Author:
BOWEN-WALKER P. L.,MARTIN S. J.,GUNN A.
Abstract
The distribution of Varroa jacobsoni on clustered, overwintering
workers of Apis mellifera was investigated. The majority
of mites were found between the 3rd and 4th ventro-lateral
tergites of the abdomen with a significant preference for the
left side of the host. This position would enable the mites
to place their mouthparts in close proximity to the central
portion of the bees' ventriculus. This may allow the mites
access to nutrients at higher concentrations than would occur
elsewhere in the haemolymph. At the start of winter, most infested
bees carried only a single mite but towards the end
increasing numbers of bees carried 2 or more mites. There was also
an increase in the mite : bee ratio and more mobile
mites (i.e. those moving about on the bees) were recorded. These
results suggest that the mites suffer a lower overwinter
mortality than the bees and are capable of transferring to a new
host either before the original host dies or before it falls
to the floor of the hive. This will have consequences for the transfer
of diseases by Varroa within the hive.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Animal Science and Zoology,Parasitology
Cited by
24 articles.
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