Stock-specific chemical brood signals are induced by Varroa and Deformed Wing Virus, and elicit hygienic response in the honey bee.

ABSTRACT: The health of the honey bee Apis mellifera is challenged by the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, and the numerous harmful pathogens it vectors. Existing pesticide-based Varroa controls are not sustainable. In contrast, one promising approach for improved honey bee health is the breeding of hygienic bees, capable of detecting and removing brood that is parasitized or diseased. In three experiments we find evidence to support the hypothesis that stock-specific chemical brood signals are induced by Varroa and Deformed Wing Virus, and elicit hygienic response in the honey bee. By collecting, analyzing, and running bioassays involving mite-infested and control brood extracts from three honey bee breeding stocks we: 1) found evidence that a transferrable chemical signal for hygienic behavio

SUBMITTER: Wagoner K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6584651 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature