| widespread occurrence of chemical residues in beehive matrices from apiaries located in different landscapes of western france. | the honey bee, apis mellifera, is frequently used as a sentinel to monitor environmental pollution. in parallel, general weakening and unprecedented colony losses have been reported in europe and the usa, and many factors are suspected to play a central role in these problems, including infection by pathogens, nutritional stress and pesticide poisoning. honey bee, honey and pollen samples collected from eighteen apiaries of western france from four different landscape contexts during four differ ... | 2013 | 23799139 |
| associations of parameters related to the fall of varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae) in russian and italian honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies. | varroa destructor (anderson and truman) trapped on bottom boards were assessed as indirect measurements of colony mite populations and mite fall in colonies of russian and italian honey bees using 29 candidate measurements. measurements included damaged and nondamaged younger mites, damaged and nondamaged older mites, fresh mites and all mites, each as a proportion of total mites in the colonies and as a proportion of all trapped mites or all trapped fresh mites. regression analyses were used to ... | 2013 | 23786041 |
| fate of dermally applied miticides fluvalinate and amitraz within honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) bodies. | varroa mites, varroa destructor anderson & trueman, are economically important pests of honey bees. varroa mites are principally controlled within honey bee colonies using miticides. however, despite their importance in managing mite populations for apiculture, potential effects of miticides on honey bees are poorly understood. using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection, we investigated concentrations, over variable time frames and within different body regions, of two commonly used mit ... | 2013 | 23786040 |
| effects of fluvalinate on honey bee learning, memory, responsiveness to sucrose, and survival. | contaminants can affect organisms' behaviour and, as a consequence, survival. tau-fluvalinate (hereafter fluvalinate) is the active ingredient in a pesticide commonly used in north america to control varroa destructor mites in honey bee (apis mellifera) colonies. fluvalinate's effects on honey bees are not well known. honey bee cognitive and neural function can be assessed using the proboscis extension reflex (per), which applies pavlovian conditioning techniques. this study used per to evaluate ... | 2013 | 23619403 |
| variability of the honey bee mite varroa destructor in serbia, based on mtdna analysis. | only two mitochondrial haplotypes (korea and japan) of varroa destructor, the ectoparasitic honey bee mite, are known to be capable of infesting and successfully reproducing in apis mellifera colonies worldwide. varroa destructor (then called varroa jacobsoni) was observed in serbia for the first time in 1976. in order to obtain insight into the genetic variability of the mites parasitizing a. mellifera we analyzed 45 adult female mites sampled from nine localities dispersed throughout serbia. f ... | 2013 | 23471517 |
| interactive effect of reduced pollen availability and varroa destructor infestation limits growth and protein content of young honey bees. | varroa destructor in combination with one or more stressors, such as low food availability or chemical exposure, is considered to be one of the main causes for honey bee colony losses. we examined the interactive effect of pollen availability on the protein content and body weight of young bees that emerged with and without v. destructor infestation. with reduced pollen availability, and the coherent reduced nutritional protein, we expected that v. destructor infestation during the pupal stage w ... | 2013 | 23439242 |
| artificial feeding of varroa destructor through a chitosan membrane: a tool for studying the host-microparasite relationship. | rearing pests or parasites of very small size in the absence of their living host is a challenge for behavioural, physiological and pathological studies. for feeding varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of apis mellifera, a confinement space with a membrane separating the nutritive solution and the space was designed. the mite measures less than 2 mm and bears a perforating apparatus with a length of 15 μm. the membrane, an essential element of the chamber, has a thickness of 0.1 μm, and is ... | 2013 | 23423425 |
| acaricide, fungicide and drug interactions in honey bees (apis mellifera). | chemical analysis shows that honey bees (apis mellifera) and hive products contain many pesticides derived from various sources. the most abundant pesticides are acaricides applied by beekeepers to control varroa destructor. beekeepers also apply antimicrobial drugs to control bacterial and microsporidial diseases. fungicides may enter the hive when applied to nearby flowering crops. acaricides, antimicrobial drugs and fungicides are not highly toxic to bees alone, but in combination there is po ... | 2013 | 23382869 |
| activation and interruption of the reproduction of varroa destructor is triggered by host signals (apis mellifera). | the reproductive cycle of the parasitic mite varroa destructor is closely linked to the development of the honey bee host larvae. using a within colony approach we introduced phoretic varroa females into brood cells of different age in order to analyze the capacity of certain stages of the honey bee larva to either activate or interrupt the reproduction of varroa females. only larvae within 18 h (worker) and 36 h (drones), respectively, after cell capping were able to stimulate the mite's oogene ... | 2013 | 23376006 |
| comparative toxicity of acaricides to honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) workers and queens. | acaricides are used to treat honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies to control the varroa mite (varroa destructor anderson & trueman), a worldwide threat to honey bee health. although acaricides control a serious honey bee parasite and mitigate bee loss, they may cause harm to bees as well. we topically applied five acaricides, each with a different mode of action, to young adult queen and worker bees to generate dose-response curves and ld50. twenty-four hours after treatment, queens were found ... | 2012 | 23356051 |
| variable induction of vitellogenin genes in the varroa mite, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman), by the honeybee, apis mellifera l, host and its environment. | transcript levels of vitellogenins (vgs) in the varroa mite, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman), were variably induced by interactions between the developing honeybee, apis mellifera l, as a food source and the capped honeybee cell environment. transcripts for two vgs of varroa mites were sequenced and putative vg protein products characterized. sequence analysis of vdvg1 and vdvg2 proteins showed that each had greater similarity with vg1 and vg2 proteins from ticks, respectively, than betwe ... | 2013 | 23331492 |
| spread and strain determination of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in madagascar since its first report in 2010. | varroa destructor is a major pest in world beekeeping. it was first detected in madagascar in 2010 on the endemic honeybee apis mellifera unicolor. to evaluate v. destructor spread dynamics in madagascar a global survey was conducted in 2011-2012. a total of 695 colonies from 30 districts were inspected for the presence of mites. 2 years after its introduction, nine districts were found infested. varroa destructor spread was relatively slow compared to other countries with a maximum progression ... | 2013 | 23325416 |
