Showing papers on "Varroa sensitive hygiene published in 2005"
TL;DR: By targeting the reproductive mites, bees with the SMR trait give the illusion that nearly all of the mites are non-reproductive, therefore, selection for a low frequency of reproductivemites may have produced bees that remove reproductive mite populations from capped brood.
Abstract: SUMMARYSuppressed mite reproduction (SMR) is a heritable trait of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) that can control the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adult bees with the SMR trait affect mites in brood after cells are capped. Colonies with or without the SMR trait were each given a comb of newly-capped worker brood that was naturally infested with varroa. Each of 7 source colonies provided a comb of brood to at least one SMR (n = 9) and one control colony (n = 8). These combs were removed from their host colonies 8 days later and mite populations evaluated in cells with bee pupae that were >8 days post-capping. Colonies with SMR bees averaged 2.2% of their cells infested with mites; controls averaged 9.0%. Therefore, bees with the SMR trait apparently removed mites from capped cells. Of the mites that remained, the SMR colonies had a much lower rate of reproductive mites, 20% vs. 71%. This suggests that bees with the SMR trait removed reproductive mite...
157 citations
TL;DR: Bees exposed to low or moderate number of mites had fewer immune-related transcripts than pupae that were never parasitized or pupae with high mite loads, and all bees tested negative for acute paralysis and Kashmir bee viruses known to be vectored by V. destructor.
Abstract: 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 studying the expression levels of antibacterial peptides, such as abaecin and defensin, known to be immune-responsive. Expression levels for these two antibacterial peptides changed non-linearly with respect to the number of mites parasitizing honeybee pupae. Bees exposed to low or moderate number of mites had fewer immune-related transcripts than pupae that were never parasitized or pupae with high mite loads. Although many of the pupae tested indicated the presence of bacteria, no correlation with mite numbers or immune-response levels existed. All bees tested negative for acute paralysis and Kashmir bee viruses known to be vectored by V. destructor.
122 citations
TL;DR: The number of nests produced, number of eggs per nest and emerging progeny mass of H. alcyoneus was 23% less at treatment sites than control sites, highlighting that even though honey bees have been present in certain areas for many years, competition with native bees may still be occurring.
91 citations
TL;DR: Two independent, long-term studies were done to appraise the effects of published integrated pest management practices on colony varroa mite levels, length of time before onset of treatment threshold, and other measures of colony productivity.
Abstract: SUMMARYTwo independent, long-term (17 months and 87 weeks) studies were done to appraise the effects of published integrated pest management (IPM) practices on colony varroa mite levels, length of time before onset of treatment threshold, and other measures of colony productivity. Screen hive floors tended to reduce colony mite levels (24-h sticky sheet counts), sometimes significantly. Likewise, mite-resistant queens tended to cause a numeric and sometimes significant reduction in mite levels; number of mites on sticky sheets decreased as the percentage expression of hygienic behaviour in a colony increased, and on the majority of sampling episodes the number of mites retrieved on sticky sheets was numerically lower in colonies with queens expressing suppressed mite reproduction (SMR). In six of eight cases when IPM components were found to interact they did so in a manner favourable to mite control. Time until achieving treatment threshold was significantly delayed in colonies with SMR queens (c. 72 wee...
75 citations
TL;DR: A detachable ‘bee box’ is designed that connects to the colony's entrance and is capable of holding the adult bee population and removing varroa (Varroa destructor) from adult honey bees using powdered sugar.
Abstract: SUMMARYWe developed a technique to remove varroa (Varroa destructor) from adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) using powdered sugar. Our technique requires isolating a colony's adult bee population in a detachable box prior to powdered sugar application. We designed a detachable ‘bee box’ that connects to the colony's entrance and is capable of holding the adult bee population. By applying a bee repellent, Bee Goreg, to a colony, we forced adult bees into the bee box where they were subsequently dusted with 225 g of powdered sugar. Adult honey bee populations treated in this manner dropped 76.7 ± 3.6% (n = 28) of their mites.
29 citations
TL;DR: It is speculated that restoring appropriate species of pseudoscorpions to bee colonies could possibly help save honey bee colonies from many insect and mite enemies.
Abstract: Following the adoption of clean-sawn hives and movable frames beginning about 130years ago, European beekeeping appears to have inadvertently lost what could be an extremely important component of honey bee colonies which probably protected them from many insect and mite enemies—pseudoscorpions. In fact pseudoscorpions were lost from Europe before much information at all was obtained about them. They have been so forgotten and overlooked that they are not mentioned in a 1982 review of associates of social insects,19 a 2001 review of the prospective biocontrol agents of varroa,12 or a 2004 review of the small hive beetle and the possibilities of biological control.16 Now with hives reeling from the onslaught of varroa in particular, but also other enemies such as tracheal mite disease and Tropilaelaps, and the small hive beetle, we speculate that restoring appropriate species of pseudoscorpions to our bee colonies could possibly help save our bees.
25 citations
TL;DR: The results point to an indisputable relationship between analysed behaviours and the strength of honey bee colonies: hygienic behaviour is more expressed in potent colonies and grooming behaviour was expressed only in potent bee colonies with one-year old queen.
