Varroa destructor

Assessing hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera unicolor (Hymenoptera: Apidae), the endemic honey bee from Madagascar

H. Rasolofoarivao, Delatte, H., Ravaomanarivo, L. H. Raveloson, Reynaud, B., and Clémencet, J., “Assessing hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera unicolor (Hymenoptera: Apidae), the endemic honey bee from Madagascar”, vol. 14, pp. 5879-5889, 2015.

Hygienic behavior (HB) is one of the natural mechanisms of honey bee for limiting the spread of brood diseases and Varroa destructor parasitic mite. Objective of our study was to measure HB of Apis mellifera unicolor colonies (N = 403) from three geographic regions (one infested and two free of V. destructor) in Madagascar. The pin-killing method was used for evaluation of the HB. Responses were measured from 3 h 30 min to 7 h after perforation of the cells. Colonies were very effective in detecting perforated cells.

Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) have low infestation levels of the mite Varroa destructor in different ecological regions in Mexico

C. A. Medina-Flores, Guzmán-Novoa, E., Hamiduzzaman, M. M., Aréchiga-Flores, C. F., and López-Carlos, M. A., “Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) have low infestation levels of the mite Varroa destructor in different ecological regions in Mexico”, vol. 13, pp. 7282-7293, 2014.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies of African and European descent were compared for levels of Varroa destructor infestation in 3 different ecological regions in Mexico. The 300 colonies that were studied were located in subtropical, temperate sub-humid, and temperate dry climates. The morphotype and mitotype of adult bees as well as their rates of infestation by varroa mites were determined. Additionally, the number of combs with brood and covered with bees was recorded for each colony.

High-throughput sequencing identification of genes involved with Varroa destructor resistance in the eastern honeybee, Apis cerana

T. Ji, Yin, L., Liu, Z., Shen, F., and Shen, J., “High-throughput sequencing identification of genes involved with Varroa destructor resistance in the eastern honeybee, Apis cerana”, vol. 13, pp. 9086-9096, 2014.

Varroa destructor is the greatest threat to the honeybee Apis mellifera worldwide, while it rarely causes serious harm to its native host, the Eastern honeybee Apis cerana. The genetic mechanisms underlying the resistance of A. cerana to Varroa remain unclear. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanism of resistance to Varroa may provide useful insights for reducing this disease in other organisms. In this study, the transcriptomes of two A. cerana colonies were sequenced using the Illumina Solexa sequencing method.

Transcriptional responses in eastern honeybees (Apis cerana) infected with mites, Varroa destructor

T. Ji, Yin, L., Liu, Z., Liang, Q., Luo, Y., Shen, J., and Shen, F., “Transcriptional responses in eastern honeybees (Apis cerana) infected with mites, Varroa destructor”, vol. 13, pp. 8888-8900, 2014.

The Varroa destructor mite has become the greatest threat to Apis mellifera health worldwide, but rarely causes serious damage to its native host Apis cerana. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of eastern bees against Varroa mites will help researchers determine how to protect other species from this organism. The A. cerana genome has not been previously sequenced; hence, here we sequenced the A. cerana nurse workers transcriptome and monitored the differential gene expression of A. cerana bees challenged by V.

Rapid method for DNA extraction from the honey bee Apis mellifera and the parasitic bee mite Varroa destructor using lysis buffer and proteinase K

M. R. C. Issa, Figueiredo, V. L. C., De Jong, D., Sakamoto, C. H., and Simões, Z. L. P., “Rapid method for DNA extraction from the honey bee Apis mellifera and the parasitic bee mite Varroa destructor using lysis buffer and proteinase K”, vol. 12, pp. 4846-4854, 2013.

We developed a rapid method for extraction of DNA from honey bees, Apis mellifera, and from the parasitic bee mite, Varroa destructor. The advantages include fast processing and low toxicity of the substances that are utilized. We used lysis buffer with nonionic detergents to lyse cell walls and proteinase K to digest proteins. We tested whole thorax, thoracic muscle mass, legs, and antennae from individual bees; the mites were processed whole (1 mite/sample).

RAPD identification of Varroa destructor genotypes in Brazil and other regions of the Americas

J. C. V. Guerra, Jr., Issa, M. R. C., Carneiro, F. E., Strapazzon, R., and Moretto, G., “RAPD identification of Varroa destructor genotypes in Brazil and other regions of the Americas”, vol. 9, pp. 303-308, 2010.

The mite Varroa destructor is the main pest causing damage to apiculture worldwide. In Brazil and other parts of the world, where bees of African origin and their hybrids predominate, the bees can survive these mites without treatment. Studies have shown a correlation between the various genotypes of the mite and its fertility in different geographical regions. Information about mite genotype could be helpful in understanding the diverse effects and relationships of the mite with bees in different regions of the world.

Communal use of integumental wounds in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae multiply infested by the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor

G. Kanbar and Engels, W., “Communal use of integumental wounds in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae multiply infested by the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor”, vol. 4, pp. 465-472, 2005.

The ectoparasitic bee mite, Varroa destructor, is highly adapted to its natural and adopted honey bee hosts, Apis cerana and Apis mellifera. Adult females perforate the integument of bee pupae in such a way that they and their progeny can feed. We examined the wounds that founder females made, and usually found one, and rarely up to three, integumental wounds on pupae of A. mellifera multiply infested by V. destructor. The punctures were mainly on the 2nd abdominal sternite of the host.

The influence of brood comb cell size on the reproductive behavior of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor in Africanized honey bee colonies

G. A. Piccirillo and De Jong, D., “The influence of brood comb cell size on the reproductive behavior of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor in Africanized honey bee colonies”, vol. 2, pp. 36-42, 2003.

Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Brazil are tolerant of infestations with the exotic ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae), while the European honey bees used in apiculture throughout most of the world are severely affected. Africanized honey bees are normally kept in hives with both naturally built small width brood cells and with brood cells made from European-sized foundation, yet we know that comb cell size has an effect on varroa reproductive behavior.

Subscribe to Varroa destructor