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.

A Sustainable Approach to Controlling Honey Bee Diseases and Varroa Mites

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.

Number and position of wounds on honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae infested with a single Varroa mite

Abstract: The wounds inflicted on pupae in capped brood cells of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, infested with a single female of the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, were investigated after visualisation by vital staining with trypan blue. On average the mites made two integumental perforations for feeding on prepupae and one on pupae. Most of the punctures were on particular ventral sites on the abdomen. Possible reasons for this pronounced preference and the evolutionary aspects of this highly specialised parasite-host relationship are discussed.

An evaluation of the associations of parameters related to the fall of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) from commercial honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies as tools for selective breeding for mite resistance.

Abstract: Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) trapped on bottom boards were assessed as indirect measurements of colony mite population differences and potential indicators of mite resistance in commercial colonies of Russian and Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) by using 35 candidate measurements. Measurements included numbers of damaged and nondamaged younger mites, nymphs, 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. Several measurements differed strongly between the stocks, suggesting that the detailed characteristics of trapped mites may reflect the operation of resistance mechanisms in the Russian honey bees. Regression analyses were used to determine the relationships of these candidate measurements with the number of mites in the colonies. The largest positive regressions differed for the two stocks (Italian honey bees: trapped mites and trapped younger mites; Russian honey bees: trapped younger mites and trapped fresh mites). Also, the regressions for Italian honey bees were substantially stronger. The largest negative regressions with colony mites for both stocks were for the proportion of older mites out of all trapped mites. Although these regressions were statistically significant and consistent with those previously reported, they were weaker than those previously reported. The numbers of mites in the colonies were low, especially in the Russian honey bee colonies, which may have negatively influenced the precision of the regressions.

The presence of varroa in Uganda and knowledge about it by the beekeeping industry

Abstract: Varroa mites are important honey bee ecto-parasites that have caused disaster to the beekeeping industry in Europe and America. The extent of spread of these mites in Africa is not clearly known, but several sub-Saharan African countries including Uganda have been on the varroa-suspect list. We surveyed 16 districts falling in eight agroecological zones in Uganda with the aim of establishing the presence of varroa mites. Within each district, at least two subcounties were visited for honey bee sample collection and varroa detection between September 2011 and April 2013. Honey bee samples collected were screened for varroa mites by dusting with thymol. Farmers and beekeeping extension workers were interviewed on their knowledge of varroa. The results indicate that varroa mites were present in all the districts and agroecological regions sampled. Bee farmers and beekeeping extension workers were completely unaware of the presence of the varroa mites. The farmers reported no changes in honey production and h...