The ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman in southeastern Brazil apiaries: effects of the hygienic behavior of Africanized honey bees on infestation rates

Abstract

In Brazil, the ectoparasitic mite of bees Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) remains at low levels of infestation causing no major damage. However, with the introduction and possible dominance of a new haplotype (K) of the mite, usually found in areas with high infestation rates (IR), it is necessary to monitor and select beehives that are resistant to the pest in order to avoid future problems. Several factors are listed as potentially being responsible for the dynamics of mite infestation, among which hygienic behavior (HB) stands out. In this context we sought to evaluate the HB of Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) compared with the mite IR in apiaries of two municipalities of southeastern Brazil (Taubaté and Viçosa). For the municipality of Taubaté, the average IR was 4.9% (3.4 to 5.8%), while the HB averaged 98.6% (96 to 100%). In Viçosa, the average mite IR was found to be 10.0% (5.4 to 21.0%) with an average value for HB of 57.7% (0 to 79.0%). Results from this research show that IR and HB were negatively correlated (R = -0.9627, P<0.01), suggesting that hives with higher HB have lower IR.Keywords: Acari, Apidae, bee pathology, pest management, Varroidae RESUMO No Brasil, o ácaro ectoparasita de abelhas Varroa destructor Anderson e Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) se mantém em índices de infestação baixos, não causando grandes prejuízos. Todavia com a introdução e possível predominância de um novo haplótipo (K) do ácaro, geralmente encontrado em regiões com altas taxas de infestação (TI), faz-se necessário o monitoramento e seleção de colônias resistentes à praga, evitando problemas futuros. Vários fatores são relacionados como possíveis responsáveis pela dinâmica de infestação do ácaro, dentre os quais se destaca o comportamento higiênico (CH). Nesse contexto buscamos avaliar o CH de abelhas africanizadas

Infestation rate of the mite Varroa destructor in commercial apiaries of the Vale do Paraíba and Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil

“…Three mechanisms are sufficient for control of the mite in colonies: i) mite reproduction restricted to the drone brood (Garrido and Rosenkranz, 2004), ii) grooming and hygienic behaviour (e.g., Pinto et al, 2012) and iii) "entombing" of drone pupae  where highly infested drones, that are unable to open their cocoons, are neglected by workers and eventually die within their brood cells (e.g., Rath, 1992).…”

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“…A primeira observação do ácaro no Brasil foi na década de 70 em Ribeirão Preto -São Paulo (Pinto et al, 2012). Ainda de acordo com esses autores, vários estudos têm mostrado que altas taxas de infestação são multifatoriais, envolvendo fatores bióticos e abióticos, os quais têm mostrado ser significativos na dinâmica de infestação deste parasito.…”

“…O comportamento higiênico é outro fator que pode ter grande influência no controle desse parasito, uma vez que a taxa de infestação é menor em colônias selecionadas (Pinto et al, 2012). O uso de abelhas selecionadas torna-se uma alternativa no controle desse parasito sem a necessidade de medidas de controle adicionais (Rinderer et al, 2010).…”

Behavioral modulation of the coexistence between Apis melifera and Varroa destructor: A defense against colony collapse?

“…But Varroa destructor has been present in Brazil for more 20 than 30 years and yet no collapses due to this mite, have been recorded [3]. It is worth 21 noting that the dominant variety of bees in Brazil is the Africanized honey bee (AHB) 22 which since its introduction in 1956, has spread to the entire country [4]. 23 African bees and their hybrids are more resistant to the mite V.destructor than 24 European bee subspecies [4,5].…”

“…It is worth 21 noting that the dominant variety of bees in Brazil is the Africanized honey bee (AHB) 22 which since its introduction in 1956, has spread to the entire country [4]. 23 African bees and their hybrids are more resistant to the mite V.destructor than 24 European bee subspecies [4,5]. A review by [6] in Mexico showed that EHB was twice as 25 attractive to V.destructor than AHB.…”