” honey bee stock, which has been selected for increased mutilation of Varroa destructor mites (“mite biting” behavior). A comparison between colonies of the selected stock and colonies of unselected Italian bees showed that the proportion of mutilated mites, the severity of mutilations, and winter colony survival were higher in Indiana mite-biter colonies. Additionally, the number of fallen mites and the rate of mite population growth were lower in the colonies of the selected genotype than in those of the unselected genotype. The expression of a gene associated with grooming behavior, AmNrx-1 (neurexin), was significantly higher in the selected stock. Moreover, AmNrx-1 expression was positively correlated with the proportion of mutilated mites but not with mite population growth. AmNrx-1 may have the potential to be used for marker-assisted selection. This study provides evidence that selection for mite-biting behavior reduces V. destructor infestations, increases colony survival and increases the expression of a grooming behavior–associated gene.

scholarly journals Selective Breeding for Low and High Varroa destructor Growth in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies: Initial Results of Two Generations

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 864
Author(s):  
Alvaro De la Mora ◽  
Berna Emsen ◽  
Nuria Morfin ◽  
Daniel Borges ◽  
Les Eccles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Genotypic Differences ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Bidirectional Selection ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Initial Results

After two years of bidirectional selection for low and high rates of Varroa destructor population growth (LVG and HVG, respectively) in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Ontario, Canada, significant differences between the two genotypes were observed. LVG colonies had V. destructor population increases over the summer of 1.7 fold compared to 9.6 fold for HVG colonies by Generation 2. Additionally, HVG colonies had significantly higher mite infestation rates in adult bees compared to LVG colonies for both selected generations. DWV prevalence and levels were significantly higher in HVG colonies than in LVG colonies in Generation 1 but not in Generation 2. Winter mortality rates of Generation 1 colonies were significantly different at 26% and 14% for the HVG and LVG genotypes, respectively. The results of this study thus far indicate that selection for LVG may result in colonies with lower V. destructor infestation rates, lower prevalence, and levels of DWV and higher colony winter survivorship. Future work will focus on determining what mechanisms are responsible for the genotypic differences, estimating genetic parameters, and molecular analyses of the genotypes to identify candidate genes associated with resistance to V. destructor and DWV that could potentially be used for marker-assisted selection.

scholarly journals Population growth of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in honey bee colonies is affected by the number of foragers with mites

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman ◽  
Fabiana Ahumada ◽  
Victor Zazueta ◽  
Mona Chambers ◽  
Geoffrey Hidalgo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Bee Colonies

scholarly journals Differential gene expression of the honey bee Apis mellifera associated with Varroa destructor infection

BMC Genomics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Navajas ◽  
A Migeon ◽  
C Alaux ◽  
ML Martin-Magniette ◽  
GE Robinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Differential Gene Expression ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Differential Gene

Gene expression in honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae exposed to pesticides and Varroa mites (Varroa destructor)

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1042-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleš Gregorc ◽  
Jay D. Evans ◽  
Mike Scharf ◽  
James D. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Varroa Mites

scholarly journals Reduced Postcapping Period in Honey Bees Surviving Varroa destructor by Means of Natural Selection

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Oddie ◽  
Bjørn Dahle ◽  
Peter Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Worker Brood ◽  
Colony Survival

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a key factor for colony losses in European honey bee subspecies (Apis mellifera), but it is also known that some host populations have adapted to the mite by means of natural selection. The role of a shorter host brood postcapping period in reducing mite reproductive success has been investigated in other surviving subspecies, however its role in the adaptation of European honey bee populations has not been addressed. Here, we use a common garden approach to compare the length of the worker brood postcapping period in a Norwegian surviving honey bee population with the postcapping period of a local susceptible population. The data show a significantly shorter postcapping period in the surviving population for ~10% of the brood. Since even small differences in postcapping period can significantly reduce mite reproductive success, this mechanism may well contribute to natural colony survival. It appears most likely that several mechanisms acting together produce the full mite-surviving colony phenotype.

scholarly journals Accelerated Varroa destructor population growth in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies is associated with visitation from non-natal bees

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Kulhanek ◽  
Andrew Garavito ◽  
Dennis vanEngelsdorp
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Management Implications ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
The Us ◽  
Return Home ◽  
Honey Bee Colony ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractA leading cause of managed honey bee colony mortality in the US, Varroa destructor populations typically exceed damaging levels in the fall. One explanation for rapid population increases is migration of mite carrying bees between colonies. Here, the degree to which bees from high and low mite donor colonies move between apiaries, and the effect visitation has on Varroa populations was monitored. More bees from low mite colonies (n = 37) were detected in receiver apiaries than bees from high mite colonies (n = 10, p < 0.001). Receiver colony Varroa population growth was associated with visitation by non-natal bees (p = 0.03), but not high mite bees alone (p = 0.19). Finally, colonies lacking robbing screens experienced faster Varroa population growth than screened neighbors (p = 0.01). Results indicate visiting non-natal bees may vector mites to receiver colonies. These results do not support the current two leading theories regarding mite immigration – the “mite bomb” theory (bees from high mite colonies emigrating to collapsing colonies), or the “robbing” theory (natal robbing bees return home with mites from collapsing colonies). Potential host-parasite effects to bee behavior, as well as important management implications both for Varroa treatment regimens and breeding Varroa resistant bees are discussed.

Population Growth of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Colonies of Russian and Unselected Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Stocks as Related to Numbers of Foragers With Mites

2017 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 809-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman ◽  
Fabiana Ahumada ◽  
Robert Danka ◽  
Mona Chambers ◽  
Emily Watkins DeJong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor

scholarly journals Controlled Infestation of Honeybee Colonies with Varroa Destructor Females

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajmund Sokół ◽  
Remigiusz Gałęcki ◽  
Maria Michalczyk
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Research System ◽  
Daily Mortality ◽  
Honey Bee Workers ◽  
Bee Colonies

AbstractThe development of female Varroa destructor mites in the bee colonies was examined in the apiculture season through a developed research system in which bee colonies were experimentally infested with fifty V. destructor females. Differences in infestation rates were observed between the control group (C) and the infested group (E). The average number of female mites per colony was determined at 513 in group E and 261.6 in group C. Natural daily mortality reached 0.16 mites in group E and 0.09 mites in group C. In group E, the number of V. destructors increased 7.96 to 13.32-fold, subject to colony. The size of V. destructor populations increased at a higher rate in group E than in group C (F= 12.39, P= 0.047). At the end of the experiment, the percentage of infested honey bee workers was determined at 0.97% in group E and 0.46% in group C. The results of this study confirmed that V. destructor mites continue to proliferate rapidly in honey bee colonies, and that the population growth rate in bee colonies and apiaries has to be closely monitored due to growing levels of resistance to acaricides.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document