Observation of Varroa destructor behavior in capped worker brood of Africanized honey bees

Abstract

The behavioral activity of Varroa destructor was observed using transparent cells. Mite oviposition started at 45.0 ± 25.0 h post capping, followed by the next eggs laid at regular 27.3 ± 2.0 h intervals. On the prepupa, mites were found to feed often and there was no preference for a specific segment as a feeding site. During the pupal stage the mite fed less often and almost always at the same point. Varroa showed a preference for defecation in the posterior part of the cell. A significant association was observed between the position of the feeding point in the pupa and the defecation site on the cell wall. Displacement behavior was observed in 71 % of the infested bee larvae and a major change in the free space available for varroa in the cell occurred when the prepupa molted into a pupa.

Using an in vitro system for maintaining Varroa destructor mites on Apis mellifera pupae as hosts: studies of mite longevity and feeding behavior

“…A preference of varroa for feeding from their host's abdomen corresponds with previous studies that documented varroa females appearing to prefer to feed from their host's second abdominal segment (Fig. 6a), taken from observations that more time was spent on this body part than others anytime the mites were on their pupa host, but also from observations that varroa did not show particular preference for any body part while on the prepupae (Calderon et al 2009(Calderon et al , 2012. In addition, Peck et al (2016) showed that Healthy honeybee pupa fresh from capped brood cell without signs of melanization or wounds; c honeybee dark-eyed pupa changing coloration to light brownish, shows evidence of fecal deposition activity (white specs) on wall of capsule and body of pupa; also, evidence of successful feeding of mite on host; d honeybee adult emerging with wings indicating bee survival despite varroa parasitism 1 3 mites had the strongest preference for the thorax and abdominal segments on adult foraging bees.…”

“…However, this behavior may be related to the larger volume of the gel capsule (9.0 mm wide, 15 mm deep), allowing mites more space compared to the natural brood cell (4.9 mm wide, 12 mm deep). Nonetheless, even provided more space, varroa females defecated on host integument, despite suggestions that this behavior may reduce their own fecundity (Calderon et al 2012;Donze and Guerin 1994).…”

“…Previous research has suggested varroa females establish preferred defecation sites mostly on the posterior end of the cells Fig. 7 Cumulative frequency of mites found on various body regions: head (H), thorax (T), between head and thorax (HT), abdomen (A), between abdomen and thorax (AT), and leg (L), or on the capsule wall (C) 1 3 (Calderon et al 2009(Calderon et al , 2012. We observed fecal deposits at multiple sites on the gel capsule walls, suggesting that varroa may not necessarily have a strong preference for a defecation site (Fig.…”

Museum samples reveal rapid evolution by wild honey bees exposed to a novel parasite

“…This seems plausible, given that much of the reproduction by the mites must be completed within the short pupal stage of worker honey bees 29 . Changes in larval movement and moulting patterns might also kill developing mites 30 . Consistent with changes in developmental genes, there were also changes in body size and wing shape.…”

Insights into the metabolism and behaviour of Varroa destructor mites from analysis of their waste excretions

“…In terms of excretory behaviours, our data show that female mites defecated nearly four times more frequently on their hosts than on the capsule wall. This finding contrasts with the behaviour reported by others, who found that the mites preferred to deposit wastes in the posterior part of the brood cell (Nazzi and LeConte, 2016) or on the sides of the cells (Calderón et al ., 2009, 2012; Dieteman et al ., 2013). This behaviour may be adaptive, possibly to promote hygiene within the confines of the sealed host cell.…”