Mite non-reproduction is not a consequence of the brood removal behavior of varroa sensitive hygiene honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera).

ABSTRACT: A sustainable solution to the global threat of the Varroa destructor mite is the selection of varroa-resistant honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Both "mite non-reproduction" (MNR) and "varroa sensitive hygiene" (VSH) appear to be promising selection traits for achieving the goal of a resistant honey bee. MNR describes colonies that have a high number of non-reproductive mites (no offspring, no males, or delayed development of mite offspring). High numbers of non-reproductive mites have been observed in selected colonies, but the mechanism behind this trait has not yet been identified. The specialized hygienic behavior of selected honey bees, called VSH, is the removal of varroa-infested brood. These traits were thought to be linked by VSH bees preferentially removing repro

SUBMITTER: Sprau L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11199085 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature