scholarly journals Resistance rather than tolerance explains survival of savannah honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) to infestation by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor

Parasitology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
URSULA STRAUSS ◽  
VINCENT DIETEMANN ◽  
HANNELIE HUMAN ◽  
ROBIN M. CREWE ◽  
CHRISTIAN W. W. PIRK
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Apis Mellifera Scutellata ◽  
Individual Host ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Parasitic Mite ◽  
Susceptible Populations ◽  
The Individual

SUMMARYVarroa destructor is considered the most damaging parasite affecting honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). However, some honeybee populations such as the savannah honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) can survive mite infestation without treatment. It is unclear if survival is due to resistance mechanisms decreasing parasite reproduction or to tolerance mechanisms decreasing the detrimental effects of mites on the host. This study investigates both aspects by quantifying the reproductive output of V. destructor and its physiological costs at the individual host level. Costs measured were not consistently lower when compared with susceptible honeybee populations, indicating a lack of tolerance. In contrast, reproduction of V. destructor mites was distinctly lower than in susceptible populations. There was higher proportion of infertile individuals and the reproductive success of fertile mites was lower than measured to date, even in surviving populations. Our results suggest that survival of savannah honeybees is based on resistance rather than tolerance to this parasite. We identified traits that may be useful for breeding programmes aimed at increasing the survival of susceptible populations. African honeybees may have benefited from a lack of human interference, allowing natural selection to shape a population of honeybees that is more resistant to Varroa mite infestation.

scholarly journals Varroa Destructor and the Sustainability of Apis Mellifera - an Overview

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Alexandru Ioan GIURGIU ◽  
Adela Ramona MOISE ◽  
Daniel Severus DEZMIREAN
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Natural Host ◽  
Parasite Population ◽  
World Today ◽  
The World ◽  
Parasitic Mite ◽  
Honeybee Health ◽  
Global Threat

Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite that represents a major global threat for the Western honeybee Apis mellifera. This parasite managed to switch from its natural host the Eastern honeybee, A. cerana, and within a few decades, it spread among A. mellifera populations around the world. Today beekeepers are using a variety of different acaricides to keep the parasite population under control. However, for many of these substances, the parasite evolved resistance asking for the development of novel compounds. Hence the treatment is less suited as a sustainable tool in honeybee health; consequently, other alternative options are needed, and breeding of Varroa resistant honeybees have been suggested as a more sustainable solution. Here we reviewed the successful efforts and the apicultural procedures needed to be implemented to achieve resistant honeybees. We also describe the underlying resistance mechanisms and discuss the benefits of breeding within regional populations, considering the biodiversity aspects of A. mellifera.

scholarly journals Low fertility, fecundity and numbers of mated female offspring explain the lower reproductive success of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor in African honeybees

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 145 (12) ◽  
pp. 1633-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice T. Nganso ◽  
Ayuka T. Fombong ◽  
Abdullahi A. Yusuf ◽  
Christian W. W. Pirk ◽  
Charles Stuhl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Unmated Female ◽  
Mite Reproduction ◽  
Worker Brood ◽  
Honeybee Subspecies

AbstractAlthough Varroa destructor is the most serious ecto-parasite to the honeybee, Apis mellifera L., some honeybee populations such as Apis mellifera scutellata in Kenya can survive mite infestations without treatment. Previously, we reported that grooming behaviour could be a potential tolerant mechanism expressed by this honeybee subspecies towards mite infestation. However, both hygienic and grooming behaviours could not explain the lower mite-infestation levels recorded in these colonies. Here, we investigated the involvement of other potential resistant mechanisms including suppression of mite reproduction in worker brood cells of A. m. scutellata to explain the low mite numbers in their colonies. High infertility rates (26–27%) and percentages of unmated female offspring (39–58%) as well as low fecundity (1.7–2.2, average offspring produced) were identified as key parameters that seem to interact with one another during different seasons to suppress mite reproduction in A. m. scutellata colonies. We also identified offspring mortality in both sexes and absence of male offspring as key factors accounting for the low numbers of mated daughter mites produced in A. m. scutellata colonies. These results suggest that reduced mite reproductive success could explain the slow mite population growth in A. m. scutellata colonies.

scholarly journals Three QTL in the honey bee Apis mellifera L. suppress reproduction of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Behrens ◽  
Qiang Huang ◽  
Cornelia Geßner ◽  
Peter Rosenkranz ◽  
Eva Frey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Parasitic Mite

Toxicity of destruxins against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and its host Apis mellifera

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Lodesani ◽  
Cecilia Costa ◽  
Simone Franceschetti ◽  
Patrizia Bergomi ◽  
Gianni Galaverna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Parasitic Mite

scholarly journals Infestation rates of Varroa destructor and Braula coeca in the savannah honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Strauss ◽  
Christian W W Pirk ◽  
Vincent Dietemann ◽  
Robin M Crewe ◽  
Hannelie Human
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Mellifera Scutellata

scholarly journals Effect of Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman infestation on Apis mellifera L. adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-458
Author(s):  
Asha Asha ◽  
Rachna Gulati ◽  
Deepika Thakur ◽  
Monika Giroh
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Positive Correlation

Maximum incidence of Varrosis on adults of Apis mellifera L. (8%) was recorded in second fortnight of May 2008 corresponds to the peak in V. destructor population. Percent deformity was calculated by observing 100 adult bees. Deformity in adult bees was low which ranged between 0.0 to 3.0 per cent with an average of 0.52 per cent. Significant positive correlation (r = 0.77) was calculated between per cent mite infestation and per cent bee deformity which revealed that with increase in mite infestation, there was a corresponding increase in deformity of bees.

scholarly journals Individual and social immune mechanisms of the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 6013-2018
Author(s):  
ANETA STRACHECKA ◽  
ALEKSANDRA ŁOŚ ◽  
JOANNA FILIPCZUK ◽  
MICHAŁ SCHULZ
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Defense Mechanism ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
The Body ◽  
Natural Resistance ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Immune Mechanisms ◽  
Rebel Workers ◽  
The Individual

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are constantly exposed to contact with many types of pathogens. However, during evolution they developed a number of immune mechanisms. At the individual level, they comprise 1) resistance mechanisms associated with anatomical and physiological barriers of the body, 2) cell-mediated immunity involving hemocytes (including plasmocytes, lamellocytes, and granulocytes), 3a) congenital humoral resistance related to the activity of lysozyme (N-acetylmuramylhydrolase), the prophenylooxidase system (ProPO) and hemagglutinins (lectins), and 3b) induced humoral resistence based on the action of antimicrobial peptides: apidicines, hymenoptecin, and defensins. In addition to the individual resistance of each bee, there is also a defense mechanism activated at the colony level. Shared secretion resistance is connected with the presence of antipathogenic compounds in secreta and in bee products. Social immunity is associated with hygienic and nursing behaviors, as well as with age polyethism in the colony, swarming (and the emergence of rebel workers), and the changing behavior of sick individuals. Many aspects and interactions between different types of resistance and immunity still remain unexplored. However, current research trends revolve around clarifying uncertainties so as to strengthen the natural resistance of bees and fight against pathogens that threaten the insects..

scholarly journals Can colony size of honeybees (Apis mellifera) be used as predictor for colony losses due to Varroa destructor during winter?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coby van Dooremalen ◽  
Frank van Langevelde
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Colony Size ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Early Warning Signs ◽  
Parasitic Mite ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Early Predictor

AbstractFor more than three decades, honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera) experience high losses during winter, and these losses are still continuing. It is crucial that beekeepers monitor their colonies closely and anticipate losses early enough to apply mitigating actions. We tested whether colony size can be used as early predictor for potential colony losses, in particular due to the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. V. destructor is one of the most important causes for these losses. Such early predictor for potential V. destructor induced losses is especially relevant as measuring V. destructor load in colonies is difficult and cumbersome. During three years, we monitored colonies with high and low V. destructor load from July until March of the next year. We found that differences in colony size were only visible after November, even though we lost almost all colonies every winter in the group with high V. destructor load. In the Northern hemisphere, November is considered to be too late for beekeepers to strengthen colonies in preparation for winter. We therefore argue that early-warning signs for potential colony losses due to V. destructor are urgently needed to allow beekeepers preventing winter losses. We discuss the role of precision apiculture to monitor the health and productivity of honeybee colonies.

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.

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