ARS | Publication request: TROPILAELAPS INFESTATION OF HONEY BEES (TROPILAELAPS CLAREAE, T. KOENIGERUM)

Submitted to: Office International Epizootics Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: February 22, 2004
Publication Date: June 20, 2004
Citation: Sammataro, D. Tropilaelaps infestation of honey bees (Troplilaelaps clareae, T. Koenigerum). In OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, 5th ed. Office Internat. Epizoot, Paris, France. 2004. Vol. 2:992-995.

Interpretive Summary: An infestation by Tropilaelaps can be recognized either visually on bees and brood or by examining hive debris. Feeding on bee larvae and pupae causes brood malformation, death of bees and subsequent colony decline or absconding. Development requires about 1 week, and the mites are dispersed on bees. Irregular brood pattern, dead or malformed imatures, bees with malformed wings that crawl at the hive's entrance, and especially the presence of fast-running, large, red-brown, elongated mites on the combs, are diagnostic for the presence of T. clareae. An early diagnosis can be made by opening brood cells and finding immature and adult mites therein. The hive (colony) may be treated with various chemicals that cause the mites to drop off combs and bees. Sticky boards on the bottom of the colony can be used to examine hive debris and mites.

Technical Abstract: The mites Tropilaelaps clareae Delfinado and Baker and T. koenigerum Delfinado-Baker and Baker (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae), are parasites of honey bee brood. This paper summarizes all that is currently known about these parasitic mites.