Varroa destructor mite in Africanized honeybee colonies Apis mellifera L. under royal jelly or honey production

This study evaluated the level of invasion of Varroa mite into worker brood cells, the infestation rate on adult worker honeybees, total and effective reproduction rates of the mite in Africanized honeybee colonies under royal jelly or honey production. Invasion and infestation rates were not statistically different between honeybee colonies producing honey or royal jelly and the averages for these parameters were 5.79 and 8.54%, respectively. Colonies producing honey presented a higher (p < 0.05) total and effective reproduction of Varroathan colonies producing royal jelly. There was a negative correlation between levels of invasion and infestation with minimum external temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. The variables month and season influenced the development of the mite, but rates were low and within the range normally found in Brazil for Africanized honeybee colonies, which confirm the greater resistance of these honeybees to Varroa destructor than European honeybees.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Santos,Pedro da Rosa, Wielewski,Priscila, Halak,André Luiz, Faquinello,Patrícia, Toledo,Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - EDUEM 2015
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-86722015000300315
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