scholarly journals Ecological characteristics of Varroa destructor (parasitiformes, varroidea) and its environmental capacity as a key factor for development of varroosis panzootia

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
I. A. Akimov ◽  
O. P. Korzh
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Environmental Capacity ◽  
Ecological Characteristics ◽  
High Pathogenicity ◽  
Key Factor

Ecological Characteristics of Varroa destructor (Parasitiformes, Varroidae) and Its Environmental Capacity as a Key Factor for Development of Varroosis Panzootia. Akimov I. A., Korzh O. P. - By means of formalized schematic models of relationship with hosts the varroa mite uniqueness as a parasite is shown. The life cycle of this species requires the change of a host species at different stages of their development and physiological states. Thus the mite parasitizes not only a separate bee but a whole hive. The fact that the whole hive but not a single bee dies during varroosis development supports this idea. The impetus for this type of parasitism is the relative constancy of the environment in the hive supported by bees even in winter. Exactly this fact causes high pathogenicity of the varroa for the honey bee and its control complexity.

scholarly journals Neonicotinoid Clothianidin reduces honey bee immune response and contributes to Varroa mite proliferation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Desiderato Annoscia ◽  
Gennaro Di Prisco ◽  
Andrea Becchimanzi ◽  
Emilio Caprio ◽  
Davide Frizzera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Deformed Wing Virus ◽  
Synergistic Interactions ◽  
Parasitic Mite

AbstractThe neonicotinoid Clothianidin has a negative impact on NF-κB signaling and on immune responses controlled by this transcription factor, which can boost the proliferation of honey bee parasites and pathogens. This effect has been well documented for the replication of deformed wing virus (DWV) induced by Clothianidin in honey bees bearing an asymptomatic infection. Here, we conduct infestation experiments of treated bees to show that the immune-suppression exerted by Clothianidin is associated with an enhanced fertility of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, as a possible consequence of a higher feeding efficiency. A conceptual model is proposed to describe the synergistic interactions among different stress agents acting on honey bees.

scholarly journals Biology and Management of Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan A Roth ◽  
James M Wilson ◽  
Keith R Tignor ◽  
Aaron D Gross
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Resistance Development ◽  
Deformed Wing Virus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Asian Honey Bee

Abstract Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) infestation of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies has been a growing cause of international concern among beekeepers throughout the last 50 yr. Varroa destructor spread from the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana Fabricius [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) to A. mellifera populations in Europe in the 1970s, and subsequently traveled to the Americas. In addition to causing damage through feeding upon lipids of larval and adult bees, V. destructor also facilitates the spread of several viruses, with deformed wing virus being most prevalent. Several sampling methods have been developed for estimating infestation levels of A. mellifera colonies, and acaricide treatments have been implemented. However, overuse of synthetic acaricides in the past has led to widespread acaricide resistant V. destructor populations. The application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques is a more recent development in V. destructor control and is suggested to be more effective than only using pesticides, thereby posing fewer threats to A. mellifera colonies. When using IPM methods, informed management decisions are made based upon sampling, and cultural and mechanical controls are implemented prior to use of acaricide treatments. If acaricides are deemed necessary, they are rotated based on their mode of action, thus avoiding V. destructor resistance development.

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 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 Evaluating toxicity of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor)-active dsRNA to monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0251884
Author(s):  
Niranjana Krishnan ◽  
Maura J. Hall ◽  
Richard L. Hellmich ◽  
Joel R. Coats ◽  
Steven P. Bradbury
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Danaus Plexippus ◽  
Monarch Butterfly ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Varroa Mites

Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) are parasitic mites that, combined with other factors, are contributing to high levels of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses. A Varroa-active dsRNA was recently developed to control Varroa mites within honey bee brood cells. This dsRNA has 372 base pairs that are homologous to a sequence region within the Varroa mite calmodulin gene (cam). The Varroa-active dsRNA also shares a 21-base pair match with monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) calmodulin mRNA, raising the possibility of non-target effects if there is environmental exposure. We chronically exposed the entire monarch larval stage to common (Asclepias syriaca) and tropical (Asclepias curassavica) milkweed leaves treated with concentrations of Varroa-active dsRNA that are one- and ten-fold higher than those used to treat honey bee hives. This corresponded to concentrations of 0.025–0.041 and 0.211–0.282 mg/g leaf, respectively. Potassium arsenate and a previously designed monarch-active dsRNA with a 100% base pair match to the monarch v-ATPase A mRNA (leaf concentration was 0.020–0.034 mg/g) were used as positive controls. The Varroa mite and monarch-active dsRNA’s did not cause significant differences in larval mortality, larval or pupal development, pupal weights, or adult eclosion rates when compared to negative controls. Irrespective of control or dsRNA treatment, larvae that consumed approximately 7500 to 10,500-mg milkweed leaf within 10 to 12 days had the highest pupal weights. The lack of mortality and sublethal effects following dietary exposure to dsRNA with 21-base pair and 100% base pair match to mRNAs that correspond to regulatory genes suggest monarch mRNA may be refractory to silencing by dsRNA or monarch dsRNase may degrade dsRNA to a concentration that is insufficient to silence mRNA signaling.

