SummaryThe honey bee tracheal mite (HBTM) Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is an obligate endoparasite of honey bees. First described from the Western (European) honey bee Apis mellifera L., this mite species was initially observed when honey bee colonies on the Isle of Wight, UK were dying between 1904 and 1919 (Rennie, 1921. Since then, this mite has been found in Europe, North and South America and parts of Asia, but its global distribution is not well understood. In this chapter, we outline protocols for collecting, detecting, identifying, diagnosing and measuring the infestation rates of A. woodi. We also describe methods to determine the damage threshold, outline several control measures, and describe methods for studying live mites.
Métodos estándar para el estudio del ácaro traqueal ResumenEl ácaro traqueal de la abeja de la miel (HBTM son sus siglas en inglés) Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) es un endoparásito obligado de la abeja. Fue descrito por primera vez en la abeja occidental europea Apis mellifera L. Esta especie se describió inicialmente en la mortandad de las colonias de abejas de la isla de Wight, Reino Unido, entre 1904 y 1919 (Rennie, 1921. Desde entonces, este ácaro ha sido encontrado en Europa, en el Sur y Norte de América y en zonas de Asia, aunque su distribución global aún no se comprende bien. En este capítulo, se describen los protocolos para la recolección, detección, identificación, diagnóstico y medición de las tasas de infestación de A.woodi. También se describen métodos para determinar el umbral de daño, se esbozan una serie de medidas de control, y se describen métodos para el estudio de ácaros vivos.
Trachymolgus purpureus Fisher & Dowling sp. n. is described from the Ozark highlands of North America. A diversity of imaging techniques are used to illustrate the species including low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM), stereomicrography, compound light micrography, and digitally created line drawings. Developmental stages (larva, nymphs, and adult) and morphology are illustrated and discussed, and terminological corrections are suggested. Trachymolgus recki Gomelauri, 1961 is regarded as being described from tritonymphs. A key to Trachymolgus is presented.
Specimen vouchering is a critical aspect of systematics, especially in genetic studies where the identity of a DNA sample needs to be assured. It can be difficult to obtain a high quality voucher after DNA extraction when dealing with tiny and delicate invertebrates that often do not survive the extraction procedure intact. Likewise, once a whole specimen has been extracted from, it is no longer useful for scanning electron microscopic examination. This paper discusses the use of a single specimen for both low temperature scanning electron microscopy and DNA extraction. This process allows full documentation of all external characteristics of an organism and ample whole genomic DNA extraction for DNA sequencing.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.