| bidirectional transfer of rnai between honey bee and varroa destructor: varroa gene silencing reduces varroa population. | 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 betwe ... | 2012 | 23308063 |
| acute exposure to a sublethal dose of imidacloprid and coumaphos enhances olfactory learning and memory in the honeybee apis mellifera. | the decline of honeybees and other pollinating insects is a current cause for concern. a major factor implicated in their decline is exposure to agricultural chemicals, in particular the neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid. honeybees are also subjected to additional chemical exposure when beekeepers treat hives with acaricides to combat the mite varroa destructor. here, we assess the effects of acute sublethal doses of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, and the organophosphate acaricide ... | 2013 | 23160709 |
| immune-related gene expression in nurse honey bees (apis mellifera) exposed to synthetic acaricides. | the mite varroa destructor is an ectoparasite affecting honey bees worldwide. synthetic acaricides have been among the principal tools available to beekeepers for its control, although several studies have shown its negative effects on honey bee physiology. recent research suggests that those molecules strongly impact on immune signaling cascades and cellular immunity. in the present work, lc(50) in six-day-old bees were determined for the following acaricides: tau-fluvalinate, flumethrin, amitr ... | 2013 | 23147024 |
| gentle africanized bees on an oceanic island. | oceanic islands have reduced resources and natural enemies and potentially affect life history traits of arriving organisms. among the most spectacular invasions in the western hemisphere is that of the africanized honeybee. we hypothesized that in the oceanic island puerto rico, africanized bees will exhibit differences from the mainland population such as for defensiveness and other linked traits. we evaluated the extent of africanization through three typical africanized traits: wing size, de ... | 2012 | 23144660 |
| correlation of proteome-wide changes with social immunity behaviors provides insight into resistance to the parasitic mite, varroa destructor, in the honey bee (apis mellifera). | disease is a major factor driving the evolution of many organisms. in honey bees, selection for social behavioral responses is the primary adaptive process facilitating disease resistance. one such process, hygienic behavior, enables bees to resist multiple diseases, including the damaging parasitic mite varroa destructor. the genetic elements and biochemical factors that drive the expression of these adaptations are currently unknown. proteomics provides a tool to identify proteins that control ... | 2012 | 23021491 |
| host adaptations reduce the reproductive success of varroa destructor in two distinct european honey bee populations. | honey bee societies (apis mellifera), the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor, and honey bee viruses that are vectored by the mite, form a complex system of host-parasite interactions. coevolution by natural selection in this system has been hindered for european honey bee hosts since apicultural practices remove the mite and consequently the selective pressures required for such a process. an increasing mite population means increasing transmission opportunities for viruses that can quickly de ... | 2012 | 22833790 |
| the effects of beta acids from hops (humulus lupulus) on mortality of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae). | hop (humulus lupulus l.) beta acids (hba) were tested for miticidal effects on varroa destructor anderson and trueman, a parasitic mite of the honey bee (apis mellifera l.). when varroa were placed on bees that had topical applications of 1 % hba, there was 100 % mite mortality. bee mortality was unaffected. cardboard strips saturated with hba and placed in colonies resulted in mite drop that was significantly greater than in untreated hives. hba was detected on about 60 % of the bees in colonie ... | 2012 | 22767150 |
| observation of varroa destructor behavior in capped worker brood of africanized honey bees. | 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 ass ... | 2012 | 22689005 |
| functionality of varroa-resistant honey bees (hymenoptera: apidae) when used in migratory beekeeping for crop pollination. | two types of honey bees, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae), bred for resistance to varroa destructor anderson & trueman were evaluated for performance when used in migratory crop pollination. colonies of russian honey bees (rhb) and outcrossed bees with varroa-sensitive hygiene (vsh) were managed without miticide treatments and compared with colonies of italian honey bees that served as controls. control colonies were managed as groups which either were treated twice each year against v. d ... | 2012 | 22606798 |
| winter survival of individual honey bees and honey bee colonies depends on level of varroa destructor infestation. | recent elevated winter loss of honey bee colonies is a major concern. the presence of the mite varroa destructor in colonies places an important pressure on bee health. v. destructor shortens the lifespan of individual bees, while long lifespan during winter is a primary requirement to survive until the next spring. we investigated in two subsequent years the effects of different levels of v. destructor infestation during the transition from short-lived summer bees to long-lived winter bees on t ... | 2012 | 22558421 |
| simulating a base population in honey bee for molecular genetic studies. | over the past years, reports have indicated that honey bee populations are declining and that infestation by an ecto-parasitic mite (varroa destructor) is one of the main causes. selective breeding of resistant bees can help to prevent losses due to the parasite, but it requires that a robust breeding program and genetic evaluation are implemented. genomic selection has emerged as an important tool in animal breeding programs and simulation studies have shown that it yields more accurate breedin ... | 2012 | 22520469 |
| genotypic variability and relationships between mite infestation levels, mite damage, grooming intensity, and removal of varroa destructor mites in selected strains of worker honey bees (apis mellifera l.). | the objective of this study was to demonstrate genotypic variability and analyze the relationships between the infestation levels of the parasitic mite varroa destructor in honey bee (apis mellifera) colonies, the rate of damage of fallen mites, and the intensity with which bees of different genotypes groom themselves to remove mites from their bodies. sets of paired genotypes that are presumably susceptible and resistant to the varroa mite were compared at the colony level for number of mites f ... | 2012 | 22465569 |
| three qtl in the honey bee apis mellifera l. suppress reproduction of the parasitic mite varroa destructor. | varroa destructor is a highly virulent ectoparasitic mite of the honey bee apis mellifera and a major cause of colony losses for global apiculture. typically, chemical treatment is essential to control the parasite population in the honey bee colony. nevertheless a few honey bee populations survive mite infestation without any treatment. we used one such varroa mite tolerant honey bee lineage from the island of gotland, sweden, to identify quantitative trait loci (qtl) controlling reduced mite r ... | 2011 | 22393513 |
