Age and reproductive status of adult Varroa mites affect grooming success of honey bees

作者：Kirrane Maria J^*; de Guzman Lilia I; Rinderer Thomas E; Frake Amanda M; Wagnitz Jeremy; Whelan Padraig M

来源：Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2012, 58(4): 423-430.

DOI：10.1007/s10493-012-9591-4

• Varroa destructor
• Grooming
• Hygienic behaviour
• Gravid mites
• Daughter mites

This study evaluated for the first time the grooming response of honey bees to Varroa mites of different ages and reproductive statuses in the laboratory. Plastic cages containing a section of dark comb and about 200 bees were inoculated with groups of four classes of mites: gravid, phoretic foundresses, phoretic daughters and a combination of gravid and phoretic foundress mites. Each cage received 20 mites belonging to one of these classes. Our results showed that, 1 day after mite inoculation, phoretic daughter mites were the most prone to grooming by honey bees with an average mite drop of 49.8 +/- 2.6 %. The lowest mite drop was recorded for bees inoculated with phoretic foundresses (30.3 +/- 3.6 %) but was comparable to bees inoculated with gravid mites (31.8 +/- 3.8 %) and the combination of gravid and phoretic foundress mites (34.2 +/- 3.2 %). No differences among mite types were detected during the second and third days of observation. Regardless of mite type, the highest mite drop was recorded on the first day (35 +/- 2.1 %) compared to the drop for any subsequent day (%26lt; 10 %). Because of the great reproductive potential of daughter mites, their inclusion in assessments of grooming behaviour may increase our insight into the importance of grooming in mite resistance.

• 出版日期2012-12