Impact of Varroa destructor on honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) colony development in South Africa

dc.contributor.authorStrauss, Ursula
dc.contributor.authorPirk, Christian Walter Werner
dc.contributor.authorCrewe, Robin M.
dc.contributor.authorHuman, Hannelie
dc.contributor.authorDietemann, Vincent
dc.contributor.emailcwwpirk@zoology.up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-19T05:13:17Z
dc.date.available2014-08-19T05:13:17Z
dc.date.issued2015-01
dc.description.abstractThe devastating effects of Varroa destructor on European honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) have been well documented. Not only do these mites cause physical damage to parasitised individuals when they feed on them, they also transmit viruses and other pathogens, weaken colonies and can ultimately cause their death. Nevertheless, not all honeybee colonies are doomed once Varroa mites become established. Some populations, such as the savannah honeybee, A. m. scutellata, have become tolerant after the introduction of the parasite and are able to withstand the presence of these mites without the need for acaricides. In this study, we measured daily Varroa mite fall, Varroa infestation rates of adult honeybees and worker brood and total Varroa population size in acaricide treated and untreated honeybee colonies. In addition, honeybee colony development was compared in order to measure the cost incurred by Varroa mites to their hosts. Daily Varroa mite fall decreased over the experimental period with different dynamics in treated and untreated colonies. Varroa infestation rates in treated adult honeybees and brood were lower than in untreated colonies, but not significantly so. Thus indicating a minimal benefit of treatment thereby suggesting that A. m. scutellata have the ability to maintain mite populations at low levels. We obtained baseline data on Varroa population dynamics in a tolerant honeybee over the winter period. Varroa mites appeared to have a low impact on this honeybee population, given that colony development was similar in the treated and untreated colonies.en_US
dc.description.embargo2016-01-30
dc.description.librarianhb2014en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipUniversity of Pretoria and the National Research Foundation (NRF).en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/bmcen_US
dc.identifier.citationStrauss, U, Pirk, CWW, Crewe, RM, Human, H & Dietemann, V 2015, 'Impact of Varroa destructor on honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) colony development in South Africa', Experimental and Applied Acarology , vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 89-106.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0968-0896 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1464-3391 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s10493-014-9842-7
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/41418
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSpringeren_US
dc.rights© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.com/journal/10493en_US
dc.subjectApis mellifera scutellataen_US
dc.subjectVarroa destructoren_US
dc.subjectHoneybee (Apis mellifera)en_US
dc.subjectMiteen_US
dc.subjectInfestationen_US
dc.subjectToleranceen_US
dc.titleImpact of Varroa destructor on honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) colony development in South Africaen_US
dc.typePostprint Articleen_US

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