Tropilaelaps mercedesae Infestation Is Correlated with Injury Numbers on the Brood and the Population Size of Honey Bee Apis mellifera

Abstract

Tropilaelaps mercedesae, one of the most devastating parasitic mites of honey bee Apis mellifera hosts, is a major threat to honey products by causing severe damage to honey bee colonies. Here, we recorded injury numbers caused by T. mercedesae to different body parts of the larval, pupal, and crippled adult stages of honey bee A. mellifera. We evaluated the relationship between infestation rate and injury numbers per bee for both larvae and pupae. We also noted the total bee numbers per beehive and examined the relationship between the infestation rate and population size. T. mercedesae infested all developmental stages of honey bees, with the highest injury numbers in the abdomens of bee pupae and the antennas of crippled adult bees. Although larvae received more injury numbers than pupae, both infestation rate and injury numbers decreased as the larval stage progressed to the pupal stage. The infestation rate increased as the population size per beehive decreased. This study provided new perspectives to the understanding of changes in the effects of T. mercedesae infestations on different developmental stages of honey bees. It also showed useful baseline information for screening honey bee stock that might have high defensive behaviors against mite infestation.

Proteomics profiling of the honeybee parasite Tropilaelaps mercedesae across post-embryonic development

“…Unlike Varroa mites, the dispersal phase of T. mercedesae is much shorter and they do not feed on adults. Instead, they feed on young larvae in uncapped cells 16 , 17 , as their body size and mouthparts are not suitable for parasitizing and feeding on adult bees 18 . The combination of an accelerated reproductive rate, truncated life cycle, and abbreviated dispersal phase collectively underpin the rapid proliferation of T. mercedesae within honeybee colonies, potentially endowing it with a heightened capacity to compromise bee health compared to Varroa .…”

Current honey bee stressor investigations and mitigation methods in the United States and Canada

“…( Goblirsch 2018 ), viruses ( Beaurepaire et al 2020 ), and emerging parasites of concern such as Lotmaria passim ( Gomez-Moracho et al 2020 ) and Tropilaelaps spp. ( Ling et al 2023 ). Research into the biology and management of these pests is vital to achieve a stable beekeeping industry.…”

Enhancing Honey Bee Health: Evaluating Pollen Substitute Diets in Field and Cage Experiments

“…Honey bee population, capped brood area, consumption, preference, colony weight, honey production, hygienic behavior, and dried head and thorax weight were estimated in this study. The honey bee population within each colony was determined by visually estimating the percentage of adult bees present on each side of every comb in the colony [29]. These individual percentages were then combined to determine the total percentage representing the colony's adult bee population.…”

“…15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 2029 March to evaluate the influence of the diets. Since nearby flowers began blooming on 29 March, no further diets were supplied thereafter.…”