Investigating the influence of postcapping period on varroa mite infestation

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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Kinome Analysis of Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Dark-Eyed Pupae Identifies Biomarkers and Mechanisms of Tolerance to Varroa Mite Infestation

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-58927-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Albert J. Robertson ◽

Erin Scruten ◽

Mohammad Mostajeran ◽

Tom Robertson ◽

Connor Denomy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Varroa Mite

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PROPOLIS IMPACT ON THE HONEY BEE LIFE SPAN, VARROA MITE INFESTATION AND POPULATION GROWTH OF THE COLONY

The Journal of The University of Duhok ◽

10.26682/avuod.2019.22.1.28 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 300-311

Author(s):

MARYAM AHMED HUSSEIN ◽

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Life Span ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Varroa Mite

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Molecular Assessment of Genes Linked to Immune Response Traits of Honey Bees in Conventional and Organically Managed Apiaries

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11090637 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 637

Author(s):

Shalom C. Siebert ◽

Lambert H. B. Kanga ◽

Sheikh M. Basha ◽

Jesusa C. Legaspi

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Immune Response ◽

Superoxide Dismutase ◽

Young Adult ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Mite Infestations ◽

Organically Managed

Honey bees are of great economic importance, not only for honey production but also for crop pollination. However, honey bee populations continue to decline mainly due to exposure to pesticides, pathogens and beekeeping practices. In this study, total soluble protein was measured, total RNA was extracted and first-strand cDNAs were generated. Quantitative PCR was used to assess the relative expression (transcript abundances) of immune function-related genes in honey bees collected from organically and conventionally managed hives. Honey bees collected from conventionally managed hives with 0% Varroa mite infestation levels displayed an upregulated expression of the prophenoloxidase gene (cellular defense). Similarly, honey bees collected from organically managed hives had increased levels of the vitellogenin gene (immune function and longevity). The gene expression for malvolio (sucrose responsiveness) was highest in organically managed hives with 0% Varroa mite infestations. Young adult bees collected from organically managed hives with 5% Varroa mite infestation levels had upregulated expressions of the gene spaetzle, whereas bees from similarly infested, conventionally managed hives did not, suggesting that honey bees from organically managed hives could mount an immune response. In young adult bees collected from organically managed hives only, the expression of the immune deficiency gene (antimicrobial defense) was upregulated. The relative gene expression for superoxide dismutase 1 increased in young adult bees collected from hives with 5% Varroa mite infestation levels as expected. However, for superoxide dismutase 2, there was a high level of gene expression in adult bees from both conventionally managed hives with 0% Varroa mite infestation levels and organically managed hives with 5% Varroa mite infestations. The gene CYP9Q3 (pesticide detoxification) that metabolizes coumaphos and fluvalinate was upregulated in adult bees collected from organically managed bees. Overall, these findings provide useful insights into the genetic response of honey bees to some environmental stressors and could be an important component of best beekeeping practices that intend to enhance honey bee health.

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Esterase Activity is Affected by Genetics, Age, Insecticide Exposure, and Viral Infection in the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

10.1101/415356 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Frank D. Rinkevich ◽

Joseph W. Margotta ◽

Michael Simone-Finstrom ◽

Lilia I. de Guzman ◽

Kristen B. Healy

Keyword(s):

Viral Infection ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Esterase Activity ◽

Pesticide Exposure ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Genetic Stock ◽

Insecticide Exposure

AbstractNon-target impacts of insecticide treatments are a major public and environmental concern, particularly in contemporary beekeeping. Therefore, it is important to understand the physiological mechanisms contributing to insecticide sensitivity in honey bees. In the present studies, we sought to evaluate the role of esterases as the source of variation in insecticide sensitivity. To address this question, the following objectives were completed: 1) Evaluated esterase activity among honey bee stocks, 2) Assessed the correlation of esterase activity with changes in insecticide sensitivity with honey bee age, 3) Established if esterases can be used as a biomarker of insecticide exposure, and 4) Examined the effects of Varroa mite infestation and viral infection on esterase activity.Results indicated that honey bees have a dynamic esterase capacity that is influenced by genetic stock and age. However, there was no consistent connection of esterase activity with insecticide sensitivity across genetic stocks or with age, suggests other factors are more critical for determining insecticide sensitivity. The trend of increased esterase activity with age in honey bees suggests this physiological transition is consistent with enhanced metabolic rate with age. The esterase inhibition with naled but not phenothrin or clothianidin indicates that reduced esterase activity levels may only be reliable for sublethal doses of organophosphate insecticides. The observation that viral infection, but not Varroa mite infestation, reduced esterase activity shows viruses have extensive physiological impacts. Taken together, these data suggest that honey bee esterase activity toward these model substrates may not correlate well with insecticide sensitivity. Future studies include identification of esterase substrates and inhibitors that are better surrogates of insecticide detoxification in honey bees as well as investigation on the usefulness of esterase activity as a biomarker of pesticide exposure, and viral infection.

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Honey production of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies with high and low Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) infestation rates in eastern Canada

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2013.68 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 146 (2) ◽

pp. 236-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Berna Emsen ◽

Ernesto Guzman-Novoa ◽

Paul G. Kelly

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Early Spring ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Infestation Level ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

Honey Production ◽

Bee Colonies

AbstractThe objective of this study was to compare the honey yields of groups of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies with high and low infestation rates of the mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae). More than 150 colonies were screened for mite fall in early spring and again 16 weeks later. The 10 colonies with the lowest rates (L) and the 10 colonies with the highest rates (H) of mite population growth were selected. These 20 colonies were evaluated for mite infestation in adult bees and honey production. Adult bee infestation in the colonies of the H group was significantly higher than in the colonies of the L group. Additionally, H and L colonies differed significantly for honey production. L colonies produced 28.91 ± 2.34 kg of honey per hive versus 18.49 ± 0.77 kg for the group of H colonies. Furthermore, the mite infestation level of colonies measured as mite fall or as number of mites per 100 bees, was significantly correlated with honey production (r = −0.62, P < 0.05 and r = −0.76, P < 0.01, respectively). These results indicate that varroa mite populations significantly reduce honey yields in honey bee colonies in eastern Canada.

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Using drone brood in the control of the Varroa disease of bees in Greece

ENTOMOLOGIA HELLENICA ◽

10.12681/eh.13898 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 63 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L.A. Santas ◽

D.M. Lazarakis

Keyword(s):

Mite Infestation ◽

Varroa Jacobsoni ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Drone Brood ◽

Bee Colonies

The use of drone brood to control the Varroa disease (Varroa jacobsoni Ouds) was tested in twenty bee colonies (ten as control) which had a very low Varroa mite infestation. The experiment started in winter 1981-82. Early in spring 1983 the brood was removed from ten hives and later during April, May and June it was replaced by drone combs (trap combs) which were also removed when drone cells were capped. The same treatment was repeated during spring 1984. In July 31, 1984, the adult bee infestation was 0 to 7%, while the worker brood’s infestation was 0 to 17%. The data show that, after two and half years without any acaricidal treatment, six out of the ten bee colonies continued to have a very low mite infestation, while three showed high infestation and had to be treated with acaricide. One of the three colonies was treated by acaricide in the winter 1983-84, that is two years from the beginning of this experiment. On the contrary, in the ten control colonies (with the same low infestation in spring 1982) the mite infestation reached catastrophic levels by August 1983.

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