The effectiveness of systemic agents used to control the mite, Varroa jacobsoni, in colonies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera depends on food distribution patterns

Abstract - A common means of combating the mite Varroa jacobsoni is to use systemic agents assumed to be spread by trophallactic interactions between honey bees within a colony. Colonies of Apis mellifera with age-marked bees were used to analyse distribution patterns of these agents. Methylene blue dye was used as a tracer in place of a systemic agent in order to determine possible effects of the method of application on distribution patterns within a colony. Applying a sugar solution by sprinkling a colony was found to cause a faster and more even distribution among the colony members than applying the agent in a feeding-jar. However, the effectiveness was lower and the contamination of combs and top bars was higher. Results show that with lower concentrations methylene blue is a less accurate tracer for food transfer than has been reported in the literature. It is concluded that trophallaxis is of minor importance for obtaining an even distribution of a systemic agent in a bee colony.