scholarly journals Norwegian honey bees surviving Varroa destructor mite infestations by means of natural selection

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A.Y. Oddie ◽  
Bjørn Dahle ◽  
Peter Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Colony Survival

Background Managed, feral and wild populations of European honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera, are currently facing severe colony losses globally. There is consensus that the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, that switched hosts from the Eastern honey bee Apis cerana to the Western honey bee A. mellifera, is a key factor driving these losses. For >20 years, breeding efforts have not produced European honey bee colonies that can survive infestations without the need for mite control. However, at least three populations of European honey bees have developed this ability by means of natural selection and have been surviving for >10 years without mite treatments. Reduced mite reproductive success has been suggested as a key factor explaining this natural survival. Here, we report a managed A. mellifera population in Norway, that has been naturally surviving consistent V. destructor infestations for >17 years. Methods Surviving colonies and local susceptible controls were evaluated for mite infestation levels, mite reproductive success and two potential mechanisms explaining colony survival: grooming of adult worker bees and Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH): adult workers specifically detecting and removing mite-infested brood. Results Mite infestation levels were significantly lower in surviving colonies and mite reproductive success was reduced by 30% when compared to the controls. No significant differences were found between surviving and control colonies for either grooming or VSH. Discussion Our data confirm that reduced mite reproductive success seems to be a key factor for natural survival of infested A. mellifera colonies. However, neither grooming nor VSH seem to explain colony survival. Instead, other behaviors of the adult bees seem to be sufficient to hinder mite reproductive success, because brood for this experiment was taken from susceptible donor colonies only. To mitigate the global impact of V. destructor, we suggest learning more from nature, i.e., identifying the obviously efficient mechanisms favored by natural selection.

scholarly journals Simple approaches for environmental and mechanical management of the Varroa mite, Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Parasitiformes: Varroidae), on the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally F. M. Allam ◽  
Mourad F. Hassan ◽  
Ahmed S. Hassan ◽  
Mahmoud K. A. Abada
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Colony Collapse Disorder ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
White Card ◽  
Great Economic Importance ◽  
Colony Collapse ◽  
Grooming Behaviour

Abstract Background Varroa mite, Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Parasitiformes: Varroidae), is an ectoparasitic mite of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with a great economic importance. It is the major deadlock of apiculture development all over the world. Results This work aimed to assess the effect of bee house and dark bee house on numbers of Varroa mite on white card board sheets, worker broods, and alive bees during spring and autumn of 2018 and 2019. Two types of card board for sticking the fallen Varroa mite were evaluated through winter of 2019. Keeping honey bee hives in a dark room during March and September of 2018 and 2019 for a successive 3 days resulted in a great reduction in the number of Varroa inner bee hive, i.e., on the white card board sheets, area of broods, and alive honey bee. Highest number of fallen Varroa mite on the white card board sheets was obtained in the case of using the dark bee house during March and September in 2018 and 2019, followed by keeping in a normal bee house then those fallen in the case of the open apiary. Conclusion The dark bee house grooming behaviour increased through 3 days of dark. Environmental management of bee house and dark bee house can be promising in colony collapse disorder. Modified adhesive sheets were more efficient in this regard than the normal ones.

scholarly journals Use of Thymol Formulations, Amitraz, and Oxalic Acid for the Control of the Varroa Mite in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera carnica) Colonies

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleš Gregorc ◽  
Ivo Planinc
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Oxalic Acid Solution ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Comparative Efficacy ◽  
Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽  
Mite Mortality

Abstract Experiments were conducted in three apiaries to assess the comparative efficacy of: Thymovar (Andermatt BioVet AG); Apiguard (Vita Europe Ltd., UK); an oxalic acid solution (OA) which consisted of 2.9% oxalic acid and 31.9% sugar in water; and amitraz fumigation, for controlling the honey bee mite Varroa destructor. Mite mortality increased significantly (p<0.001) in the Thymovar, Apiguard, OA or amitraz treated colonies. The relative mite mortality after: four OA applications, two Thymovar or two Apiguard applications during August and September in the Senično apiary was 41.80% (±14.31), 14.35% (±10.71), and 18.93% (±13.56), respectively. In the control, i.e. untreated colonies, the mite natural mortality was reduced by 3.10% (±3.50). In the Bohinj apiary, two Apiguard applications and a single amitraz treatment resulted in reducing the mite populations by 19.71% (±12.61) and 23.89% (±14.25), respectively. At the Mediterranean located apiary of Vipava, the Thymovar and Apiguard treatments trigged 59.02% (±17.28) and 46.50% (±13.33) of the total mite reduction. In the Vipava apiary, colonies treated with any miticide during the brood period presented no difference (P>0.05) in efficacy. The results indicate that OA, Thymovar, Apiguard or amitraz fumigations are of limited use during the brood periods.

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