Invasion behaviour of Varroa jacobsoni Oud.: from bees into brood cells

Beetsma, J.; Boot, W.J.; Calis, J.N.M.

doi:10.1051/apido:19990204

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Positive correlations between number of mites on bottom boards with amount and emergence of brood have been reported (Lobb and Martin, 1997;Beetsma et al, 1999). However, there were no differences in the number of combs with bees and with brood between our two groups of colonies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Relative effect of four characteristics that restrain the population growth of the mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Arechavaleta-Velasco

Guzmán-Novoa

2001

Apidologie

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Relative effect of four characteristics that restrain the population growth of the mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Arechavaleta-Velasco

Guzmán-Novoa

2001

Apidologie

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“…The first step in the reproductive cycle of a female mite is to approach a suitable host, a still uncapped brood cell containing a 5 th instar larva shortly before capping (Beetsma et al 1999). In this host selection behaviour, mites prefer drone larvae, as shown by in 6itro testing (Rosenkranz 1993) and as also observed under in 6i6o conditions (Fuchs 1990;Boot et al 1995b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Because both larval types were reared in the same combs within uniformly sized brood cells, we assume a shorter distance of the larvae from the cell rim in EHB larvae due to their higher body volume. A shorter distance of the larval body from the cell rim is known significantly to increase Varroa infestation rates (Goetz & Koeniger 1993;Boot et al 1995a;Beetsma et al 1999). Additionally, the feeding frequency of larvae by nurse bees will differ according to the size of the larvae.…”

Section: Factors Assumed To Influence the In6asion Of Brood Cells By mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cuticular volatiles, attractivity of worker larvae and invasion of brood cells by Varroa mites. A comparison of Africanized and European honey bees

2002

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Africanized honey bees (AHBs) of Brazil and Mexico have proven to be tolerant to Varroa destructor mites. In contrast, European honey bees (EHBs: Apis mellifera carnica) at the same tropical study site are highly intolerant to these ectoparasites. A lower attractiveness of Varroa-tolerant AHB larvae has been hypothesised to be an important trait in reducing the susceptibitlity of AHBs to these mites. Thus, selection for EHB brood that is less attractive to mites is thought to be one possibility for limiting mite population growth and thus increase the tolerance of EHBs to the mite.In Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, European A. m. carnica bees and AHBs were tested with respect to their rate of brood infestation and brood attractiveness to Varroa mites. For the comparison of brood infestation rates, we introduced combs with pieces of EHB and AHB brood into honey bee colonies (18 repetitions). The relative infestation rate of EHB brood was significantly higher compared to AHB brood.The preference behaviour of single Varroa mites was tested in a laboratory bioassay where either living host stages were offered or host extracts were presented on dummies. By these tests we could confirm the preference of Varroa females for certain developmental host stages and for their corresponding extracts. In contrast to the within-colony results, Varroa mites in the laboratory bioassay showed a slight preference for AHB compared to EHB larvae.The gas chromatographic analysis revealed differences in the chemical spectrum of extracts obtained from different larvae. In accord with the results of the bioassays, we could detect stage-specific odour differences in larval cuticular compounds, including methyl esters and hydrocarbons that have been described as kairomones. None of these substances, however, revealed significant race-specific differences. Therefore, the quantity and composition of certain cuticular compounds seem to be responsible only for the recognition of a suitable host stage by Varroa females. The different infestation rates in the colonies, however, seem to be caused neither by race-specific differences in attractiveness of bee larvae nor by an extended attractive period of EHB larvae: both AHB and EHB larvae become attractive approximately 21 h before capping of the brood cell, and thus have the same window of time when they can be parasitised.Therefore differential Varroa-infestation rates are not related to larval attraction but probably are determined by other race-specific and colony-related factors.

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“…Mechanisms triggering cell invasion have been investigated; Beetsma et al (1999) focused on the critical distance that allows the recognition of the brood by the mite ; and Goetz and Koeniger (1993) and Boot et al (1995) underlined the role of the distance between the larva and the cell rim.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of Apis mellifera workers by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor using host cuticular hydrocarbons

et al. 2010

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The parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is the most important threat for apiculture in most bee-keeping areas of the world. The mite is carried to the bee brood cell, where it reproduces, by a nurse bee; therefore the selection of the bee stage by the parasite could influence its reproductive success. This study investigates the role of the cuticular hydrocarbons of the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) in host-selection by the mite. Preliminary laboratory bioassays confirmed the preference of the varroa mite for nurse bees over pollen foragers. GC-MS analysis of nurse and pollen bees revealed differences in the cuticular hydrocarbons of the two stages; in particular, it appeared that pollen bees have more (Z)-8-heptadecene than nurse bees. Laboratory experiments showed that treatment of nurse bees with 100 ng of the pure compound makes them repellent to the varroa mite. These results suggest that the mite can exploit the differences in the cuticular composition of its host for a refined selection that allows it to reach a brood cell and start reproduction. The biological activity of the alkene encourages further investigations for the development of novel control techniques based on this compound.

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Invasion behaviour of Varroa jacobsoni Oud.: from bees into brood cells

Cited by 35 publications

References 38 publications

Relative effect of four characteristics that restrain the population growth of the mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Relative effect of four characteristics that restrain the population growth of the mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Cuticular volatiles, attractivity of worker larvae and invasion of brood cells by Varroa mites. A comparison of Africanized and European honey bees

Selection of Apis mellifera workers by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor using host cuticular hydrocarbons

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