Abstract
Whereas in several parts of the world varroa is the major pest affecting apiculture, in others the parasite is unknown to many beekeepers because its damage to bees is minor. The impact of the mite Varroa destructor is related to the climatic conditions and the races of Apis mellifera bees in each region where the pest exists. In the present study, the current level of infestation by the mite was assessed to determine the evolution of the pest in Africanized bee colonies in Southern Brazil. This level of infestation was considered low: approximately two mites per one hundred adult bees. This result is similar to that obtained for the same apiary almost five years ago and for others distributed in various regions of Brazil. In the present study, we also estimated the total varroa population and its distribution among brood and adults in each bee colony.
Highlights
The mite Varroa destructor, an ectoparasite of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera brood and adults, was prevoiusly limited to only some regions of the world where it was parasitized its ingle original host, i.e., the species cerana, without causing damage to apiculture
To minimize the effects of varroa infestation on Apis mellifera, several acaricides were developed by various chemical companies
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the evolution of varroatosis and the distribution of the varroa population inside colonies of Africanized bees
Summary
The mite Varroa destructor, an ectoparasite of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera brood and adults, was prevoiusly limited to only some regions of the world where it was parasitized its ingle original host, i.e., the species cerana, without causing damage to apiculture. Apiculture started to feel a strong impact due to the drastic effects of varroatosis in various world regions, with high rates of brood and adult bee infestation in colonies of Apis mellifera bees (De Jong, 1984). To minimize the effects of varroa infestation on Apis mellifera, several acaricides were developed by various chemical companies. Cases of development of resistance to certain acaricides by Varroa destructor have been observed (Boot et al, 1995)
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