| genetic structure of varroa destructor populations infesting apis mellifera colonies in argentina. | although mitochondrial dna mapping of varroa destructor revealed the presence of several haplotypes, only two of them (korean and japanese haplotypes) were capable to infest apis mellifera populations. even though the korean haplotype is the only one that has been reported in argentina, these conclusions were based on mites sampled in apiaries from a specific geographical place (buenos aires province). to study mites from several sites of argentina could reveal the presence of the japanese genot ... | 2012 | 22349941 |
| ecologically appropriate xenobiotics induce cytochrome p450s in apis mellifera. | honey bees are exposed to phytochemicals through the nectar, pollen and propolis consumed to sustain the colony. they may also encounter mycotoxins produced by aspergillus fungi infesting pollen in beebread. moreover, bees are exposed to agricultural pesticides, particularly in-hive acaricides used against the parasite varroa destructor. they cope with these and other xenobiotics primarily through enzymatic detoxificative processes, but the regulation of detoxificative enzymes in honey bees rema ... | 2012 | 22319603 |
| laboratory study on the effects of temperature and three ventilation rates on infestations of varroa destructor in clusters of honey bees (hymenoptera: apidae). | in this study, reduced levels of ventilation were applied to small clusters of bees under controlled conditions to determine whether lowered ventilation rates and the resulting increased levels of co2 could increase the mortality rates of varroa. two experiments were performed at two different temperatures (10 degrees c and 25 degrees c). both experiments compared varroa mortality among high (360 liters/h), medium (42.5 liters/h), and low (14 liters/h) rates of ventilation. the clusters of bees ... | 2011 | 22299336 |
| nosema spp. parasitization decreases the effectiveness of acaricide strips (apivar(®) ) in treating varroosis of honey bee (apis mellifera iberiensis) colonies. | given the key role played by honey bees in almost all terrestrial ecosystems, maintaining bee populations in adequate sanitary conditions is crucial for these essential pollinators to continue their work. from the beginning of the 21st century, beekeepers have reported a progressive increase in the overwintering mortality of honey bee colonies worldwide. despite the failure to reach a consensus regarding the cause of this phenomenon, pathogens are thought to be strongly implicated. in the presen ... | 2012 | 23757230 |
| reproduction of varroa destructor and offspring mortality in worker and drone brood cells of africanized honey bees. | varroa destructor is known to be the most serious parasite of apis mellifera worldwide. in order to reproduce varroa females enter worker or drone brood shortly before the cell is sealed. from march to december 2008, the reproductive rate and offspring mortality (mature and immature stages), focusing on male absence and male mortality of v. destructor, was investigated in naturally infested worker and drone brood of africanized honey bees (ahb) in costa rica. data were obtained from 388 to 403 s ... | 2012 | 22270116 |
| repellency of the oily extract of neem seeds (azadirachta indica) against varroa destructor (acari: varroidae). | a crude oil extract of neem seed (azadirachta indica, sapindales: meliaceae) was evaluated for repellency on varroa destructor anderson and trueman. burgerjon's tower was used to spray worker bee pupae with 0.0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.3, 2.6, 5.3, 10.6 and 21.1% neem extract concentrations. sprayed pupae were attached to observation arenas and incubated at 32 ± 2°c and 70 ± 10% rh. the ability of v. destructor to locate and feed on treated and untreated pupae was monitored from 30 min to 72 h after spray. ... | 2012 | 22270115 |
| direct effect of acaricides on pathogen loads and gene expression levels in honey bees apis mellifera. | the effect of using acaricides to control varroa mites has long been a concern to the beekeeping industry due to unintended negative impacts on honey bee health. irregular ontogenesis, suppression of immune defenses, and impairment of normal behavior have been linked to pesticide use. external stressors, including parasites and the pathogens they vector, can confound studies on the effects of pesticides on the metabolism of honey bees. this is the case of varroa destructor, a mite that negativel ... | 2012 | 22212860 |
| acaricidal activity of swietenia mahogani and swietenia macrophylla ethanolic extracts against varroa destructor in honeybee colonies. | the acaricidal (miticidal) activity of 90% ethanolic extracts of leaves and stem bark of swietenia mahogani and swietenia macrophylla were tested against varroa destructor mite. four concentrations were used over two different time intervals under laboratory and field conditions. in general, it was noticed that the acaricidal effect based on mortality and lc(50) of all tested extracts against the varroa mite was concentration and time dependant. the acaricidal action against varroa mites was rel ... | 2012 | 22101075 |
| nutrigenomics in honey bees: digital gene expression analysis of pollen's nutritive effects on healthy and varroa-parasitized bees. | malnutrition is a major factor affecting animal health, resistance to disease and survival. in honey bees (apis mellifera), pollen, which is the main dietary source of proteins, amino acids and lipids, is essential to adult bee physiological development while reducing their susceptibility to parasites and pathogens. however, the molecular mechanisms underlying pollen's nutritive impact on honey bee health remained to be determined. for that purpose, we investigated the influence of pollen nutrie ... | 2011 | 21985689 |
| asynchronous development of honey bee host and varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae) influences reproductive potential of mites. | a high proportion of nonreproductive (nr) varroa destructor anderson & trueman (mesostigmata: varroidae), is commonly observed in honey bee colonies displaying the varroa sensitive hygienic trait (vsh). this study was conducted to determine the influence of brood removal and subsequent host reinvasion of varroa mites on mite reproduction. we collected foundress mites from stages of brood (newly sealed larvae, prepupae, white-eyed pupae, and pink-eyed pupae) and phoretic mites from adult bees. we ... | 2011 | 21882676 |
| age-related changes in the behavioural response of honeybees to apiguard®, a thymol-based treatment used to control the mite varroa destructor. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor is responsible for heavy losses in honey bee colonies and represents a major threat to the beekeeping industry. essential oils offer an attractive alternative to the use of synthetic chemicals for the control of varroa. amongst them, thymol appears to be particularly promising. however, treatments using thymol as their active substance, such as the gel formulation apiguard(®), are suspected to have adverse effects on honey bee colonies. in this study, laborat ... | 2011 | 21761187 |
| expression of varroa sensitive hygiene (vsh) in commercial vsh honey bees (hymenoptera: apidae). | we tested six commercial sources of honey bees, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae), whose breeding incorporated the trait of varroa sensitive hygiene (vsh). vsh confers resistance to the parasitic mite varroa destructor anderson & trueman by enhancing the ability of the bees to hygienically remove mite-infested brood. vsh production queens (i.e., queens commercially available for use in beekeepers' production colonies) from the six sources were established in colonies which later were measu ... | 2011 | 21735889 |
