Standard methods for tracheal mite research

Abstract

SummaryThe honey bee tracheal mite (HBTM) Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is an obligate endoparasite of honey bees. First described from the Western (European) honey bee Apis mellifera L., this mite species was initially observed when honey bee colonies on the Isle of Wight, UK were dying between 1904 and 1919 (Rennie, 1921. Since then, this mite has been found in Europe, North and South America and parts of Asia, but its global distribution is not well understood. In this chapter, we outline protocols for collecting, detecting, identifying, diagnosing and measuring the infestation rates of A. woodi. We also describe methods to determine the damage threshold, outline several control measures, and describe methods for studying live mites. Métodos estándar para el estudio del ácaro traqueal ResumenEl ácaro traqueal de la abeja de la miel (HBTM son sus siglas en inglés) Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) es un endoparásito obligado de la abeja. Fue descrito por primera vez en la abeja occidental europea Apis mellifera L. Esta especie se describió inicialmente en la mortandad de las colonias de abejas de la isla de Wight, Reino Unido, entre 1904 y 1919 (Rennie, 1921. Desde entonces, este ácaro ha sido encontrado en Europa, en el Sur y Norte de América y en zonas de Asia, aunque su distribución global aún no se comprende bien. En este capítulo, se describen los protocolos para la recolección, detección, identificación, diagnóstico y medición de las tasas de infestación de A.woodi. También se describen métodos para determinar el umbral de daño, se esbozan una serie de medidas de control, y se describen métodos para el estudio de ácaros vivos.

Development and evaluation of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of Acarapis woodi (tracheal mites) in Apis mellifera

“…The TDM is a technique developed for the detailed assessment of mite infestation and allows detection of low levels of infestation (below 5 %), but it is very laborious. Symptoms of tracheal mite infestations in bees, such as crawlers in front of the colonies, are not reliable indicators of mite infestations in the field as they are similar to those caused by some viral infections and nosemosis (Sammataro et al 2013). Screening of tracheae from many bees bulked together (e.g.…”

“…Screening of tracheae from many bees bulked together (e.g. by grinding thoraxes of many bees in liquid and then look for the mites in the suspension) have been developed but are not suitable to detect low level of infestation (Sammataro et al 2013). Guanine visualisation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are other methods developed for the detection of tracheal mites, but these methods have limitations in their applications and are not generally recommended as low levels of infestations may go undetected (Sammataro et al 2013).…”

“…This paper describes the work done to develop a molecular method of sufficient sensitivity and specificity to enable screening for A. woodi in the New Zealand national survey for exotic pests, with the aim of eventually replacing the TDM for bee surveillance in New Zealand. Part of this method has already been described in Sammataro et al (2013) but the full method is now presented here.…”

“…Tracheal mites, Acarapis woodi Rennie (Acari:Tarsonemidae), are obligate endoparasites of honeybees, and heavy mite infestations may cause reduction in bee activity and may be a contributing factor to colony losses, although the exact causes of loss of colonies infested with A. woodi are still unknown (Sammataro et al 2013). Tracheal mites are found in most areas where there are honeybees with the exception of Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia (CAPCO 1992;Denmark et al 2000).…”

Tracheal mites, Acarapis woodi, greatly increase overwinter mortality in colonies of the Japanese honeybee, Apis cerana japonica

“…Detection of mite infestation was conducted by dissecting the bees under a microscope. The dissecting procedure was modified from the studies of Sammataro (2006) and Sammataro et al (2013). The bees were dissected by pulling off the head and the first pair of legs using forceps as done by Sammataro (2006); however, we did not pull off the abdomen but kept the bee body by holding the abdomen with forceps (Maeda 2015).…”