scholarly journals Seasonal prevalence of Asian honeybee ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman, 2000 in Madanpokhara Apiaries, Palpa, Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
Nripesh Shrestha ◽  
Ishan Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Mite Population ◽  
Seasonal Prevalence ◽  
Varroa Mites ◽  
Honeybee Health ◽  
C 30 ◽  
Asian Honeybee

The present study highlights the prevalence and seasonal variation of Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman, 2000 in Apis cerana colonies at two apiaries (site-I and site-II) in Madanpokhara, Palpa district, Nepal. Altogether 498 varroa mites were collected from February to October 2017. The highest and lowest number of varroa mites were observed in March and September, respectively. The mites were observed higher in brood cells (54.84% and 52.51%) and lower in adult bees (10.39% and 9.59%) in site-I and site-II, respectively. The inner hive and outer temperature in site-I and II were ranged from 30°C to 34°C and 24°C to 32.4°C, 30°C to 33.5°C and 25.1°C to 32.3°C, respectively. Similarly, inner and outer hive humidity ranged from 41% to 61% and 40% to 68%, 40% to 60% and 41% to 65% at site-I and II respectively, differed significantly and correlated positively with mite population. Concern for honeybee health and conservation along with Nepali apiculture are also discussed in this paper.  

scholarly journals Varroa destructor: A Complex Parasite, Crippling Honeybees Worldwide

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Traynor ◽  
Fanny Mondet ◽  
Jaochim de Miranda ◽  
Maeva Techer ◽  
Vienna Kowallik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Honey Production ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Parasitic Mite ◽  
Honeybee Health ◽  
Native Host ◽  
Asian Honeybee ◽  
European Honeybee

The parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has shaken the beekeeping and pollination industries since its spread from its native host, the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana), to the naïve European honeybee (A. mellifera) used commercially for pollination and honey production around the globe. Varroa is the greatest threat to honeybee health. Worrying observations include increasing acaricide resistance in the varroa population and sinking economic treatment thresholds, suggesting that the mites or their vectored viruses are becoming more virulent. Highly infested weak colonies, popularly dubbed “mite bombs”, facilitate mite dispersal and disease transmission to stronger and healthier colonies. Here, we review recent developments in the biology, pathology and management of varroa, and unearth old knowledge that was lost in the archives.

scholarly journals Varroa destructor changes its cuticular hydrocarbons to mimic new hosts

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 20150233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Le Conte ◽  
Z. Y. Huang ◽  
M. Roux ◽  
Z. J. Zeng ◽  
J.-P. Christidès ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cuticular Hydrocarbons ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Host Shift ◽  
New Host ◽  
Hygienic Behaviour ◽  
Novel Host ◽  
New Hosts ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
Asian Honeybee

Varroa destructor ( Vd ) is a honeybee ectoparasite. Its original host is the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana , but it has also become a severe, global threat to the European honeybee, Apis mellifera . Previous studies have shown that Varroa can mimic a host's cuticular hydrocarbons (HC), enabling the parasite to escape the hygienic behaviour of the host honeybees. By transferring mites between the two honeybee species, we further demonstrate that Vd is able to mimic the cuticular HC of a novel host species when artificially transferred to this new host. Mites originally from A. cerana are more efficient than mites from A. mellifera in mimicking HC of both A. cerana and A. mellifera . This remarkable adaptability may explain their relatively recent host-shift from A. cerana to A. mellifera .

scholarly journals A New Strain of Virus Discovered in China Specific to the Parasitic Mite Varroa destructor Poses a Potential Threat to Honey Bees

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 679
Author(s):  
Gongwen Chen ◽  
Shuai Wang ◽  
Shuo Jia ◽  
Ye Feng ◽  
Fuliang Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Chinese Strain ◽  
Illumina Hiseq ◽  
Varroa Mites

The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, feeds directly on honey bees and serves as a vector for transmitting viruses among them. The Varroa mite causes relatively little damage to its natural host, the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) but it is the most devastating pest for the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Using Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology, we conducted a metatranscriptome analysis of the microbial community associated with Varroa mites. This study led to the identification of a new Chinese strain of Varroa destructor virus-2 (VDV-2), which is a member of the Iflaviridae family and was previously reported to be specific to Varroa mites. A subsequent epidemiological investigation of Chinese strain of VDV-2 (VDV-2-China) showed that the virus was highly prevalent among Varroa populations and was not identified in any of the adult workers from both A. mellifera and A.cerana colonies distributed in six provinces in China, clearly indicating that VDV-2-China is predominantly a Varroa-adapted virus. While A. mellifera worker pupae exposed to less than two Varroa mites tested negative for VDV-2-China, VDV-2-China was detected in 12.5% of the A. mellifera worker pupae that were parasitized by more than 10 Varroa mites, bringing into play the possibility of a new scenario where VDV-2 could be transmitted to the honey bees during heavy Varroa infestations. Bioassay for the VDV-2-China infectivity showed that A. cerana was not a permissive host for VDV-2-China, yet A. mellifera could be a biological host that supports VDV-2-China’s replication. The different replication dynamics of the virus between the two host species reflect their variation in terms of susceptibility to the virus infection, posing a potential threat to the health of the Western honey bee. The information gained from this study contributes to the knowledge concerning genetic variabilities and evolutionary dynamics of Varroa-borne viruses, thereby enhancing our understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms governing honey bee Varroosis.

scholarly journals Genome Sequence of the Asian Honeybee in Pakistan Sheds Light on Its Phylogenetic Relationship with Other Honeybees

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 652
Author(s):  
Hongwei Tan ◽  
Muhammad Naeem ◽  
Hussain Ali ◽  
Muhammad Shakeel ◽  
Haiou Kuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationship ◽  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Gc Content ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Genome Scale ◽  
Asian Honeybee

In Pakistan, Apis cerana, the Asian honeybee, has been used for honey production and pollination services. However, its genomic makeup and phylogenetic relationship with those in other countries are still unknown. We collected A. cerana samples from the main cerana-keeping region in Pakistan and performed whole genome sequencing. A total of 28 Gb of Illumina shotgun reads were generated, which were used to assemble the genome. The obtained genome assembly had a total length of 214 Mb, with a GC content of 32.77%. The assembly had a scaffold N50 of 2.85 Mb and a BUSCO completeness score of 99%, suggesting a remarkably complete genome sequence for A. cerana in Pakistan. A MAKER pipeline was employed to annotate the genome sequence, and a total of 11,864 protein-coding genes were identified. Of them, 6750 genes were assigned at least one GO term, and 8813 genes were annotated with at least one protein domain. Genome-scale phylogeny analysis indicated an unexpectedly close relationship between A. cerana in Pakistan and those in China, suggesting a potential human introduction of the species between the two countries. Our results will facilitate the genetic improvement and conservation of A. cerana in Pakistan.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae Co-Infection Seasonally in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asli Özkırım ◽  
Aygün Schiesser ◽  
Nevіn Keskin
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Nosema Ceranae ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Nosema Apis ◽  
Infection Level ◽  
Seasonal Infection ◽  
Asian Honeybee

AbstractNosema apis is a pathogen spesific for the European honeybee, Apis mellifera L., while Nosema ceranae is specific for the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana. Turkey provides different environmental and host conditions for both Nosema species. The aim of the study is to determine the dynamic of N. cerenae and N. apis seasonal infection. A number of samples were collected from different apiaries between 2009-2016 years. The samples were kept at −20°C in the laboratory. Light microscopy was used for spore counting and molecular techniques were used to identify the Nosema species. The results showed that winter season had an impact on the type of Nosema as well as on infection rates. The number of N. ceranae spores decreases significantly at low temperatures (≤ 5°C). The winter period was found to be the main factor affecting nosema infection level and dominancy of Nosema ceranae. Furthermore, co-infection of both species is an indicator of the dynamics of N. apis and N. ceranae. This study suggests, that there is a dynamic prevalence among the Nosema species depending of the average winter temperature and not a replacement of N. apis by N. ceranae.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Efficacy of 30 Different Essential Oils against Varroa destructor and Honey Bee Workers (Apis mellifera)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1045
Author(s):  
Marian Hýbl ◽  
Andrea Bohatá ◽  
Iva Rádsetoulalová ◽  
Marek Kopecký ◽  
Irena Hoštičková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oils ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Selectivity Ratio ◽  
Varroa Mites ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Honey Bee Workers ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Better Than

