Preference for drone brood cells by Varroa jacobsoni Oud in colonies of Apis mellifera carnica

Abstract - In colonies of A mellifera carnica infested with Varroa jacobsoni, the invasion of worker brood cells and drone brood cells by reproductive female mites was studied. In 68 choices between brood combs of both cell types, the infestation of mites per cell was, on average, 8.3 times higher in drone brood. This drone cell preference was not affected by the infestation level. It was more marked if drone brood was rare and it decreased towards the end of the drone rearing season.