Free Access
Issue
Apidologie
Volume 31, Number 6, November/December 2000
Page(s) 701 - 706
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000154
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2000154

Apidologie 31 (2000) 701-706

The influence of Nosema apis on young honeybee queens and transmission of the disease from queens to workers

Krystyna Czekonska

Bee Research Department, Agricultural University, Al. 29 Listopada 52, 31-425 Cracow, Poland

(Received 2 April 2000; accepted 18 August 2000)

Abstract:

Nosema apis inoculated and non-inoculated honeybee (Apis mellifera) queens were introduced into mating nuclei. The workers accepted all queens from both groups. During the 26 days of the experiment, 47.4% of the inoculated and 50% of the non-inoculated queens were lost. Queens from both groups started egg-laying after 15.8 days. Workers did not perceive the presence of N. apis in their queens and did not supersede inoculated queens significantly more often than healthy ones. Significantly more workers were infected in the mating nuclei with inoculated queens (61%) than in those with non-inoculated ones (5.3%).


Keywords: Apis mellifera / Nosema apis / queen-worker transmission / spore / supersedure

Correspondence and reprints: Krystyna Czekonska
kczekon@org.ar.krakow.pl

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