The occurrence of ecto-parasitic Leptus sp. mites on Africanized honey bees

Abstract

This work was funded by "Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)" via Special Visiting Researcher -PVE between S. Martin and Carlos A. L. de Carvalho (number 400425/2014-9). Maria E. Correia-Oliveira was funded by "Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)". We thank Carlos A. L. de Carvalho (UFRB) for arranging access to the colonies and to the beekeepers for help with collecting the mites and bees. The honeybees were collected under SISBIO license number 46906-1. SummaryHoney bee-mite-pathogen associations have led to the widespread collapse of Apis mellifera colonies in various parts of the world. The global trade in bees continues to expose honey bees to new pests and pathogens. Here we highlight to the beekeeping community a potential new mite-pathogen association. In South America ecto-parasitic Leptus mite larvae have been recorded parasitising adult honey bees and these mites are known to transmit Spiroplasma bacteria the causative agent of 'Mays disease' in bees. Here we provide new data and review past studies on Leptus mites and discuss the potential risk to A. mellifera this mite may pose in the future.