Free Access
Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 32, Number 2, March-April 2001
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Page(s) | 149 - 155 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2001120 |
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2001120
Apidologie 32 (2001) 149-155
Dipartimento di Biologia applicata alla Difesa delle Piante, Università di Udine, via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy
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
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 NimisDipartimento 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