Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 32, Number 2, March-April 2001
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Page(s) | 157 - 174 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2001121 |
Apidologie 32 (2001) 157-174
Relative effect of four characteristics that restrain the population growth of the mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies
Miguel E. Arechavaleta-Velascoa and Ernesto Guzmán-Novoaba Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
b CENIFMA-INIFAP, Santa Crúz #29-B, Las Hdas, Metepéc, Méx, Mexico
(Received 25 July 2000; revised 21 December 2000; accepted 6 February 2001)
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the existence of phenotypic and genotypic variation
in the ability of honey bee colonies to restrain the population growth of the mite Varroa
destructor
Anderson and Trueman, and to asses the relative effect of four characteristics
that may confer tolerance to honey bees toward the mite. Fifty-eight colonies infested
with an equal number of mites were sampled monthly during six months to determine their
levels of infestation on adult bees and in worker brood. At the end of this period,
16 colonies were selected to study the effect of grooming behavior, hygienic behavior,
brood attractiveness, and host-induced non-reproduction. The infestation-levels in
adult bees varied significantly between colonies (range: 6.6-44.7% ), but no differences
were found in the brood infestation levels. The variation between colonies was partially
genetic in origin. Grooming behavior explained most of the variation (
r2 = 0.38).
Negative correlations were found between the mite population growth and both the total
number of mites and the number of injured mites collected from the bottom-boards
(r = -0.65 and r = -0.76, respectively). Differences were found for hygienic
behavior but the effect of this mechanism was not clear. No differences were found
among colonies for brood attractiveness, or for the effect of the brood on the mite's
reproduction.
Résumé
Key words: Apis mellifera / Varroa destructor / tolerance / mechanisms of resistance / Mexico / grooming behavior / hygienic behavior
Correspondence and reprints: Miguel E. Arechavaleta-Velasco
e-mail: miguel@entm.purdue.edu
© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2001