| biological activity of some plant essential oils against varroa destructor (acari: varroidae), an ectoparasitic mite of apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae). | this experiment was conducted to evaluate acaricidal activity of the essential oils of thymus kotschyanus, ferula assa-foetida and eucalyptus camaldulensis against varroa destructor under laboratory conditions. moreover, fumigant toxicity of these oils was tested on apis mellifera. after preliminary dose-setting experiments, mites and honey bees were exposed to different concentrations of the oil, with 10 h exposure time. essential oil of t. kotschyanus appeared the most potent fumigant for v. d ... | 2011 | 21484423 |
| evaluation of spring organic treatments against varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in honey bee apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies in eastern canada. | the objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of two organic acid treatments, formic acid (fa) and oxalic acid (oa) for the spring control of varroa destructor (anderson and trueman) in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies. forty-eight varroa-infested colonies were randomly distributed amongst six experimental groups (n = 8 colonies per group): one control group (g1); two groups tested applications of different dosages of a 40 g oa/l sugar solution 1:1 trickled on bees (g2 and g3); t ... | 2011 | 21442305 |
| social immunity in honeybees (apis mellifera): transcriptome analysis of varroa-hygienic behaviour. | honeybees have evolved a social immunity consisting of the cooperation of individuals to decrease disease in the hive. we identified a set of genes involved in this social immunity by analysing the brain transcriptome of highly varroa-hygienic bees, who efficiently detect and remove brood infected with the varroa destructor mite. the function of these candidate genes does not seem to support a higher olfactory sensitivity in hygienic bees, as previously hypothesized. however, comparing their gen ... | 2011 | 21435061 |
| regular dorsal dimples and damaged mites of varroa destructor in some iranian honey bees (apis mellifera). | the frequency of damaged varroa destructor anderson and trueman (mesostigmata: varroidae) found on the bottom board of hives of the honey bee, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae) has been used as an indicator of the degree of tolerance or resistance of honey bee colonies against mites. however, it is not clear that this measure is adequate. these injuries should be separated from regular dorsal dimples that have a developmental origin. to investigate damage to varroa mites and regular dorsal ... | 2011 | 21431926 |
| sub-lethal effects of pesticide residues in brood comb on worker honey bee (apis mellifera) development and longevity. | numerous surveys reveal high levels of pesticide residue contamination in honey bee comb. we conducted studies to examine possible direct and indirect effects of pesticide exposure from contaminated brood comb on developing worker bees and adult worker lifespan. | 2011 | 21373182 |
| salivary secretions from the honeybee mite, varroa destructor: effects on insect haemocytes and preliminary biochemical characterization. | the ectoparasitic honey bee mite varroa destructor feeds on the haemolymph of the honey bee, apis mellifera, through a single puncture wound that does not heal but remains open for several days. it was hypothesized that factors in the varroa saliva are responsible for this aberrant wound healing. | 2011 | 21281563 |
| susceptibility of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) to synthetic acaricides in uruguay: varroa mites' potential to develop acaricide resistance. | the purpose of this study was to estimate the acaricide susceptibility of varroa destructor populations from uruguay, which had never been exposed to synthetic acaricides. it was also to determine whether acaricide resistance to coumaphos occurred in apiaries in which acaricide rotation had been applied. bioassays with acaricides against mite populations that had never been exposed to synthetic acaricides were performed, also against mite populations in which control failures with coumaphos had ... | 2011 | 20978789 |
| practical sampling plans for varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies and apiaries. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor anderson & trueman (acari: varroidae) is arguably the most detrimental pest of the european-derived honey bee, apis mellifera l. unfortunately, beekeepers lack a standardized sampling plan to make informed treatment decisions. based on data from 31 commercial apiaries, we developed sampling plans for use by beekeepers and researchers to estimate the density of mites in individual colonies or whole apiaries. beekeepers can estimate a colony's mite density with ... | 2010 | 20857710 |
| repellent and acaricidal effects of botanical extracts on varroa destructor. | extracts of indigenous plants from south america have shown a broad spectrum of bioactivities. no-contaminant and natural substances have recently resurged as control treatment options for varroosis in honey bee colonies from argentina. the aim of this work was to evaluate the biological activity of botanical extracts from baccharis flabellata and minthostachys verticillata on varroa destructor and apis mellifera. the acaricidal and insecticidal activities were assessed by the spraying applicati ... | 2011 | 20838808 |
| resistance phenomena to amitraz from populations of the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor of argentina. | in argentina, varroa destructor resistance to coumaphos has been previously reported. however, the status of mite susceptibility to other hard acaricides is still unknown. at present, high infestation levels of v. destructor are being detected in colonies of apis mellifera after treatment with amitraz. the aim of the present study was to determine the lc(50) of amitraz in v. destructor from three apiaries with high mite density after treatment with the acaricide. the lc(50) values were 3.9, 3.5, ... | 2010 | 20668878 |
| selection of apis mellifera workers by the parasitic mite varroa destructor using host cuticular hydrocarbons. | 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 t ... | 2010 | 20152062 |
| removal of drone brood from apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies to control varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) and retain adult drones. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor anderson & trueman (acari: varroidae) has plagued european honey bees, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae), in the americas since its introduction in the 1980s. for many years, these mites were sufficiently controlled using synthetic acaricides. recently, however, beekeepers have experienced increased resistance by mites to chemical pesticides, which are also known to leave residues in hive products such as wax and honey. thus there has been increased emp ... | 2009 | 20069828 |
| brood cell size of apis mellifera modifies the reproductive behavior of varroa destructor. | we undertook a field study to determine whether comb cell size affects the reproductive behavior of varroa destructor under natural conditions. we examined the effect of brood cell width on the reproductive behavior of v. destructor in honey bee colonies, under natural conditions. drone and worker brood combs were sampled from 11 colonies of apis mellifera. a pearson correlation test and a tukey test were used to determine whether mite reproduction rate varied with brood cell width. generalized ... | 2010 | 19768560 |
| impact of the use of fluvalinate on different types of beeswax from spanish hives. | acaricides are applied in agriculture as phytosanitary products against pests and in apiculture to control the bee parasite varroa destructor. poor apicultural practices could result in an accumulation of residues in honeybees, in the environment, and in beeswax and other bee products by migration from the wax comb into stored honey through a process of diffusion and consequently constitute a potential risk for humans. in this study, six different types of beeswax samples were analysed for the d ... | 2010 | 19756841 |
| genetic characterization of russian honey bee stock selected for improved resistance to varroa destructor. | maintenance of genetic diversity among breeding lines is important in selective breeding and stock management. the russian honey bee breeding program has strived to maintain high levels of heterozygosity among its breeding lines since its inception in 1997. after numerous rounds of selection for resistance to tracheal and varroa mites and improved honey production, 18 lines were selected as the core of the program. these lines were grouped into three breeding blocks that were crossbred to improv ... | 2009 | 19610443 |
| evaluation of mite-away-ii for fall control of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in colonies of the honey bee apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) in the northeastern usa. | mite-away ii, a recently-registered product with a proprietary formulation of formic acid, was evaluated under field conditions in commercial apiaries in upstate new york (usa) for the fall control of varroa destructor anderson & trueman in colonies of the honey bee, apis mellifera l. ambient temperatures during the treatment period were in the lower half of the range recommended on the label, but were typical for early fall in upstate new york. average mite mortality was 60.2 +/- 2.2% in the mi ... | 2010 | 19588256 |
| does imidacloprid seed-treated maize have an impact on honey bee mortality? | beekeepers suspected maize, zea mays l., treated with imidacloprid to result in substantial loss of honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies in belgium. the objective of this study was to investigate the potential impact of maize grown from imidacloprid-treated seeds on honey bee mortality. a survey of 16 apiaries was carried out, and all maize fields treated or not with imidacloprid were located within a radius of 3,000 m around the observed apiaries. samples of honey, beeswax, and bees were co ... | 2009 | 19449641 |
| synergistic interactions between in-hive miticides in apis mellifera. | the varroa mite, varroa destructor anderson & trueman, is a devastating pest of honey bees, apis mellifera l., that has been primarily controlled over the last 15 yr with two in-hive miticides: the organophosphate coumaphos (checkmite+), and the pyrethroid tau-fluvalinate (apistan). both coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate are lipophilic compounds that are absorbed by the wax component of the hive, where they are stable and have the potential to build up over repeated treatments such that bees could b ... | 2009 | 19449624 |
| varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae) in costa rica: population dynamics and its influence on the colony condition of africanized honey bees (hymenoptera: apidae). | the development of varroa destructor anderson & trueman (mesostigmata: varroidae) population dynamics in africanized honey bees, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies was monitored from february to july 2004 in atenas, costa rica. a correlation between the mite infestation level and the colony condition was evaluated. for each colony, infestation of varroa in adult bees was measured twice a month. sticky boards were placed on the bottom boards of each colony to collect fallen mites. t ... | 2008 | 19419078 |
| behavior of varroa mites in worker brood cells of africanized honey bees. | the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor is currently the most important pest of the honey bee, apis mellifera. because mite reproduction occurs within the sealed cell, the direct observation of varroa activity inside the cell is difficult. a video observation method using transparent polystyrol cells containing infested brood was used to analyze the behavior of varroa mites in worker brood of africanized honey bees. we recorded how mites feed on the larva and pupa, construct a fecal accumulatio ... | 2009 | 19381843 |
| the efficacy of small cell foundation as a varroa mite (varroa destructor) control. | due to a continuing shift toward reducing/minimizing the use of chemicals in honey bee colonies, we explored the possibility of using small cell foundation as a varroa control. based on the number of anecdotal reports supporting small cell as an efficacious varroa control tool, we hypothesized that bee colonies housed on combs constructed on small cell foundation would have lower varroa populations and higher adult bee populations and more cm(2) brood. to summarize our results, we found that the ... | 2009 | 19067184 |
| new experimental data on use of rotenone as an acaricide for control of varroa destructor in honey bee colonies. | three slow release experimental rotenone formulations were tested to evaluate their effectiveness against varroa destructor anderson & trueman in colonies with sealed brood and to determine whether they left residues in honey and bees wax: we evaluated cardboard strip containing 1 g rotenone and two types of polyvinyl chloride (pvc) strips containing 1 (high-dose) and 0.5 (low-dose) g of rotenone, respectively. in general, the efficacy of the treatments, expressed as percentage of mite mortality ... | 2008 | 18767712 |
| comparing oxalic acid and sucrocide treatments for varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) control under desert conditions. | the effectiveness of oxalic acid (oa) and sucrocide (s) (ava chemical ventures, l.l.c., portsmouth, nh) in reducing populations of the varroa mite varroa destructor anderson & trueman (acari: varroidae) in honey bee, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies was measured under the desert conditions of arizona, usa. oa and s were applied three times 7 d apart. a 3.2% solution of oa was applied in sugar syrup via a large volume syringe, trickling 5 ml per space between frames in the colony. ... | 2008 | 18767709 |
| uncapping activity of apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae) towards worker brood cells infested with the mite varroa destructor anderson & treuman (mesostigmata: varroidae). | varroosis, a disease caused by the mite varroa destructor anderson and treuman has killed hundreds of thousands of apis mellifera l. colonies in various parts of the world. nevertheless, the damage caused by this mite varies with the type of bee and climate conditions. varroa causes little damage to africanized bee colonies in brazil, as the infestation rates are relatively stable and low. we evaluated the hygienic behavior (uncapping and removal of brood) of highly hygienic africanized bees usi ... | 2008 | 18575688 |
| comparative reproduction of varroa destructor in different types of russian and italian honey bee combs. | earlier studies showed that russian honey bees support slow growth of varroa mite population. we studied whether or not comb type influenced varroa reproduction in both russian and italian honey bees, and whether russian bees produced comb which inhibited varroa reproduction. the major differences found in this study concerned honey bee type. overall, the russian honey bees had lower (2.44 +/- 0.18%) levels of varroa infestation than italian honey bees (7.20 +/- 0.60%). this decreased infestatio ... | 2008 | 18392942 |
| bee honey as an environmental bioindicator of pesticides' occurrence in six agricultural areas of greece. | the pollution of six agricultural areas of greece (north, central, south) by insecticides used in crop protection has been investigated utilizing, as a bioindicator, bee honey produced in those areas. honey samples collected randomly from apiaries located in those areas were analyzed for pesticide residues with a multianalytical method, able to determine simultaneously up to 10 organophosphorous insecticides from the same honey extract. findings concerning the acaricide coumaphos were also inclu ... | 2008 | 18231699 |
| detection of the high risk pyrethroid resistant varroa destructor mites in apiaries of the warmia-mazury province in poland. | the aim of our current study was to investigate the possible occurence of pyrethroid (taufluvalinate) resistant varroa mites infestations in 24 randomly chosen apiaries of warmia-mazury province of northeast poland. | 2007 | 18075158 |
| simulation modelling as a tool for evaluating surveillance programmes for detection of the asian honeybee mite ( varroa destructor ) in the south island of new zealand. | to use a simulation model of the spread of the asian honeybee mite (varroa destructor) amongst apiaries, to evaluate a series of detection surveillance programmes for the south island of new zealand. | 2007 | 18059644 |
| predicting the economic impact of an invasive species on an ecosystem service. | quantifying the impact of alien invasive species on ecosystem services is an essential step in developing effective practices and policy for invasive species management. here we develop a stochastic bioeconomic model that enables the economic impact of an invasive pest to be estimated before its arrival, based on relatively poorly specified ecological and economic parameters. we developed the model by using a hypothetical invasion of the varroa bee mite (varroa destructor) into australia and the ... | 2007 | 17913144 |
| a comparison of the reproductive ability of varroa destructor (mesostigmata:varroidae) in worker and drone brood of africanized honey bees (apis mellifera). | colony infestation by the parasitic mite, varroa destructor is one of the most serious problems for beekeeping worldwide. in order to reproduce varroa females, enter worker or drone brood shortly before the cell is sealed. to test the hypothesis that, due to the preference of mites to invade drone brood to reproduce, a high proportion of the mite reproduction should occur in drone cells, a comparative study of mite reproductive rate in worker and drone brood of africanized honey bees (ahb) was d ... | 2007 | 17828439 |
| detection and localisation of picorna-like virus particles in tissues of varroa destructor, an ectoparasite of the honey bee, apis mellifera. | virus-like particles, 27 nm in diameter, were observed in extracts of individual varroa destructor mites and in sections of mite tissue. application of a purification procedure resulted in virus preparations that were used to prepare an antiserum to detect the virus in individual mites. immunohistology studies showed that the gastric caecae were heavily infected, whereas no immunostaining could be detected in other mite tissues or organs, like the salivary glands, brain, rectum or reproductive o ... | 2007 | 17574570 |
| the parasitic mite varroa destructor affects non-associative learning in honey bee foragers, apis mellifera l. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor influences flight behavior, orientation and returning success of forager honeybees (apis mellifera) infested as adults. as impaired orientation toward the nest entrance might be due to deficiency in recognition and responsiveness to stimuli in the environment, we examined effects of v. destructor on sensory responsiveness, non-associative and associative learning of honey bee foragers by using proboscis extension reaction paradigm (per). although infested and ... | 2007 | 17123087 |
| acute contact toxicity of oxalic acid to varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) and their apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) hosts in laboratory bioassays. | laboratory bioassays were performed to characterize the acute contact toxicity of oxalic acid (oa) to varroa destructor (anderson and trueman) and their honey bee hosts (apis mellifera l.). specifically, glass-vial residual bioassays were conducted to determine the lethal concentration of oa for v. destructor, and topical applications of oa in acetone were conducted to determine the lethal dose for honey bees. the results indicate that oa has a low acute toxicity to honey bees and a high acute t ... | 2006 | 17066785 |
| effect of a fluvalinate-resistance-associated sodium channel mutation from varroa mites on cockroach sodium channel sensitivity to fluvalinate, a pyrethroid insecticide. | fluvalinate is a pyrethroid insecticide that is widely used in the control of the varroa mite (varroa destructor), an ecto-parasite of the honeybee. previously we identified four fluvalinate-resistance-associated mutations in the sodium channel gene of the varroa mite. one of the mutations caused a leucine (l) to proline (p) change at 1770 in the linker connecting domains iii and iv of the sodium channel. interestingly, at the position corresponding to the l to p mutation, all known insect (incl ... | 2006 | 17046602 |
| [the influence of levamisol on the level of total protein in haemolymph of bees infected with varroa destructor]. | the studies were performed in 1997 in bee colonies with carnica queens. levamisol in dose 2,5 mg/l and 5 mg/l of sugar syrup was given to experimental group, while the control one was treated with the same dose of sugar syrup. from may to september, once a month, the segments of honeycombs containing 15-17 day brood were taken for farer housing. the level of total protein was investigated in the haemolymph of freshly hatched bee workers. it was found that levamisol given in sugar syrup did not c ... | 2003 | 16889027 |
| the total protein content, protein fractions and proteases activities of drone prepupae of apis mellifera due to varrosis. | the proteins level and activities of acid and alkaline proteases in whole body extracts of drone prepupae of apis mellifera naturally infested with varroa destructor were studied. the infested and a non-infested group did not differ significantly in their total protein content. however, some differences in protein profiles were found. a lack of three protein fractions of moderate and lower molecular weight in infested prepupae was noted. moreover, some differences in the quantity of protein in m ... | 2005 | 16841690 |
| detection of viral sequences in semen of honeybees (apis mellifera): evidence for vertical transmission of viruses through drones. | honeybees (apis mellifera) can be attacked by many eukaryotic parasites, and bacterial as well as viral pathogens. especially in combination with the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor, viral honeybee diseases are becoming a major problem in apiculture, causing economic losses worldwide. several horizontal transmission routes are described for some honeybee viruses. here, we report for the first time the detection of viral sequences in semen of honeybee drones suggesting mating as another hori ... | 2006 | 16630626 |
| effect of concentration and exposure time on treatment efficacy against varroa mites (acari: varroidae) during indoor winter fumigation of honey bees (hymenoptera: apidae) with formic acid. | the combination of the concentration of formic acid and the duration of fumigation (ct product) during indoor treatments of honey bee, apis mellifera l., colonies to control the varroa mite, varroa destructor anderson & trueman, determines the efficacy of the treatment. because high concentrations can cause queen mortality, we hypothesized that a high ct product given as a low concentration over a long exposure time rather than as a high concentration over a short exposure time would allow effec ... | 2005 | 16539097 |
