Swarming in honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Varroa destructor population development in Sweden

Abstract

In a honey bee population of 150 colonies, the development of an introduced Varroa destructor mite population was monitored in swarming and non-swarming colonies for two years in a Nordic climate. The results demonstrated a reduced mite population as a result of swarming only for the first swarm season studied. In the second swarm season, there were much higher mite levels (based on debris counts of mites) and fewer colonies swarmed, but there was no significant difference in infestation levels of adult bees in the fall between swarming and non-swarming colonies. This result was interpreted as an effect of host-parasite interactions, where the detrimental influence from the infestation prohibited growth (and swarming) in some colonies, but allowed better mite reproduction opportunities (and swarming) in others. Surprisingly, the mite infestation levels of swarms in the late fall were not significantly different from those of swarming colonies the same year, indicating that swarm survival may be almost as much affected by V. destructor, as intact, swarming colonies. No horizontal mite transfer through robbing was observed. The results suggest that, horizontal mite transfer may not be as important in a Nordic climate where many bee colonies die over winter along with their mites, as it is in warmer climates

Published in

Apidologie
2003, Volume: 34, number: 4, pages: 389-397 Publisher: E D P SCIENCES

SLU Authors

• Fries, Ingemar

  • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2003032

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/514