A convenient method for detection of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) using roasted soybean flour
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TECHNICAL NOTE
A convenient method for detection of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) using roasted soybean flour Mari Horigane Ogihara1 · Marko Stoic1,2 · Nobuo Morimoto1 · Mikio Yoshiyama1 · Kiyoshi Kimura1 Received: 14 February 2020 / Accepted: 27 August 2020 © The Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology 2020
Abstract The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) is a pest that severely damages honey bee health worldwide. This mite is considered a major reason for winter colony loss of the western honey bee Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Monitoring of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies is required for effective management of Varroa infestations. The mite is dislodged from adult bees when the bees roll in powdered sugar. The sugar roll test is one of the major methods used to survey V. destructor infestations in honeybee colonies. However, powdered sugar agglomerates during commodity distribution to the customers or under humid conditions. In this study, roasted soybean flour was evaluated as a powder for Varroa mite detection, because this powder rarely forms a hard agglomerate. Roasted soybean flour may eliminate Varroa mites from adult bees as well as powdered sugar. Therefore, the roasted soybean flour can be a useful powder for convenient Varroa monitoring under humid conditions. Keywords Varroa destructor · Honey bee · Apis mellifera · Powder roll test · Roasted soybean flour
Introduction The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) causes severe damage to honey bee health. V. destructor can parasitize both Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Apis cerana Radoszkawsi (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and severe infestations occur in A. mellifera colonies. Varroa mites transmit several pathogens, such as deformed wing virus, to their hosts (Nazzi and Le Conte 2016). In addition, Varroa infestations disrupt honey bee behaviors such as orientation of foragers and increase of drifters (Forfert et al. 2015; Kralj and Fuchs 2006; Kralj et al. 2007). Infestations of V. destructor in honey bee colonies are of concern as a major cause for winter colony loss of A. mellifera (Branco et al. 1999; * Mari Horigane Ogihara [email protected] 1
Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ikenodai 2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305‑0901, Japan
Present Address: Top Global University Project Office, Department of Educational Promotion, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1‑1‑1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305‑8577, Japan
2
Shimanuki et al. 1994). Populations of Varroa mites increase from spring to autumn, along with honey bee colony growth and development (Currie and Gatien 2006; Gatien and Currie 2003; Martin 2001). Several reports have proposed criteria for mite numbers to prevent winter colony loss, i.e., four mites per 100 bees in August to early September (Currie and Gatien 2006; Delaplane and Hood 1997, 1999; Delaplane et al. 2010; Gatien and Currie 2003; Strange and Sh
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