Topic
Varroa sensitive hygiene
About: Varroa sensitive hygiene is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 714 publications have been published within this topic receiving 24928 citations. The topic is also known as: VSH.
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22 citations
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: Defence behaviour (sting test), hygienic behaviour (needle test) and syrup foraging rate were studied in honey bee colonies artificially made up of defensive and gentle bees and were compared with homogenous colonies made up only of either defensive or gentle bees.
Abstract: Defence behaviour (sting test), hygienic behaviour (needle test) and syrup foraging rate were studied in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies artificially made up of defensive and gentle bees (1:1), and were compared with homogenous colonies made up only of either defensive or gentle bees. The defensive bees turned out to be high-hygienic whereas the gentle bees were low-hygienic. The mixed colonies were defensive in terms of time to the first sting, but gentle or intermediate in terms of the number of stings. Colonies of mixed high-hygienic (defensive) and low-hygienic (gentle) bees were found to be intermediate or high-hygienic when they were monitored after a period of 12 or 24 h, respectively. Foraging rate was also markedly differentiated in homogenous colonies. The colonies with a mixture of good and poor foragers exhibited a poor foraging rate. Repeatability of the monitored traits was higher in the 100% defensive/high-hygienic colonies (higher genetic effect) than in 100% gentle/low-hygienic colonies. Efficient workers performed tasks by themselves and did not solicit help from non-efficient workers. Results of combining of different bee types occurred different. Interworker interactions were mostly non-additive for foraging and defensive behaviour, but additive for hygienic behaviour.
21 citations
TL;DR: This study demonstrates that bees with the VSH trait and pure RHB offer alternatives for beekeepers to use for commercial crop pollination while reducing reliance on miticides.
Abstract: 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. destructor (CT) or kept untreated (CU). Totals of 240 and 247 colonies were established initially for trials in 2008 and 2009, respectively. RHB and VSH colonies generally had adult and brood populations similar to those of the standard CT group regarding pollination requirements. For pollination of almonds [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb] in February, percentages of colonies meeting the required six or more frames of adult bees were 57% (VSH), 56% (CT), 39% (RHB), and 34% (CU). RHB are known to have small ...
21 citations
TL;DR: Spatial distribution of colonies with a higher risk of achieving high Varroa levels seems to be better explained by management practices than a geographical condition, which may delay mite population growth during following spring and summer improving colonies performance during the honey yield season.
21 citations
TL;DR: It was found that dusting colonies with powdered sugar did not significantly affect the adult bee population, and the efficacy of powdered sugar as a varroa control was determined by comparing mite populations, adult bee populations, and brood area in untreated colonies with those in colonies dusted every two weeks for 11 months with 120 g powdered sugar per application.
Abstract: SummaryControlling varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) populations in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies with acaricides has been a challenge for beekeepers due to the rapid development of resistant mite populations. For this reason, many beekeepers are adopting Integrated Pest Management strategies as alternatives to chemocentric varroa control schemes. One non-chemical tool that has been used for varroa control is dusting bee colonies with powdered sugar. The objective of our study was to determine the efficacy of powdered sugar as a varroa control by comparing mite populations, adult bee populations, and brood area in untreated colonies with those in colonies dusted every two weeks for 11 months with 120 g powdered sugar per application. We found that dusting colonies with powdered sugar did not significantly affect the adult bee population (treated: 10061.72 ± 629.42; control: 10691.00 ± 554.44) or amount of brood (treated: 4521.91 ± 342.84 cm2; control: 4472.55 ± 365.85 cm2). We ...
21 citations