Review article - Peer-reviewed, 2012
Show more authors
Varroa destructor : Research avenues towards sustainable control.
Dietemann, Vincent; Pflugfelder, Jochen; Anderson, Denis; Charrière, Jean-Daniel; Chejanovsky, Nor; Dainat, Benjamin; Rodrigues De Miranda, Joachim; Delaplane, Keith; Dillier, Franz-Xaver; Fuchs, Stefan; Gallmann, Peter; Gauthier, Laurent; Imdorf, Anton; Koeniger, Nikolas; Krajl, Jasna; Meikle, William; Pettis, Jeff; Rosenkranz, Peter; Sammataro, Diana; Smith, Debora;Show more authors
Abstract
Pollination by honey bees plays a key role in the functioning of ecosystems and optimisation of agricultural yields. Severe honey bee colony losses worldwide have raised concerns about the sustainability of these pollination services. In many cases, bee mortality appears to be the product of many interacting factors, but there is a growing consensus that the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor plays the role of the major predisposing liability. We argue that the fight against this mite should be a priority for future honey bee health research. We highlight the lack of efficient control methods currently available against the parasite and discuss the need for new approaches. Gaps in our knowledge of the biology and epidemiology of the mite are identified and a research road map towards sustainable control is drawn. Innovative and challenging approaches are suggested in order to stimulate research efforts and ensure that honey bees will be able to sustainably fulfil their role in the ecosystem.Published in
Journal of Apicultural Research2012, volume: 51, number: 1, pages: 125-132
Publisher: INT BEE RESEARCH ASSOC
Authors' information
Dietemann, Vincent
Swiss Bee Research Centre
Pflugfelder, Jochen
Swiss Bee Research Centre
Anderson, Denis
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Charrière, Jean-Daniel
Chejanovsky, Nor
Volcani Center
Dainat, Benjamin
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Delaplane, Keith
University of Georgia
Dillier, Franz-Xaver
Altdorf
Fuchs, Stefan
Goethe University Frankfurt
Gallmann, Peter
Swiss Bee Research Centre
Gauthier, Laurent
Imdorf, Anton
Koeniger, Nikolas
Goethe University Frankfurt
Krajl, Jasna
National Institute of Biology
Meikle, William
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Pettis, Jeff
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Rosenkranz, Peter
Sammataro, Diana
Carl Hayden Center
Smith, Debora
University of Arkansas
UKÄ Subject classification
Other Biological Topics
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.51.1.15
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/45757