Infestação do ácaroPalavras-chave: Apicultura; Semiárido brasileiro; Varroidae; Varroose. Abstract:The goal of the present work was to analyze the rates of infestation by Varroa. destructor mite in Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) colonies from apiaries in Encanto and Marcelino Vieira cities, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The research was conducted during the period from September to December 2014. In average 100 to 200 adult bees (nursing honey bee workers) were collected from the brood chamber over center frames of with brood of each hive surveyed, trapped in containers containing 100 mL of 70% alcohol and sent to the laboratory of the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN) for the counting of bees and mites. The results showed an occurrence of the Varroa destructor mite in all apiaries and in all hives analyzed, obtaining an average infestation of 7.24% in Encanto city and 5.25% in Marcelino Vieira city, low infestation levels (<15%), without risk to the colonies.

<p>O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, por meio de análise <em>in vitro</em>, o potencial acaricida do óleo essencial extraído de folhas da planta do alecrim pimenta (<em>Lippia sidoides</em>) na mortalidade de <em>Apis mellifera </em>e do ácaro <em>Varroa destructor</em>, parasita destas abelhas. A extração do óleo essencial foi realizada através o método de SOXHLET. Os ácaros foram retirados com auxílio de uma pinça de células de zangões infestadas, enquanto que as abelhas foram coletadas em recipientes de boca larga nos quadros do ninho das colmeias, ambos provenientes do apiário do IFRN. Os ácaros foram transferidos para uma placa de petri e as abelhas para gaiolas de observação, ambos contendo em seu interior uma esponja com área média de 1cm² contendo os volumes T₀ 0μL, T₁ 100μL e T₂ 200μL de óleos essenciais, sendo cada volume um ensaio. As abelhas e os ácaros foram observados por seis horas para a quantificação da mortalidade em função dos tratamentos utilizados. As quantidades de volumes não influenciaram na mortalidade do hospedeiro e do parasita, mesmo assim apresentou uma morte gradual do ácaro, que variou de 5,69±2,21 a 19,90±3,10, correspondente ao T₀ e T₂, respectivamente. A <em>A. mellifera </em>apresentou uma variação de 0,00±0,00 a 2,03±1,41, correspondente ao T₀ e T₁. Ademais, ao colocarmos em confronto, mesmo não havendo relação à morte de ambos com os volumes (Chi² = 2,03; p = 0,329; gl = 2), podemos observar que o óleo essencial de alecrim pimenta pode ser uma viável estratégia no controle a disseminação do ectoparasita.</p><p><strong><em>In vitro evaluation of essential oil effectiveness of Alecrim Pimenta (Lippia sidoides) in against varroase on Apis mellifera </em></strong><strong>L. </strong></p><p><strong>Abstract</strong><strong>: </strong>The aim of this study was at evaluating the acaricide potential of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of Rosemary Pepper   (<em>Lippia sidoides</em>)  concerned to the mortality of the  bees <em>Apis mellifera  </em>and the mite <em>Varroa destructor ,</em> parasite of such bees, through the analysis <em>in vitro</em> . The extraction of the essential oil was accomplished through the method known as SOXHLET. The mites were removed with tweezers infested with drone cells, while the bees were placed in wide-mouth containers in the nest hives, both from the apiary of the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte. The mites were transferred to a petri dish and the bees for observation cages, both containing a sponge inside with the average area of 1cm² containing the volumes T₀ 0μL, T₁ 100μL and T₂ 200μL of essential oils, and each volume an essay. The mites and bees were observed for six hours for the quantification of mortality in relation to the treatments used. The quantities of volumes did not affect the mortality of the host and the parasite, still presented a gradual death mite, which variated from 5,69±2,21 to 19,90±3,10, related to T₀ and T₂, respectively. The <em>Apis mellifera</em> showed a variation from 0,00±0,00 to 2,03±1,41, related to T₀ and T₁. Besides, putting into confrontation, even without regard to the death of both the volumes (Chi² = 2,03; p = 0,329; gl = 2), we can see that the essential oil of rosemary pepper can be a viable strategy to control the spread of ectoparasites.</p>

The objectives of this review article were to examine the dynamics of Varroa destructor infestation levels in Africanized honey bees (AHB) in Brazil, since this parasitic mite was first detected in 1977. Data from published research articles, conference proceedings, congress abstracts, and unpublished data obtained from academic researchers was included. Although mite infestations varied significantly along the years, there were no indications that varroa negatively impacted Brazilian apiculture. The mean infestation levels have remained around 4.5 mites per 100 adult bees, with a median of 3.8, during the last 45 years. Adult bee and worker brood infestation rates were found to be similar, though with some geographical variation, including a tendency for higher infestations in the southern regions of the country. Various researchers have suggested that the low infestation levels could be a consequence of the tropical and subtropical climate, honey bee hybridization, grooming and hygienic behaviors, honey bee and mite genetic factors, low nutritional stress, management practices, low migratory stress, and environmental conditions. The lack of a need for chemical treatment of varroa infestations facilitates apiary management and favors organic beekeeping throughout the country. However, though AHB colonies and beekeeping in Brazil thrive without the need for treatment measures, more research should be conducted to better assess the impact that the low varroa mite infestations have on AHB colony health and productivity.