Essential oils and their components are generally known for their acaricidal effects and are used as an alternative to control the population of the Varroa destructor instead of synthetic acaricides. However, for many essential oils, the exact acaricidal effect against Varroa mites, as well as the effect against honey bees, is not known. In this study, 30 different essential oils were screened by using a glass-vial residual bioassay. Essential oils showing varroacidal efficacy > 70% were tested by the complete exposure assay. A total of five bees and five mites were placed in the Petri dishes in five replications for each concentration of essential oil. Mite and bee mortality rates were assessed after 4, 24, 48, and 72 h. The LC50 values and selectivity ratio (SR) were calculated. For essential oils with the best selectivity ratio, their main components were detected and quantified by GC-MS/MS. The results suggest that the most suitable oils are peppermint and manuka (SR > 9), followed by oregano, litsea (SR > 5), carrot, and cinnamon (SR > 4). Additionally, these oils showed a trend of the increased value of selective ratio over time. All these oils seem to be better than thymol (SR < 3.2), which is commonly used in beekeeping practice. However, the possible use of these essential oils has yet to be verified in beekeeping practice.

scholarly journals The first steps toward a global pandemic: Reconstructing the demographic history of parasite host switches in its native range

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maeva Techer ◽  
John Roberts ◽  
Reed Cartwright ◽  
Alexander Mikheyev
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Host Switching ◽  
New Host ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Host

Abstract Host switching allows parasites to expand their niches. However, successful switching may require suites of adaptations and may decrease performance on the old host. As a result, reductions in gene flow accompany many host switches, driving speciation. Because host switches tend to be rapid, it is difficult to study them in real time and their demographic parameters remain poorly understood. As a result, fundamental factors that control subsequent parasite evolution, such as the size of the switching population or the extent of immigration from the original host, remain largely unknown. To shed light on the host switching process, we explored how host switches occur in independent host shifts by two ectoparasitic honey bee mites (Varroa destructor and V. jacobsoni). Both switched to the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) after it was brought into contact with their ancestral host (Apis cerana), ~70 and ~12 years ago, respectively. Varroa destructor subsequently caused worldwide collapses of honey bee populations. Using whole-genome sequencing on 63 mites collected in their native ranges from both the ancestral and novel hosts, we were able to reconstruct the known temporal dynamics of the switch. We further found multiple previously undiscovered mitochondrial lineages on the novel host, along with genetic equivalent of tens of individuals that were involved in the initial host switch. Despite being greatly reduced, some gene flow remains between mites adapted to different hosts. Our findings suggest that while reproductive isolation may facilitate fixation of traits beneficial for exploitation of the new host, ongoing genetic exchange may allow genetic amelioration of inbreeding effects.

Absence of Wolbachia in the workers of Asian honeybee, Apis cerana indica

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Mahesh Pattabhiramaiah ◽  
Dorothea Brueckner ◽  
MS Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Present Communication ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Reproductive Incompatibility ◽  
Apis Cerana Indica ◽  
Wolbachia Endosymbiont ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Asian Honeybee ◽  
Different Parts

Wolbachia is a group of cytoplasmically inherited bacteria that can cause reproductive alterations in arthropods including parthenogenesis, reproductive incompatibility and feminization of genetic males. Wolbachia are found in a well studied group of insects, but there is a lack of data on their distribution. Workers of the honeybee sub species Apis cerana indica, collected from different parts of Karnataka, India were screened by PCR for Wolbachia, because this endosymbiont has been implicated in causing thelytoky in other Hymenoptera. In the present communication, we report the absence of Wolbachia endosymbiont in the workers of honeybee collected from different geographic locations of Karnataka using Wolbachia specific 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction enzymes.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v5i1.5230 International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.5(1) 2011 19-24

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