Population growth of Varroa jacobsoni Oud in Mediterranean climates of California

Kraus, Bernhard; Page, RE E.

doi:10.1051/apido:19950208

Cited by 40 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…5) in mite-free colonies are similar to actual bee colonies in temperate regions (Bodenheimer 1937;Buehlmann 1992). The rate of growth of the mite population ( r = 0·026) in virus-free colonies was similar to that found in previous studies (0·021 in Calatayud & Verdú 1995;Kraus & Page 1995;0·023 in Calis, Fries & Ryrie 1999).…”

Section:  supporting

confidence: 88%

The role of Varroa and viral pathogens in the collapse of honeybee colonies: a modelling approach

Martin

2001

Journal of Applied Ecology

321

343

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Summary1. The ecto-parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a serious world-wide pest of the honeybee Apis mellifera and has being linked with the death of millions of colonies, although its role in colony death has remained elusive. 2. A simulation model was developed to explain the link between the mite and collapse of the host bee colony, given that colony death does not always occur. We investigated the effects of two pathogens, deformed wing virus (DWV) and acute paralysis virus (APV), vectored by the mite, on the host colony. 3. Two previously published simulation models, a bee and a mite, were combined and adapted for use in temperate climates with a variety of bee diseases. The model was constructed using Modelmaker® software, which allows the progression of a disease in the host colony to be followed daily. 4. The population dynamics generated by the model were similar to those observed in a natural honeybee colony. When DWV-or APV-transmitting mites were introduced into the colony, its adult worker bee population collapsed either during winter or spring for DWV, or autumn to spring for APV. This corresponds well with field observations of colony death in Europe. 5. The model revealed that DWV initially had little effect on the colony but during late summer, as the population of DWV-transmitting mites increased, the virus caused a reduction in the number of healthy young bees entering the overwintering population. This imbalance in the age structure of the overwintering bees resulted in the eventual death of the colony during the winter or spring. As few as 2000-3600 mites in autumn could kill a colony. 6. In contrast, APV transmitted by Varroa was only able to kill the honeybee colony if a large (10 000+) mite population was already present when an overt APV infection occurred. It was difficult for APV to become established within the bee population due to it causing rapid host death. 7. The model predicts that the less virulent DWV will become more widely established than the highly virulent APV, and that mite control measures need to be taken prior to the production of overwintering bees.

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Section:  supporting

confidence: 88%

The role of Varroa and viral pathogens in the collapse of honeybee colonies: a modelling approach

Martin

2001

Journal of Applied Ecology

321

343

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“…On the other hand, non-infested colonies were probably weakened by the negative effect of repeated fluvalinate applications (Barbattini et al, 1989;Slabezki et al, 1991;Liu, 1992), meaning that the magnitude of the differences between non-infested and infested colonies may have been underestimated. Considering the entire experimental period, the daily finite rates of mite population increase were slightly lower (1.0123) than the ones also obtained in Mediterranean conditions by Kraus and Page [(1995); 1.0137 to 1.0214], Verdú [(1993, 1995) immigration rates (Branco et al, 1999;Delaplane and Hood, 1999)] or genetic (bee strain) variations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Varroa destructor infestation impact on Apis mellifera carnica capped worker brood production, bee population and honey storage in a Mediterranean climate

Murilhas

2002

Apidologie

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-This study investigated the impact of Varroa destructor infestation on the amount of capped worker brood, the adult bee population and honey production of authenticated Apis mellifera carnica colonies kept in a Mediterranean climate. For this purpose, colonies were set-up and either maintained mite-free or artificially mite-infested and allowed to develop an infestation. Periodical evaluations of those colonies unravelled the pattern of the previously mentioned variables across the season, and allowed for comparative numerical analyses. Progressive reductions on the amount of capped worker brood, bee population and honey storage in mite-infested colonies only became increasingly evident during spring and summer, apparently associated with impressive mite population increases. By the end of the experiment, mite-infested colonies showed a unitary average reduction of 45% in the amount of capped honey they stored, meaning an average annual loss of Ϸ 24 kg of honey per colony. However, the amount of capped honey stored per bee and day was found to be independent from colony V. destructor status, indicating a lack of direct effect of mite infestation on honey hoarding behaviour.Varroa destructor / Apis mellifera /population dynamics / honey production

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“…Presumably, this is due to parasites and pathogens, especially Varroa destructor and associated viruses. Multiple studies have shown that if a managed colony of European honeybees in Europe or North America is not treated for V. destructor , then in a year or two the population of mites infesting it will explode and the colony will die (Korpela et al 1992; Kraus and Page 1995a;Fries et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survivor population of wild colonies of European honeybees in the northeastern United States: investigating its genetic structure

et al. 2015

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-There is a widespread belief that wild colonies of European honeybees have been eradicated in Europe and North America, killed by viruses spread by the introduced ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor. In reality, however, several populations of wild colonies of honeybees in Europe and North America are persisting despite exposure to Varroa . To help understand how this is happening, we tested whether the bees in one of these populations of wild colonies-those living in and around the Arnot Forest (NY, USA)-are genetically distinct from the bees in the nearest managed colonies. We found that the Arnot Forest honeybees are genetically distinct from the honeybees in the two apiaries within 6 km of the forest. Evidently, the population of Arnot Forest honeybees is not supported by a heavy influx of swarms from the nearest managed colonies, which implies that it is self-sustaining. These results suggest that if a closed population of honeybee colonies is allowed to live naturally, it will develop a balanced relationship with its agents of disease. Indeed, it is likely to become well adapted to its local environment as a whole. We suggest four ways to modify beekeeping practices to help honeybees live in greater health.host-parasite coevolution / avirulence / survivor population / wild honeybees / Arnot Forest

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Population growth of Varroa jacobsoni Oud in Mediterranean climates of California

Cited by 40 publications

References 7 publications

The role of Varroa and viral pathogens in the collapse of honeybee colonies: a modelling approach

The role of Varroa and viral pathogens in the collapse of honeybee colonies: a modelling approach

Varroa destructor infestation impact on Apis mellifera carnica capped worker brood production, bee population and honey storage in a Mediterranean climate

A survivor population of wild colonies of European honeybees in the northeastern United States: investigating its genetic structure

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