| conditional immune-gene suppression of honeybees parasitized by varroa mites. | the ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor, is the most destructive parasite of managed honeybee colonies worldwide. since v. destructor transfers pathogens to honeybees, it may be adaptive for bees to respond to mite infestation by upregulating their immune responses. mites, however, may overcome the host's immune responses by suppressing them, which could facilitate the mite's ability to feed on hemolymph. a humoral immune response of bees parasitized by v. destructor may be detected by studyin ... | 2005 | 16299597 |
| phylogeny of arthropoda inferred from mitochondrial sequences: strategies for limiting the misleading effects of multiple changes in pattern and rates of substitution. | in this study, mitochondrial sequences were used to investigate the relationships among the major lineages of arthropoda. the data matrix used for the analyses includes 84 taxa and 3918 nucleotides representing six mitochondrial protein-coding genes (atp6 and 8, cox1-3, and nad2). the analyses of nucleotide composition show that a reverse strand-bias, i.e., characterized by an excess of t relative to a nucleotides and of g relative to c nucleotides, was independently acquired in six different li ... | 2006 | 16290034 |
| components of honeybee royal jelly as deterrents of the parasitic varroa mite, varroa destructor. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor anderson & trueman reproduces on the immature stage of the honeybee, apis mellifera l. mites are found more often on drone brood than worker brood and only infrequently on queen brood. we investigated the chemical basis for the low incidence of mites on queen brood. v. destructor mites were deterred by a crude extract of royal jelly, a glandular secretion produced by nurse bees and fed to queen larvae. bioassay-driven fractionation of the crude extract via co ... | 2005 | 16222806 |
| semiochemicals influencing the host-finding behaviour of varroa destructor. | studies of varroa destructor orientation to honey bees were undertaken to isolate discrete chemical compounds that elicit host-finding activity. petri dish bioassays were used to study cues that evoked invasion behaviour into simulated brood cells and a y-tube olfactometer was used to evaluate varroa orientation to olfactory volatiles. in petri dish bioassays, mites were highly attracted to live l5 worker larvae and to live and freshly freeze-killed nurse bees. olfactometer bioassays indicated o ... | 2005 | 16180069 |
| spatial epidemiology of the asian honey bee mite (varroa destructor) in the north island of new zealand. | we describe the spatial epidemiology of varroa destructor infestation among honey bee apiaries in the greater auckland area of the north island of new zealand. the study population was comprised of 641 apiaries located within the boundaries of the study area on 11 april 2000. cases were those members of the study population declared varroa-infested on the basis of testing conducted between april and june 2000. the odds of varroa was highest in apiaries in the area surrounding transport and stora ... | 2005 | 16143412 |
| formic acid-based treatments for control of varroa destructor in a mediterranean area. | two formic acid autumnal treatments, gel packets (beevar formulation) and impregnated paperwick (liebig-dispenser), were tested in apiary to evaluate their effectiveness against varroa destructor anderson & trueman and their residues in honey in a mediterranean region (sardinia, italy). both treatments were efficient in the apiary control of the varroosis, with values of percentage of mite mortality ranging between 93.6 and 100%, without statistical differences between them. the more gradual rel ... | 2005 | 15889712 |
| formic acid treatment for control of varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae) and safety to apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) under southern united states conditions. | the efficacy of a formic acid pad formulation was field tested for control of the honey bee parasitic mite varroa destructor anderson & trueman in florida and texas. this pad formulation gave 39.8 +/- 11.1% control at the end of a 6-wk treatment period, which did not significantly differ from the initial sample date. coumaphos treatment provided poor control (38.4 +/- 11.1%) over the 6-wk period, confirming reports of coumaphos resistance in the region. under relatively warm winter conditions in ... | 2004 | 15568336 |
| effect of formic acid formulations on honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies and influence of colony and ambient conditions on formic acid concentration in the hive. | the interaction between the effects of varroa, varroa destructor anderson & trueman, and formic acid treatments on colonies of honey bees, apis mellifera l., were examined in two field experiments. in experiment 1, colonies with low varroa levels were exposed to two different slow-release formulations and compared with untreated colonies. in experiment 2, colonies inoculated with varroa and uninoculated colonies were exposed to a slow-release formulation, a pour-on formulation, or were left untr ... | 2004 | 15568335 |
| coumaphos distribution in the hive ecosystem: case study for modeling applications. | pesticides are currently used inside hives, against the honeybee parasite varroa destructor, producing unwanted contamination effects. to assess the distribution and fate of one of these pesticides (coumaphos), two experimental hives were treated with perizin (the commercial product containing the active ingredient coumaphos). samples of honey, wax, pollen, adult bees and larvae taken before treatment and up to 104 days afterwards, showed diffuse contamination. wood hedges and wax bridges, where ... | 2004 | 15526863 |
| [control strategies against varroa mites]. | in many cases, the easiest way to control a pest or a pathogen is to resort to chemical treatments. in the short period this option is often the most convenient economically and usually does not require refined knowledge of the biology of the pest. many efforts have been directed to develop chemical treatments against varroa destructor anderson & trueman. nowadays, product based on organic acids, essential oils, pyrethroids, organophosphate, and formamidine are available. resistance is serious p ... | 2004 | 15305731 |
| [beehive social organisation and biology of the varroa mite]. | in this paper we deal with the social structure of a honeybee colony. kind of interactions among the individuals of the three castes relatively to their task (queen, drone, workers) are recorded. moreover taxonomic and biological information is given on the varroa mite, varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) and its interaction with the host. | 2004 | 15305730 |
| altered physiology in worker honey bees (hymenoptera: apidae) infested with the mite varroa destructor (acari: varroidae): a factor in colony loss during overwintering? | the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor (anderson & trueman) is the most destructive pest of the honey bee, apis mellifera l., in europe and the united states. in temperate zones, the main losses of colonies from the mites occur during colony overwintering. to obtain a deeper knowledge of this phenomenon, we studied the mites' impact on the vitellogenin titer, the total protein stores in the hemolymph, the hemocyte characteristics, and the ecdysteroid titer of adult honey bees. these physiologi ... | 2004 | 15279246 |
| temporal pattern of africanization in a feral honeybee population from texas inferred from mitochondrial dna. | the invasion of africanized honeybees (apis mellifera l.) in the americas provides a window of opportunity to study the dynamics of secondary contact of subspecies of bees that evolved in allopatry in ecologically distinctive habitats of the old world. we report here the results of an 11-year mitochondrial dna survey of a feral honeybee population from southern united states (texas). the mitochondrial haplotype (mitotype) frequencies changed radically during the 11-year study period. prior to im ... | 2004 | 15212385 |
