Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in Costa Rica: population dynamics and its influence on the colony condition of Africanized honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Rafael A Calderón,Johan W Van Veen

doi:10.15517/rbt.v56i4.5756

Abstract

The development of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) population dynamics in Africanized honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies was monitored from February to July 2004 in Atenas, Costa Rica. A correlation between the mite infestation level and the colony condition was evaluated. For each colony, infestation of varroa in adult bees was measured twice a month. Sticky boards were placed on the bottom boards of each colony to collect fallen mites. The condition of the colonies was evaluated by measuring the amount of brood and adult bees. Our results consistently showed that mite infestation on adult bees increased significantly in the experimental colonies, rising to 10.0% by the end of the experiment. In addition, the mean mite fall increased significantly over the course of the study in the treated (R = 0.72, P < 0.05) and untreated colonies (R = 0.74, P < 0.05) to a level of 63.8 and 73.5 mites per day, respectively. The increase in varroa infestation coincided with a decrease in the amount of brood. Furthermore, adult bees with deformed wings or even without wings crawling in front of their hive occurred in highly infested colonies (mite infestation = 10.0% or more).

Highlights

Severe colony mortality has been reported in European honey bees (EHB) colonies in Europe and North America, due to Varroa destructor (Bailey and Ball 1991)
As varroa dispersed through regions of Brazil, infestation rates of more than 10% were first reported in Africanized honey bee (AHB) colonies
It is known that mite populations vary according to bee genotype, mite genotype, geographical location, and climatic conditions (De Guzman et al 2007)

Summary

Introduction

Severe colony mortality has been reported in European honey bees (EHB) colonies in Europe and North America, due to Varroa destructor (Bailey and Ball 1991). Both adult bees and brood are parasitized. As varroa dispersed through regions of Brazil, infestation rates of more than 10% were first reported in Africanized honey bee (AHB) colonies. Due to the fact that brood rearing takes place year-round in AHB colonies in Costa Rica, varroa reproduction occurs through the year increasing the mite population in the colony. The influence of V. destructor infestation in the colony condition is discussed

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion