A comparison of the reproductive ability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Varroa destructor</Emphasis> (Mesostigmata:Varroidae) in worker and drone brood of Africanized honey bees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | Rafael A Calderón Luis G Zamora Johan W Van Veen Mariela V Quesada |
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Institution: | (1) Centro de Investigaciones Apícolas Tropicales, Universidad Nacional, 475-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica |
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Abstract: | Colony infestation by the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor is one of the most serious problems for beekeeping worldwide. In order to reproduce varroa females, enter worker or drone
brood shortly before the cell is sealed. To test the hypothesis that, due to the preference of mites to invade drone brood
to reproduce, a high proportion of the mite reproduction should occur in drone cells, a comparative study of mite reproductive
rate in worker and drone brood of Africanized honey bees (AHB) was done for 370 mites. After determining the number, developmental
stage and sex of the offspring in worker cells, the foundress female mite was immediately transferred into an uninfested drone
cell. Mite fertility in single infested worker and drone brood cells was 76.5 and 79.3%, respectively. There was no difference
between the groups (X
2 = 0.78, P = 0.37). However, one of the most significant differences in mite reproduction was the higher percentage of mites producing
viable offspring (cells that contain one live adult male and at least one adult female mite) in drone cells (38.1%) compared
to worker cells (13.8%) (X
2 = 55.4, P < 0.01). Furthermore, a high level of immature offspring occurred in worker cells and not in drone cells (X
2 = 69, P < 0.01). Although no differences were found in the percentage of non-reproducing mites, more than 74% (n = 85) of the mites that did not reproduce in worker brood, produced offspring when they were transferred to drone brood. |
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Keywords: | Varroa destructor Reproductive ability Comparison Africanized honey bees Worker brood Drone brood |
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