Low Susceptibility of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), to the Entomogenous Nematode, Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser 1

Abstract

Spraying the infective stage of the nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser directly on frames containing Apis mellifera L. resulted in limited mortality of worker bees and no mortality to the brood. Nematode mortality of adult bees was found only during the first 3 days after spray application. The brood was probably not infected because of the high temperatures (33.3 to 35.2°C) maintained around the brood by the worker bees in the center of the hive. The activity of the bee colony was not adversely affected after nematode treatment. Nematode-infected Galleria mellonella L. pupae placed in the honeycomb near the periphery of the hive resulted in nematode development and reproduction, probably because of the lower temperatures in this area. Direct spraying of nematodes on worker bees in cages at 25°C resulted in less than 15% mortality. Thus, N. carpocapsae can be used against insect pests where bees occur by following normal spray precautions.