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Title: MULTI-STATE FIELD TRIALS OF ARS RUSSIAN HONEY BEES 3. RESPONSES TO ACARAPISWOODI 1999, 2000

Author
item De Guzman, Lilia
item Rinderer, Thomas
item Delatte, Gary
item Stelzer, John
item WILLIAMS, J - 6413-30-00
item Beaman, Glenda
item KUZNETSOV, V - RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENC
item BERNARD, S - BERNARD'S APIARIES, INC.
item BIGALK, M - GOLDEN RIDGE HONEY FARMS
item TUBBS, H - TUBBS' APIARIES

Submitted to: American Bee Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2001
Publication Date: 11/1/2001
Citation: DEGUZMAN, L.I., RINDERER, T.E., DELATTE, G.T., STELZER, J.A., WILLIAMS, J.L., BEAMAN, G.D., KUZNETSOV, V., BERNARD, S.J., BIGALK, M., TUBBS, H., MULTI-STATE FIELD TRIALS OF ARS RUSSIAN HONEY BEES #3. RESPONSES TO ACARAPIS WOODI 1999,2000, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 2001, VOL. 141, pgs. 810-812, EDITION #11.

Interpretive Summary: The ARS Primorsky honey bees have been documented to have a strong degree of resistance to tracheal mites. In order to further assess their resistance capability, we monitored natural infestations of tracheal mites in colonies located in three states (Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi) in 1999 and 2000. Results from both trials provided strong evidence that the Primorsky honey bees are resistant to tracheal mites. The queen lines evaluated were all resistant to the parasite. However, the difference in the degree of resistance among the Primorsky lines suggests that variation in resistance still exists in the stock. Thus, further selective breeding should increase tracheal mite resistance of the Primorsky honey bee stock.

Technical Abstract: ARS Primorsky honey bees were evaluated for their resistance to Acarapis woodi by monitoring natural infestations in colonies located in Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi. In 1999, Primorsky colonies had lower levels of A. woodi infestation than the domestic colonies. Low tracheal mite infestations were also observed in 2000. The ten Primorsky queen-lines tested were all resistant to tracheal mites. However, resistance was more pronounced in Louisiana and Mississippi wherein 0-3% infestations were recorded. It is possible that environmental factors influenced the degree of infestation between the states and within Primorsky lines especially in Iowa. With careful selection, it is possible to further enhance resistance of Primorsky honey bees to tracheal mite parasitism.