An association in honey bees between autogrooming and the presence of migrating tracheal mites

Abstract

We evaluated the difference in tracheal mite infestation between nestmate honey bees that were actively autogrooming and those that were not. Bees seen to be actively grooming themselves in an observation hive were immediately removed through a door, narcotized and searched for mites. Nearby bees that were not grooming also were taken and examined. A strong association was found between the act of autogrooming and the presence of tracheal mites, with mites found at a 4-fold greater frequency on the thoraxes of grooming bees (36/50 with mites) than on non-grooming bees. Mites were found most commonly on the metatergum and the propodeum, and near the wing bases. © INRA/DIB-AGIB/ EDP Sciences, 2005.