First report of the bee louse Braula schmitzi (Diptera: Braulidae) in apiaries of the “Los Chillos” Valley, Province of Pichincha, Ecuador

Abstract

Braula spp. (Diptera: Braulidae) or bee lice, are pests widely distributed in the world, comprising five species. The present study reports for the first time the presence of Braula schmitzi in hives (n = 166) of bees (Apis sp.) in Ecuador. The findings were conducted within an epidemiological study on Varroa sp. between February and April 2015. Adult lice were separated from bees according to a protocol well established for Varroa sp., from samples obtained from bee hives (n = 25) located in Los Chillos Valley province of Pichincha. The hives were located between 2486 and 3279 m above the sea level. The specimens were identified as B. schmitzi on the basis of the morphological characteristics using scanning electron microscope. Description of males and females in ventral and dorsal view, structure of comb and comparisons with Braula coeca were included in the study. Although the potential as vector of viruses and other diseases has not been evaluated, this first report of B. schmitzi, in Los Chillos Valley, puts on alert the situation of beekeeping in Ecuador. This study would complement the missing information on the presence of this pest throughout South America.