The distance between larva and cell opening triggers broodcell invasion by Varroa jacobsoni

Abstract

The effect of the distance between larva and cell opening on {\i Varroa} invasion was examined. The infestation of openbrood cells depends on this distance and not on larval size. Hence the concentration of a pheromone produced by the larva at a certain age is unlikely to be the only stimulus triggering invasion of brood cells