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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Peter Loring Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 3 Mar 2018 10:04:54 -0500
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Significantly more mites chose old comb extracts over new comb extracts. 
These extracts were also tested in honey bee colonies on new comb
that had never been used for brood production. The brood that was reared on parts of the
comb that had been treated with old comb extracts had a mean of about 18% of the cells
infested, while the untreated comb had a mean infestation of only 8%. These differences were
significant, confirming that old comb extracts are attractive for the mites.

Old combs contain many substances that are absorbed by the wax (Coggshall & Morse, 1984). 
These substances can act as attractants or stimulants for Varroa. The strong preference of
Varroa for old combs could provide new means for controlling this important bee parasite and
could also help us understand how the mites find and choose the brood cells that they will use
to reproduce.

Size and age of brood comb cells affects Varroa destructor infestation in Africanized bee colonies
Eduardo Junqueira, Giancarlo Piccirillo and David De Jong
Universidade de São Paulo - FFCLRP - USP

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