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From:
tomas mozer <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 16 Feb 1999 17:43:55 -0800
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posted for cross-reference to previous threads/discussion...
 
TEKTRAN
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Updated: 1998-12-18
 
DNA EVIDENCE OF THE ORIGIN OF 'VARROA' JACOBSONI OUDEMANS IN THE
AMERICAS
 
Author(s):
DE GUZMAN LILIA I
RINDERER THOMAS E
STELZER JOHN A
 
Interpretive Summary:
'Varroa' jacobsoni was first detected in the United States in 1987 and
thought to be of South American origin based on mite morphology. Since
then tremendous honey bee colony mortality has been reported nationwide
despite efforts of controlling these parasites. High colony losses were
also recorded in Europe. In contrast, no colony mortality was reported
in South America even without treatment. Using RAPD analysis, we
established that mites from the United States were genetically the same
as those mites from eastern Russia and Europe, and not South American
mites. This observation suggests that 'varroa' common in the United
States are not from South America but most likely from eastern Russia
via Europe. These genetic differences may correlate with the varied
levels of virulence of 'varroa' mites on their bee hosts.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EVALUATION ON THE TOLERANCE OF SELECTED STOCKS OF APIS MELLIFERA L. TO
'VARROA' JACOBSONI OUDEMANS
 
Author(s):
DE GUZMAN LILIA I
RINDERER THOMAS E
DELATTE GARY T
MACCHIAVELLI R E
 
Interpretive Summary:
Using field trials, the relative resistance or tolerance of four honey
bee stocks to 'Varroa' jacobsoni was investigated. A commercial stock of
honey bees from Louisiana was found to be less tolerant to 'Varroa'
infestation than the other stocks. Environment was discovered to be a
critical factor in the rate at which levels of parasitism increased. The
genotype of mites was also implicated in the determination of levels of
virulence. Taken together, the results indicate that the genotypes of
both the honey bees and the mites and the environment are critical in
determining the degree of injury caused by 'Varroa' jacobsoni parasitism.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IDENTIFICATION AND COMPARISON OF 'VARROA' SPECIES INFESTING HONEY BEES
 
Author(s):
DE GUZMAN LILIA I
RINDERER THOMAS E
 
Interpretive Summary:
The three known species of 'Varroa' mites ('Varroa' jacobsoni, V.
rindereri and V. underwoodi) infesting honey bees are rapidly expanding
in distribution and host range. These three species are very similar but
can be separated by several morphological characters. V. jacobsoni has
been the most studiedVarroa species because of its harmful effects on
infested honey bees. Recently, three genotypes of V. jacobsoni were
established. The Russian genotype is the most widely distributed. It is
present in Russia, Asia, and much of Europe and North America. The
Japanese type is found in Japan, Brazil and Puerto Rico. Mixed
infestations of these two genotypes were also observed in the U.S. and
Canada. The PNG type is found only in Asia. Reports of virulence
correlate with the presence of these mite genotypes.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SUSCEPTIBILITY OF AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES FROM SOUTHERN TEXAS TO 'VARROA'
JACOBSONI INFESTATION
 
Author(s):
DE GUZMAN LILIA I
RINDERER THOMAS E
COLLINS ANITA M
LANCASTER V
 
Interpretive Summary:
Africanized honey bee (AHB) has been feared for its impact on the
beekeeping industry, pollination and as a public threat. AHB are now
established in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. In South
America, these bees are reported to be more resistant to the infestation
of 'Varroa' jacobsoni than the European honey bees (EHB). In our
bioassay conducted in south Texas, we also observed a trend that AHB
have some degree of resistance to mite infestation but this degree of
resistance may not be as strong as previously reported. Our data suggest
that the survival of AHB colonies in the United States may be affected
by 'varroa' parasitism and thus, may influence AHB range and abundance.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
CHANGES IN THE GENETICS OF A POPULATION OF FERAL HONEY BEES (APIS
MELLIFERA L.) IN S. ARIZONA AFTER THE IMPACT OF TRACHAEL MITES (ACARAPIS
WOODI) 'VARROA' MITES ('VARROA' JACOBSONI) AND AFRICANIZATION
 
Author(s):
LOPER GERALD M
FEWELL JENNIFER
SMITH D R
SHEPPARD W S
SCHIFF N
 
Interpretive Summary:
When honey bee colonies swarm, they often move into nest sites, which in
S. Arizona are most often in rock cavities. We began a study of genetic
changes in a specific population of feral bees in 1988. This paper
documents the change of genetics of this population during a period
(1992-96) when the tracheal mites (1991-present), 'Varroa' mites
(1993-present) and Africanized bees (1995-present) moved into this
population. During the first years of the mite infestations, 95% of the
colonies died. The population size is rebounding (59 colonies as of June
1997), but the proportion of AHB is still increasing, is genetically
unstable, and not a recommended source of honey bee genes.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A MORPHOLOGICAL AND MITOCHONDRIAL ASSESSMENT OF APIS MELLIFERA FROM
PALERMO ITALY
 
Author(s):
SINACORI ANGELA
RINDERER THOMAS E
LANCASTER VICKI
SHEPPARD WALTER S
 
Interpretive Summary:
Morphological and mitochondrial characterizations of the honey bees from
western Sicily and southeastern Italy. are presented. The Sicilian honey
bees continue to be a distinct subspecies that could be preserved for
future breeding programs. The south Italian honey bees have distinct
morphological and mitochondrial traits. Their characterization is
important because they are considered by some to be resistant to 'varroa'
mites. Future work on this requires that the ecotype be described.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TEKTRAN
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Library
Technology Transfer Information Center
URL of this page: http://www.nalusda.gov/ttic/cgi-bin/tektran-absV3.pl
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