Morphotype and haplotype identification of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), and its importance for apiculture in Nicaragua

Düttmann, Christiane; Flores, Byron; Sheleby‐Elías, Jessica; Castillo, Gladys; Osejo, Henry; Bermúdez, Sergio; Demedio, J.

doi:10.1007/s10493-021-00603-9

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

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“…Nevertheless, Africanization in bee colonies presents advantages over European bees, related to resistance and/or tolerance to certain diseases mainly varroosis. These abilities are associated to a better hygienic behaviour and grooming, as well as a lower susceptibility to suffer invasion and reproduction of pathogens [ 9 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to obtain relatively high genetic diversity from the Nicaraguan honeybee population, the selection criteria based on heterogeneity of abdominal colour within the colony and mean length of forewing. Due to the management of beekeepers in Nicaragua, referring to frequently exchanging combs with brood to strengthen weak hives, exists the probability of finding diversity in mitochondrial DNA in one beehive [ 30 ]. Therefore, we decided to sample two worker bees per beehive.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Nicaragua, the Africanized honeybee was first reported in 1984 [ 30 ]. Due to the high defensiveness of the Africanized bees, in the following years beekeeping activity was reduced over 50% (C. Düttmann personal communication to beekeeper committee), like in many other Latin-American countries where the Africanization of A .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since Nicaraguan beekeepers do not practice selective breeding and the majority catch feral swarms to increase the number of their hives, a process of natural selection began for the benefit of the Africanized bee, which replaced the European colonies nationwide. Despite the high level of defensiveness and swarming behaviour, the beekeepers got to know the advantages of working with the Africanized bee, for example resistance and tolerance to diseases, high reproductive numbers and higher honey yields under appropriate management conditions [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Africanized honeybee population (Apis mellifera L.) in Nicaragua: Forewing length and mitotype lineages

et al. 2022

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Various subspecies of Apis mellifera L. were introduced to Central America since colonization 500 years ago. Hybridization increased with the entrance of the Africanized bee in Nicaragua in 1984. Rustic beekeeping activities and numerous feral swarms define the genetic pattern, reflected in phenotypic heterogeneity and remarkable differences in the behaviour of the bee colonies, especially the nest defence. Due to these facts, the question emerge about the degree of Africanization of honeybee colonies in Nicaragua. In this study, we identified Africanized honeybee colonies based on the single character "mean forewing length" and we corroborated our results by determining mitotypes using mtDNA analysis. Morphometric and genetic approaches were realized in three different geographical zones of Nicaragua and related to beehive characteristics and management. Worker bee samples were taken from the inside of 146 hives from 26 apiaries. Abdominal colour as phenotypic character was the first examination, followed by measurement of 1460 right forewings to determine corresponding probability of Africanization. More than 60% of the beehives showed phenotypic heterogeneity and mean forewing length of 8.74 mm (SD 0.16 mm) indicated a high degree of Africanization. Those results provided a selection of 96 worker bees to perform PCR of two worker bees per hive. For mitochondrial DNA analysis 14 samples from sentinel apiaries were added. Three from 61 beehives presented bees with different mtDNA. Throughout, three mitotypes of the African (A) lineage were detected; one mitotype is still unidentified. Mitotype A1 A. mellifera iberiensis was represented by 88 bees and mitotype A4 A. mellifera scutellata by 21 bees. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the PCR findings. No associations were found between mitotypes, forewing length, beehive characteristics and management. A high degree of Africanization in A. mellifera colonies represented by two predominating mitotypes from the A lineage, prevail in Neotropical Nicaragua, with mitotype A4 predominating at higher altitudes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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