Abstract

MEDINA-FLORES, Carlos A. et al. Frequency of varroosis and nosemosis in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2014, vol.20, n.3, pp.159-167. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2013.08.028.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of infestation of varroatosis (Varroa destructor) and infection of nosemosis (Nosema spp.) in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies in the state of Zacatecas during the fall and spring. We inspected 299 commercial honeybee colonies located in 15 municipalities in the state of Zacatecas and in three different ecological zones: 1) temperate semi-dry, 2) semi-warm semi-dry, and 3) temperate sub-humid. Results showed a general prevalence of 2.3 % for nosemosis and 88 % for varroatosis. The varroa infestation level varied significantly (P = 0.05) between fall and spring, and among zones only during the spring (P < 0.001). Infestation levels of 5 % or higher were found in 44 % of the colonies during fall, while 28 % of them exceeded 5 % infestation levels in spring. Nosema spp. was only observed in 4.7 % of the sampled population in spring; most of the cases (86 %) were detected in the semi-warm semi-dry zone. The results of this study indicate that varroatosis is the most common parasitic disease of adult honeybees in the state of Zacatecas. Nosemois does not pose a serious problem for beekeeping in the state, due to its low frequency.

Keywords : Ecological zones; fall and spring; Nosema spp.; Varroa destructor.