Abstract

MARTINEZ PUC, Jesús Froylán; MEDINA MEDINA, Luis A.  and  CATZIN VENTURA, Gloria Aracelly. Frequency of Varroa destructor, Nosema apis and Acarapis woodi in managed colonies and wild swarms of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.1, pp.25-38. ISSN 2448-6698.

Diseases and parasitosis that affect honey bees produce heavy losses to the honey industry. However, damages do not affect managed colonies and wild swarms homogeneously. With the purpose of determining frequency and rate of infestation of V. destructor, N. apis and A. woodi in bees in Yucatan, 76 bee samples were collected between June and September 2006, 27 from managed colonies and 49 from wild swarms. V. destructor frequency in managed colonies was 62.9 %, showing a 1.70 ± 0.26 mites/ 100 bees infestation rate and of 55.1 % in wild swarms, with a 1.96 ± 0.44 mites/100 bees infestation rate. No differences were found either for frequency (ײ=0.44, d.f.=1, P=0.51) or infestation rate (t=0.14, P=0.89). N. apis frequency in managed colonies was 74.0 %, showing a 1,480*10³ ± 232*10³ spores/bee infestation rate and of 53.0 % in wild swarms, with a 1,416*10³± 264*10³ spores/bee infestation rate. No differences were found either for frequency (X²=3.22, df=1, P=0.07) or infestation rate (t=0.18, P=0.86). No presence of A. woodi was detected. Results confirm an increase in N. apis presence in Yucatan.

Keywords : Frequency; Apis mellifera; Varroa destructor; Nosema apis; Acarapis woodi.

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