Abstract

MARCANGELI, Jorge, A.  and  DAMIANI, Natalia. Infestation levels of the mite Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in new and old honeybee brood combs of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. [online]. 2007, vol.66, n.1-2, pp.147-152. ISSN 0373-5680.

The aim of this work was to evaluate infestation levels of the mite Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) in new and old honeybee brood combs of creole honeybee (hybrid of Apis mellifera mellifera Linnaeus and Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola). Work was done at Coronel Vidal city on 20 Langstroth hives during spring months 2005. In each colony an old frame (2 years) and a new one were selected and placed in the middle of brood chamber. When both frames were operculated, they were carried to the laboratory for inspection. Each cell was desoperculated and total number of mite adult female was registered. Infestation level was calculated as number of infested cells divided by total number of desoperculated cells. Results showed significant differences between old and new comb infestation levels (13.52% ± 3.35 and 6.18% ± 2.12 respectively; t = 10.62; p = 1.9 E-9; g. l.= 19). Same results were observed in the average number of mites in combs (443.3 ± 70.54 and 217.85 ± 51.76 for old and new combs respectively; t = 23.87; p = 1.24 E-15; g. l.= 19). Mites show a strong preference for old combs directed by attractant alien scents of brood cells. Also, these scents masked the mites and prevent to honeybees to eliminate them by hygienic behaviour.

Keywords : Varroa destructor; Apis mellifera; Infestation; New and old brood cells.

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