Varroa management in small bites

Fagan, Laura L.; Nelson, Warrick; Meenken, Esther D.; Howlett, Brad G.; Walker, Mel; Donovan, B. J.

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0418.2011.01666.x

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Varroa mainly devastate colonies when Varroa population grows unchecked. Effective control measures do not necessarily need to completely eradicate the Varroa population [34], [35]. Further studies would need to monitor the effect of dsRNA treatment on Varroa population dynamics and long-term effect on honey bee colonies under field conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional Transfer of RNAi between Honey Bee and Varroa destructor: Varroa Gene Silencing Reduces Varroa Population

et al. 2012

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The mite Varroa destructor is an obligatory ectoparasite of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and is one of the major threats to apiculture worldwide. We previously reported that honey bees fed on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with a sequence homologous to that of the Israeli acute paralysis virus are protected from the viral disease. Here we show that dsRNA ingested by bees is transferred to the Varroa mite and from mite on to a parasitized bee. This cross-species, reciprocal exchange of dsRNA between bee and Varroa engendered targeted gene silencing in the latter, and resulted in an over 60% decrease in the mite population. Thus, transfer of gene-silencing-triggering molecules between this invertebrate host and its ectoparasite could lead to a conceptually novel approach to Varroa control.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional Transfer of RNAi between Honey Bee and Varroa destructor: Varroa Gene Silencing Reduces Varroa Population

et al. 2012

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“…Since we observed the pseudoscorpions attacked only live varroa mites in the timelapse images and in real-time observations, and ignored varroa that had died during the assay, we concluded that the detection of varroa DNA in this predator was derived from live varroa it had killed. As reported by Fagan et al (2012) for N. gracilis and by Schiffer (2013a) for C. cancroides, both species can predate on live varroa in situ, and thus potentially reduce the live population of varroa mites in honey bee hives. That these species contain venom glands (Weygoldt, 1969), and paralyze their prey, supports the contention they prey on live arthropods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Donovan and Paul (2006) presented photographs of E. indicus eating varroa, but Thapa, Wongsiri, Lee, and Choi (2013) concluded that E. indicus associated with Apis cerana do not act as a biocontrol of varroa mites, instead preying on dead honey bees, bee larvae, and psocids. N. gracilis has been observed to consume varroa in situ and each capable of consuming 1-9 mites per day (Fagan et al, 2012). C. cancroides has also been shown to consume up to 9 varroa per day (Schiffer, 2013a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ingestion of Varroa destructor by pseudoscorpions in honey bee hives confirmed by PCR analysis

Toor

Thompson

Gibson

et al. 2015

Journal of Apicultural Research

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The pseudoscorpions, Nesochernes gracilis and Chelifer cancroides, appear to have potential for control of varroa mites (Varroa destructor), but have not been observed to predate on varroa in honey bee hives. A molecular method was developed to determine, without the need for observation, whether a candidate predator was eating varroa in commercial hives. DNA extracted from pseudoscorpions, which had been observed to have fed on varroa, and DNA from those that had not come in contact with varroa were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers that target the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene specific to V. destructor. Varroa DNA was detected up to four weeks after a known varroa feeding event from extractions of pseudoscorpion DNA. No varroa DNA could be detected in the pseudoscorpions not exposed to varroa mites. Varroa DNA was reliably extracted and identified from pseudoscorpions known to have preyed upon varroa, including C. cancroides confined within a varroa-infested commercial honey bee hive. This molecular technique can therefore be used as an indicator of varroa predation by chelifers without requiring visual observation of predation.Confirmació n por análisis de PCR de la ingestion de Varroa destructor por pseudoescorpiones en colmenas de abeja de la miel.Los pseudoescorpiones Nesochernes gracilis y Chelifer cancroides parecen tener el potencial de controlar los ácaros de varroa (Varroa destructor), pero no han sido observados depredando al ácaro en las colmenas de abeja melífera. Se ha desarrollado un método molecular para determinar, sin necesidad de observació n, si un depredador candidato ha estado comiendo varroa en las colmenas comerciales. Se extrajo ADN de pseudoescorpiones que habían sido observados alimentándose de varroa y de aquellos que no habían estado en contacto con varroa. Se amplificó mediante reacció n en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) con cebadores del gen de la subunidad 1 de citocromo oxidasa específicos para V. destructor. El ADN de varroa se detectó en las extracciones del ADN de los escorpiones hasta 4 semanas después de que éstos se alimentaran del ácaro. No se detectó ADN de varroa en los pseudoescorpiones que no estuvieron expuestos a los ácaros. El ADN de varroa fue extraído e identificado correctamente de los pseudoescorpiones que habían depredado sobre varroa, incluyendo C. cancroides, que se encontró en una colmena comercial de abeja melífera infestada de varroa. Por tanto, esta técnica molecular puede utilizarse como un indicador de la depredació n sobre varroa por parte de quelíceros sin requerir la observació n visual de la depredació n.

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“…larvae, which have been shown to sustain chelifer populations under laboratory conditions (Weygoldt ; Wood and Gabbutt ; de Andrade and Gnaspini ; Fagan et al. ), or apterous (wingless) pea aphids ( Acyrthosiphon pisum), which were readily reared on bean plants and also reported to be consumed by chelifers (Smith ). The chelifers consumed most of the prey they were provided over a three‐day period, and consequently were fed three times a week, as in other studies aimed at rearing chelifers where cultures were fed two or three times weekly (de Andrade and Gnaspini ; Tizo‐Pedroso and Del‐Claro ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Laboratory studies have shown these species capable of consuming 1–9 Varroa mites per day each (Fagan et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Culturing chelifers (Pseudoscorpions) that consume Varroa mites

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Howlett

Donovan³

et al. 2013

J Applied Entomology

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Chelifers (Pseudoscorpions) are generalist predators of small prey such as mites. Their occasional presence in honeybee hives suggests potential to exploit them as part of a management programme against Varroa mites (Varroa destructor), a significant pest of honeybees. Two species of native New Zealand chelifers Nesochernes gracilis and Heterochernes novaezealandiae, shown to consume Varroa mites, were collected from commercial nucleus hives or in litter surrounding the hives. Methods for mass‐rearing the chelifers were developed to provide specimens for research and introduction into beehives for biological control of Varroa. Cultures were fed aphids and fruit fly larvae in vented containers containing sand and bark. N. gracilis was maintained at 14°C, 18°C, and 22°C. At 18°C, 1423 nymphs were reared from 140 N. gracilis adults, with 84.8% of all nymphs produced at this temperature. H. novaezealandiae was maintained at 18°C and 22°C, with 5 nymphs raised from 12 adults at 18°C and none at the higher temperature.

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Varroa management in small bites

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

Bidirectional Transfer of RNAi between Honey Bee and Varroa destructor: Varroa Gene Silencing Reduces Varroa Population

Bidirectional Transfer of RNAi between Honey Bee and Varroa destructor: Varroa Gene Silencing Reduces Varroa Population

Ingestion of Varroa destructor by pseudoscorpions in honey bee hives confirmed by PCR analysis

Culturing chelifers (Pseudoscorpions) that consume Varroa mites

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