Varroa jacobsoni infestation of adult Africanized and Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera) in mixed colonies in Brazil

Abstract

Different levels of infestation with the mite Varroa jacobsoni have been observed in the various Apis mellifera races. In general, bees of European races are more susceptible to the mite than African honey bees and their hybrids. In Brazil honey bee colonies are not treated against the mite, though apparently both climate and bee race influence the mite infestation. Six mixed colonies were made with Italian and Africanized honey bees. The percentage infestation by this parasite was found to be significantly lower in adult Africanized (1.69 ± 0.44) than Italian bees (2.79 ± 0.65). This ratio was similar to that found in Mexico, even though the Africanized bees tested there had not been in contact with varroa, compared to more than 20 years of the coexistence in Brazil. However, mean mite infestation in Brazil on both kinds of bees was only about a third of that found in Mexico.<br>Desde o contato inicial entre o ácaro Varroa jacobsoni e a abelha Apis mellifera, diferentes níveis de infestação foram verificados entre as diversas raças dessa espécie de abelhas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o grau de infestação determinado pelo acaro Varroa jacobsoni em abelhas Apis mellifera, africanizadas e italianas puras, quando criadas numa mesma colméia. Para isso, o grau de infestação foi obtido em seis colônias de abelhas constituídas de operárias de ambas as raças. O resultado de dezesseis repetições mostrou que as abelhas africanizadas foram menos infestadas que as abelhas italianas. Esse resultado sugere que, nas condições naturais de infestação, as abelhas africanizadas são mais defensivas ao parasita Varroa jacobsoni, garantindo a essa raça de abelhas a resistência à praga varroosis

Honey bee lines selected for high propolis production also have superior hygienic behavior and increased honey and pollen stores

“…Infestation rates are higher in temperate climates, making it necessary to apply acaricides or other treatments in order to maintain the colonies alive (De Jong et al, 1984). Among the different types of honey bees, Africanized bees are more tolerant to Varroa than are the European races (Moretto and Mello, 1999;Martin and Medina, 2004). The local tropical climate and the fact that these are Africanized bees contributed to the low rates of infestation with V. destructor.…”

Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) have low infestation levels of the mite Varroa destructor in different ecological regions in Mexico

“…Africanized bee colonies, particularly in tropical environments, had lower infestation rates than colonies of hybrid bees. Later, Moretto and Mello Jr. (1999) demonstrated the genotypic nature of the resistance of Africanized bees to Varroa infestation in a study in which Africanized and European workers were co-fostered in common hives. Their results suggest a pre-adaptation of African-derived bees that makes them less susceptible to varroa mite infestations.…”

Infestation and distribution of the mite Varroa destructor in colonies of africanized bees

“…It is also known that Brazilian Africanized bees when artificially parasitized with adult varroa females can rid themselves of the parasite through vigorous body movement, a behavior called grooming (Moretto & Mello, 1999). This behavior of Africanized bees is also observed under natural conditions, i.e., workers can be seen performing body movements when infested with varroas.…”