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Effect of some characters on the population growth of mite Varroa jacobsoni in Apis mellifera L colonies and results of a bi‐directional selection
Author(s) -
Lodesani M.,
Crailsheim K.,
Moritz R. F. A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0418.2002.00615.x
Subject(s) - biology , varroa , varroa jacobsoni , varroa sensitive hygiene , mite , infestation , brood , population , selection (genetic algorithm) , zoology , honey bee , varroa destructor , botany , toxicology , apidae , demography , hymenoptera , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
Two lines of honey bees ( Apis mellifera ligustica ) were selectively propagated by instrumental insemination using the population growth of the Varroa mite as a criteria. Different infestation rates are at least partially genetic since selection produced significant bi‐directional differences between lines over a period of three subsequent generations. There was no correlation between several behavioural and physiological characteristics which are potentially associated with Varroa resistance (hygienic behaviour, physical damage to mites, infertility of the intruding mites) and the development of the Varroa population after artificial infestation. There was a positive significant correlation between the total mites in the colonies and the amount of reared brood. Colony infestation was also positively correlated with the amount of honey harvested.