Free Access
Issue
Apidologie
Volume 32, Number 2, March-April 2001
Page(s) 149 - 155
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2001120
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2001120

Apidologie 32 (2001) 149-155

Semiochemicals from larval food affect the locomotory behaviour of Varroa destructor

Francesco Nazzi, Norberto Milani, Giorgio Della Vedova and Matteo Nimis

Dipartimento di Biologia applicata alla Difesa delle Piante, Università di Udine, via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy

(Received 27 July 2000; revised 11 January 2001; accepted 12 January 2001)

Abstract
The stimuli inducing cell invasion by Varroa destructor were studied using a bioassay in which a mite was observed in a glass arena with four wells, each containing a live bee larva, treated or not with the stimulus to be tested. Larval food collected from drone cells before capping elicited a strong response from V. destructor. Both ether and acetone extracts of larval food induced the same response as larval food itself suggesting the existence of semiochemicals attracting or arresting the mite.


Key words: Varroa destructor / semiochemicals / larval food / brood cell invasion

Correspondence and reprints: Francesco Nazzi
    e-mail: francesco.nazzi@pldef.uniud.it

© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2001