Behavior of nursing Apis mellifera after application of entomopathogenic fungi to control Varroa destructor

Abstract

To study the possible use of fungi to control Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, a parasitic mite of Apis mellifera L., without effects on its pollinator's behavior, the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) were applied at 30ºC in the dark, at 10 8 conidia/mL, a concentration known previously for its pathogenicity on V. destructor. Both fungi did not affect diverse parameters of the normal behavior of nursing honey bees in the laboratory, including the duration of walking periods, antennae tapping, resting, feeding, drinking, communication with the antennae (touching other bee), and grooming, as observed using a PC with the Observer® software. These results indicate that it would be possible to use both fungi against the mite, without any side effects on the bee. However, as pathogenicity varies greatly in diverse strains, further studies are recommended.