A Revision of the Genus<i>Locustacarus</i>with a Key to Genera of the Family Podapolipidae (Acarina)

Husband, Robert W.; Sinha, R. N.

doi:10.1093/aesa/63.4.1152

Cited by 45 publications

(47 citation statements)

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“…Infection also reduces the fitness of colony-founding queens by 40 per cent [50,51], which could have a severe impact on declining populations. Relatively little research has been conducted on L. buchneri but limited data suggest that heavy infections might be associated with lethargy and reduced foraging [52]. Parasitic infection may also have indirect effects on fitness simply by stimulating the immune system; C. bombi infection elicits PO production [36] and L. buchneri infection triggers a melanization response by the host (P. R. Whitehorn 2009, personal observation).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity, parasite prevalence and immunity in wild bumblebees

et al. 2010

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Inbreeding and a consequent loss of genetic diversity threaten small, isolated populations. One mechanism by which genetically impoverished populations may become extinct is through decreased immunocompetence and higher susceptibility to parasites. Here, we investigate the relationship between immunity and inbreeding in bumblebees, using Hebridean island populations of Bombus muscorum. We sampled nine populations and recorded parasite prevalence and measured two aspects of immunity: the encapsulation response and levels of phenoloxidase (PO). We found that prevalence of the gut parasite Crithidia bombi was higher in populations with lower genetic diversity. Neither measure of immune activity was correlated with genetic diversity. However, levels of PO declined with age and were also negatively correlated with parasite abundance. Our results suggest that as insect populations lose heterozygosity, the impact of parasitism will increase, pushing threatened populations closer to extinction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity, parasite prevalence and immunity in wild bumblebees

et al. 2010

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“…When they reach 3rd instar, the wall is opened, so mites can easily infest bee larvae. Husband and Shinha (1970) reported that larviform female mites migrate to the tracheae of adult worker bees, attach to the tracheal walls, molt, and begin to grow. In addition, van der Eijnde (1999) reported that older larvae were infested by the mite whereas younger larvae were not.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…buchneri parasitizes the tracheae of bumblebees and is distributed worldwide (Husband, 1969;Husband and Shinha, 1970). The mite goes through four developmental stages: egg, larviform female or adult male, and adult female (Husband and Shinha, 1970).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The larviform female and adult male are active stages, and the adult female is immobile. Only adult females can suck the haemolymph in the tracheae of adult bumblebees (Husband and Shinha, 1970).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Otterstatter and Whidden (2004) found that the highest prevalence of L. buchneri typically occurred among bumblebee of B. occidentalis, which are commercially used as pollinating agents in Canada (Velthuis and Doorn, 2006). Although large numbers of L. buchneri in a bee's trachea will cause diarrhea and inhibit foraging (Husband and Shinha, 1970), the mite is thought to have relatively benign effects on natural bumblebee colonies (Alford, 1975;Macfarlane et al, 1995;but see Schmid-Hempel, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproduction and transmission within a colony of bumblebee tracheal mite Locustacarus buchneri (Acari: Podapolipidae) in Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Yoneda¹,

Furuta²,

Kanbe³

et al. 2008

Appl. Entomol. Zool.

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The endoparasitic mite Locustacarus buchneri Stammer has been found in commercial bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and in Japanese native bumblebees. In an infested colony of B. terrestris reared in the laboratory, the mites moved from adult bees to 3rd or 4th instar larvae, where they waited for bees' pupation. We dissected the bee workers that emerged, and counted the numbers of eggs, mobile forms (larviform females and males), and adult females of the mite in the tracheae of the bees. Our results allowed us to roughly estimate that the developmental period from egg to mobile phase of the mites was about 2 weeks (4 weeks after bee emergence). We also revealed that the number of mites in the bee could be positively associated with the bee's age after emergence.

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