Hygienic Behavior of Apis mellifera and Its Relationship with Varroa destructor Infestation and Honey Production in the Central Highlands of Ecuador

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze the relationship among hygienic behavior (HB), Varroa destructor infestation, and honey production in the central highlands of Ecuador. Overall, 75 honey bee colonies were evaluated before, during, and after production at three altitude levels (2600–2800, 2801–3000, and >3000 m.a.s.l.). The hygienic behavior percentage of the colonies was determined by the pin-killing method, and the colonies were classified into three groups: high HB (>85%), mid HB (60.1–85%), and low HB (≤60%). Varroa infestation was diagnosed as well, and honey production was evaluated only during production. HB was high and heterogeneous, averaging 80% ± 9.7%. Its highest expression was observed at lower altitudes. The infestation degree was low (3.47% ± 1.56%), although the mite was detected in all colonies upon sampling. A negative correlation was observed between HB and Varroa infestation in the first sampling (−0.49 **), suggesting that the high- and mid-altitude HB colonies underwent the lowest infestation rates, regardless of sampling. The correlations between HB and production were significant (0.26 *), indicating a positive effect of HB on production, meaning that colonies with high HB obtained the highest honey production (25.08 ± 4.82 kg/hive). The HB of bees showed an inverse relationship with altitude and it tended to reduce the effect of Varroa infestation, favoring honey production and, thus, suggesting the feasibility of selecting colonies with high HB.

Defensive Behaviors of the Central Highland Honeybees, Apis mellifera bandasii against Varroa destructor in Ethiopia

“…Compared to reports from other countries, the average hygienic behaviors displayed in Ethiopian honeybee races were higher than those reported in Kenya (81.0%) (Nganso et al, 2017), Egypt (72.5%) (Kamel et al, 2003), Ecuador (80 %) (Masaquiza et al, 2021), and Chile (20-80%) (Araneda et al, 2008). Such differences could be attributed to several factors, including the bees' genetic factors, geographic locations, climatic conditions, and seasonal variations.…”

“…Yet, there were variations in the level of damaged mites across experimental colonies, and this would preclude us from concluding that grooming behavior is an effective mechanism of defense against mites. Because, several driving factors can considerably influence the degree of grooming behaviors among honeybee stocks, even for colonies existing in the same geographic region (Boecking et al, 2000;Masaquiza et al, 2021;Hamiduzzaman et al, 2017). Therefore, considering driving factors would be important during selection breeding programs to enhance resistant bee stocks.…”

Epidemiology, factors influencing prevalence and level of varroosis infestation (Varroa destructor) in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies in different agroecologies of Southwest Ethiopia

“…According to research in southwestern Ethiopia ( Shegaw et al, 2022 ) and the Tigray region ( Haftom et al, 2019 ), infection levels were higher during the wet season than during the dry season. Lower temperatures and higher humidity during the wet season that influenced the hygienic behavior of honey bees that is inversely correlated with the level of infestation may be the cause of the higher level of infection during this season ( Masaquiza et al, 2021 ). Similarly, the level of infection was also strongly correlated with the strength of the colony and the agroecology of the area where the colony was located, both in adult bees and in brood cells.…”

Diet Supplementation Helps Honey Bee Colonies in Combat Infections by Enhancing their Hygienic Behaviour

“…Being such highly polygenic, this behavior would be expected to be susceptible to external infl uences, but the investigations are scarce and the fi ndings non-consistent. Bigio et al [56] reported no great infl uence of environmental conditions on hygienic behavior, but a reverse relationship was reported between hygienic behavior expression and altitude [57], seasonal and environmental variations [58]. Hygienic behavior was not correlated with the colony strength [59] and was not affected by Nosema ceranae infection [60].…”