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Reproductive strategies of the mite Varroa jacobsoni (Mesostigmata, Varroidae): influence of larva type and comb cell size on honey bee brood infestation rates

Marcia Regina Cavichio Issa^I; David De Jong^I; Lionel Segui Gonçalves^II

^IDepartamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina-USP, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Send conrespondence to M.R.C.I.
^IIDepartamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Fisolofia, Ciências e Letras-USP, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

The effect of differences in brood comb cell size on the cell invasion rates of the ectoparasitic bee mite Varroa jacobsoni, was tested in five colonies of Africanized honey bees. Drone cells were designated as large cells and worker brood cells as small cells. Combs with both types of cells were introduced into a colony with a drone laying queen or one with laying workens, so that only drone larvae were produced. These combs were then introduced into broodless colonies, so that the experimental comb had the only brood available for the mites to infest. The infestation rates were determined soon after the cells were sealed. Drone larvae in drone-size cells became infested by a mean of 0.38 adult female mites, which was significantly more than the 0.188 mites found per drone larva in worker cells.
A second test was made to determine whether the type of larva could override the effect of cell size. Drone larvae (less than three days of age) were transfenred into worker-size cells and worker larvae into drone cells. After the cells were sealed the infestation rate of the drone larvae in worker-size cells was 1.86 mites/larva, while on worker larvae in drone cells it was 0.379, which was significantly lower.
Though cell size was important, chanacteristics inherent to the drone larvae make them more attractive to the varroa mites, even when the drone larvae are in worker-size cells.

Keywords: Reproductive strategies; Varroa Jacobson; Honey bee.

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