Abstract: Two behaviours of honey bees, hygienic and grooming, are mechanisms of defense against brood diseases and parasitic mites, including Varroa destructor. Apis mellifera colonies remove the worker brood infested with Varroa destructor mites from the nest (hygienic behaviour), and groom the mites off other adult bees (grooming behaviour). In this study hygienic and grooming behaviours of Sjenicko-Pesterski honey bee ecotype were analysed in 440 honey bee colonies from 11 localities in the region of Sjenicko-Pesterski plateau, Podpesterje, Golija Mt. and Rogozna ML At each locality 40 honey bee colonies were investigated: 10 potent colonies with one-year old queen, 10 potent colonies with two-year old queen, 10 medium potent and 10 weak honey bee colonies. Hygienic behaviour was expressed in a range from 95.12% to 99.50% in potent honey bee colonies with one-year old and two-year old queens. Statistically highly significant (p<0.01) differences were registered among the analysed honey bee colonies at the investigated region, in favour of the potent honey bee colonies, compared to the medium potent and weak colonies. Also, statistically highly significant (p<0.01) differences were recorded between potent colonies with one-year old queens and colonies with two-year old queens, in favour of the colonies with one-year old queens. In general, investigated colonies belong to a category of the so called "hygienic colonies", as the efficiency of elimination of damaged pupae amounted to 91.50%. Grooming behaviour of Sjenicko-Pesterski honey bee ecotype potentially exists, but its significance cannot be discussed as, on the whole, investigated colonies showed potential of 34,04%. Our results point to an indisputable relationship between analysed behaviours and the strength of honey bee colonies: hygienic behaviour is more expressed in potent colonies (from 95.12% to 99.50%) regardless of queen age; grooming behaviour was expressed only in potent honey bee colonies with one-year old queen at all 11 localities, where the number of damaged mites ranged from 36,05% to 39,61%. The damaged mites were separated into six categories. The most frequent category of damage was damaged legs (53.38% in potent colonies with one-year old queens and 52.02% in potent colonies with two-year old queens). The potent honey bee colonies from the investigated region especially with one-year old queen, could be used for highly selected breeds improving and queens rearing.
23 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The wounds that founder females made, usually found one, and rarely up to three, integumental wounds on pupae of A. mellifera multiply infested by V. destructor are relevant to the evolution of behavioral traits in these parasitic mites and their relations to host bees.
Abstract: The ectoparasitic bee mite, Varroa destructor, is highly adapted to its natural and adopted honey bee hosts, Apis cerana and Apis mellifera. Adult females perforate the integument of bee pupae in such a way that they and their progeny can feed. We examined the wounds that founder females made, and usually found one, and rarely up to three, integumental wounds on pupae of A. mellifera multiply infested by V. destructor. The punctures were mainly on the 2nd abdominal ster- nite of the host. These perforations are used repeatedly as feeding sites by these hemolymph-sucking mites and by their progeny. The diameter of the wounds increased during pupal development. In brood cells con- taining 4-5 invading female mites and their progeny, healing of the wound is delayed, normally occurring just before the imaginal moult of the bee pupa. These wounds are subject to microbial infections, and they are relevant to the evolution of behavioral traits in these parasitic mites and their relations to host bees.
18 citations
TL;DR: It is indicated that Russian honey bee colonies (headed by original and supersedure queens) can successfully overwinter in the north, even during adverse weather conditions, owing to their frugal use of food stores and their resistance to tracheal mite infestations.
Abstract: Honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), colonies infested by parasitic mites are more prone to suffer from a variety of stresses, including cold temperature. We evaluated the overwintering ability of candidate breeder lines of Russian honey bees, most of which are resistant to both Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman and Acarapis woodi (Rennie), during 1999–2001. Our results indicate that Russian honey bee colonies (headed by original and supersedure queens) can successfully overwinter in the north, even during adverse weather conditions, owing to their frugal use of food stores and their resistance to tracheal mite infestations. In contrast, colonies of Italian honey bees consumed more food, had more mites, and lost more adult bees than Russian honey bees, even during unusually mild winter conditions.
18 citations
Journal Article•
13 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: The number of bee colonies and beekeepers is steadily declining due to the inadvertent introduction of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor into the U.S. in 1987.
Abstract: A n estimated one-third of the human diet is derived directly or indirectly from insect pollinated plants. Honey bees are the world's most important insect pollinator of fruit and vegetable crops, home gardens and wildflowers. The number of bee colonies and beekeepers is steadily declining due to the inadvertent introduction of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor into the U.S. in 1987. Left untreated, varroa mites kill most bee colonies within one to two years.
Journal Article•
Journal Article•
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: This article is prepared to give important information a bout the biology of the Varroa destructor for help to give an appropriate decision on how to make an effect fight against the parasite.
Abstract: Honey bees are very important insects for humans. Because they help to protect the ecological balance and they have an important role on producti on of the human feeds. To increase the advantage of these insects, we must make a true and effect fight against their diseases and parasites. Varroa destructor is one of the most important parasite to effect the pr oductivity of honey bees. If we know well to the bi ology of reproduce, feeding and living system of the parasit e, we may make an effect fight against the parasite . This article is prepared to give important information a bout the biology of the Varroa destructor for helpi ng to give an appropriate decision.
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: This article was prepared to give useful information on using of the organic a cids, instead of the chemicals, to control of the varroa destructor.
Abstract: Varroa destructor reproduce and increase only in honey bee colonies. If we don't ta ke useful preventive measures against the parasites, they rap idly increase and decrease the productivity of the honey bee colonies. They could be the cause of the colony dead and help to infect the disease to the colonie s. A lot of fights methods especially chemicals methods are developed against the parasite. Chemical drugs coul d be effective against the mites but they can leave the residues in the honey and wax. If they use again an d again parasite could have immunity against the drugs. Fal se or unconscious use of the chemicals threat the h ealthy of the bees and humans. This article was prepared t o give useful information on using of the organic a cids, instead of the chemicals, to control of the varroa destructor .