The influence of Nosema apis on young honeybee queens and transmission of the disease from queens to workers

Abstract

Nosema apis inoculated and non-inoculated honeybee (Apis mellifera) queens were introduced into mating nuclei. The workers accepted all queens from both groups. During the 26 days of the experiment, 47.4% of the inoculated and 50% of the non-inoculated queens were lost. Queens from both groups started egg-laying after 15.8 days. Workers did not perceive the presence of N. apis in their queens and did not supersede inoculated queens significantly more often than healthy ones. Significantly more workers were infected in the mating nuclei with inoculated queens (61%) than in those with non-inoculated ones (5.3%).