| evaluation of three concentrations of tebufenpyrad for the control of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae). | we evaluated three concentrations of tebufenpyrad (17.5, 15 and 12.5%) in strip formulations for controlling varroa mites, varroa destructor anderson and trueman (2000), in honey bee colonies. we also included colonies treated with apistan, checkmite+, and untreated colonies in our evaluation. the three concentrations we evaluated reduced varroa populations but also reduced the amount of brood and adult bees when compared with untreated colonies and colonies treated with apistan or checkmite+. a ... | 2003 | 14994788 |
| the reproductive program of female varroa destructor mites is triggered by its host, apis mellifera. | reproducing varroa females begin oviposition on a host larva by laying an unfertilized (male) egg, followed by fertilized (female) offspring. using transfer experiments, we examined whether the sequence of sexes in the brood cell is triggered by a host stimulus. when reproducing varroa females were transferred from white-eyed pupae (worker brood) into freshly capped worker brood cells, 77% (n = 22 fertile mites after the transfer) began a new reproductive cycle by laying a male egg. the proporti ... | 2003 | 14974691 |
| decreased flight performance and sperm production in drones of the honey bee (apis mellifera) slightly infested by varroa destructor mites during pupal development. | we developed a bioassay to measure the flying power of drone, in order to determine which drones could reach a drone congregation area. a wind tunnel was used to test unparasitized drones and drones slightly parasitized by one or two mites during pupal development, and counts were made of the number of spermatozoa that they produced. drones parasitized with one mite flew as long as control drones (x= 6'55" and 6'48", respectively, p = 0.512); however, those that had been infested by two mites fl ... | 2002 | 14963829 |
| the effects of temperature and dose of formic acid on treatment efficacy against varroa destructor (acari: varroidae), a parasite of apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae). | in order to decrease the variability of formic acid treatments against the honey bee parasite the varroa mite, varroa destructor (anderson and trueman 2000), it is necessary to determine the dose-time combination that best controls mites without harming bees. the concentration x time (ct) product is a valuable tool for studying fumigants and how they might perform under various environmental conditions. this laboratory study is an assessment of the efficacy of formic acid against the varroa mite ... | 2003 | 14635816 |
| the influence of brood comb cell size on the reproductive behavior of the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor in africanized honey bee colonies. | africanized honey bees (apis mellifera, hymenoptera: apidae) in brazil are tolerant of infestations with the exotic ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae), while the european honey bees used in apiculture throughout most of the world are severely affected. africanized honey bees are normally kept in hives with both naturally built small width brood cells and with brood cells made from european-sized foundation, yet we know that comb cell size has an effect on varroa repr ... | 2003 | 12917800 |
| study of temperature-growth interactions of entomopathogenic fungi with potential for control of varroa destructor (acari: mesostigmata) using a nonlinear model of poikilotherm development. | to investigate the thermal biology of entomopathogenic fungi being examined as potential microbial control agents of varroa destructor, an ectoparasite of the european honey bee apis mellifera. | 2003 | 12694446 |
| ultrastructure and bacterial infection of wounds in honey bee ( apis mellifera) pupae punctured by varroa mites. | the damage to western honey bee, apis mellifera, colonies caused by the originally asian ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor is mainly a consequence of the infestation of host bee pupae. in the capped brood cell, female mites puncture the host's integument at preferred sites in order to suck haemolymph. due to repeated feeding by the mother mite and her progeny, these perforations are kept open until shortly before the imaginal moult of the bee. thereafter scarring takes place, thus preventing ... | 2003 | 12684884 |
| effect of acaricide resistance on reproductive ability of the honey bee mite varroa destructor. | the reproduction of pyrethroid-resistant varroa destructor mite, a brood parasite of honey bees, was observed in weslaco, texas, and the results compared with known susceptible mite populations from other studies. seven apis mellifera colonies that had mite populations resistant to the acaricide apistan were used. pyrethroid-resistance was confirmed when only 17% rather than 90% of mites confined in dishes containing apistan died after 12 h of exposure. the average number of eggs laid by resista ... | 2002 | 12593585 |
| complete mitochondrial dna sequence of the important honey bee pest, varroa destructor (acari: varroidae). | mites in the genus varroa are the primary parasites of honey bees on several continents. genetic analyses based on varroa mitochondrial dna have played a central role in establishing varroa taxonomy and dispersal. here we present the complete mitochondrial sequence of the important honey bee pest varroa destructor. this species has a relatively compact mitochondrial genome (15,218 bp). the order of genes encoding proteins is identical to that of most arthropods. ten of 22 transfer rnas are in di ... | 2002 | 12593513 |
| rotenone and oxalic acid as alternative acaricidal treatments for varroa destructor in honeybee colonies. | this experiment assessed the efficacy of rotenone and oxalic acid (oa) in an aqueous sugar solution in controlling the honeybee mite varroa destructor. colonies were populated with mite-infested brood combs and worker bees. three rotenone or oa treatments administered during the period with capped brood on 31 july, 14 and 18 august resulted in an average efficacy of 24.10%. in untreated colonies mite mortality averaged 5.40%. no significant differences (p>0.05) were found between the rotenone an ... | 2003 | 12559714 |
| (z)-8-heptadecene from infested cells reduces the reproduction of varroa destructor under laboratory conditions. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor anderson and trueman, the most serious threat to apiculture in many countries of the world, reproduces inside honeybee brood cells. previous research, using artificial cells for rearing the mite on an apis mellifera larva, indicated that semiochemicals affecting the reproduction of varroa destructor are released into such cells. in order to isolate these semiochemicals, infested artificial cells were extracted with hexane and the extract fractionated twice. s ... | 2002 | 12523561 |
| virulence and site of infection of the fungus, hirsutella thompsonii, to the honey bee ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor. | the varroa mite, varroa destructor, is recognized as the most serious pest of both managed and feral western honey bee (apis mellifera) in the world. the mite has developed resistance to fluvalinate, an acaricide used to control it in beehives, and fluvalinate residues have been found in the beeswax, necessitating an urgent need to find alternative control measures to suppress this pest. accordingly, we investigated the possibility of using the fungus, hirsutella thompsonii, as a biocontrol agen ... | 2002 | 12507488 |