The unexplained collapse of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies across the world continues to fascinate both the scientific and mainstream media alike. This is mainly due to the worldwide importance of honeybees in ecological and commercial sectors. We recently reported how the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, altered the viral landscape in the Hawaiian archipelago by decreasing the viral ...

The present study was designed to study the influence of Varroa on honey bee Apis mellifera.The antioxidant defense system of the brown eye pupathe infestive stage in the life cycle of the hostwas evaluated. This was manifested as elevated activity of antioxidant defense enzymes, with Superoxide dismutase and Catalase activities being almost two times higher in infested versus noninfested pupae...

Detection of Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is reported for the first time in two species of ants (Camponotus vagus and Formica rufa) and in Varroa destructor. A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method was used to detect and quantify CBPV in infected bees, ants and mites. A minus-strand-specific RT-PCR was used to assess viral replication. These results suggest a new way by which the infec...

The unexplained collapse of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies across the world continues to fascinate both the scientific and mainstream media alike. This is mainly due to the worldwide importance of honeybees in ecological and commercial sectors. We recently reported how the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, altered the viral landscape in the Hawaiian archipelago by decreasing the viral ...

The unexplained collapse of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies across the world continues to fascinate both the scientific and mainstream media alike. This is mainly due to the worldwide importance of honeybees in ecological and commercial sectors. We recently reported how the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, altered the viral landscape in the Hawaiian archipelago by decreasing the viral ...

In Switzerland the acaricides Folbex VA (bromopropylate, BP), Perizin (coumaphos, CM), Apistan (fluvalinate, FV) Bayvarol (flumethrine, FM) are used for varroa control. We studied the contamination level of BP,CM and FV in brood and honey combs, sugar feed, honey after field trials. In samples of recycled pure beeswax and propolis, gathered by beekeepers we examined the level of all four acaric...

The unexplained collapse of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies across the world continues to fascinate both the scientific and mainstream media alike. This is mainly due to the worldwide importance of honeybees in ecological and commercial sectors. We recently reported how the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, altered the viral landscape in the Hawaiian archipelago by decreasing the viral ...

Varroa destructor is arguably the most important threat to Apis mellifera honey bees. Despite recentness of invasion Varroa, A. colonies naturally resistant mite are being observed in a growing number populations across Europe, South Africa and Brazil. Appearing concert with this resistance an increase ability workers detect mite-infested cells, which closely associated recapping such cells. Ho...

Parasite dispersal theory draws heavily upon epidemiological SIR models in which host status (susceptible (S), infected (I), or recovered (R)) is used to study parasite dispersal evolution. In contrast to these extrinsically host-centric drivers, in this study we focus on an intrinsic driver, the parasite's reproductive value (predicted future offspring) as a regulator of the extent to which th...