THE INFLUENCE OF THE NASONOV PHEROMONE ON THE RECOGNITION OF HOUSE BEES AND FORAGERS BY VARROA JACOBSONI

Abstract

Simultaneous choice tests proved that Varroa jacobsoni is able to distinguish house bees and foragers by means of the age-dependent Nasonov pheromone production of the bees. The secretion of one or 10 Nasonov glands, respectively, of foragers showed a repellent effect upon the mite equal to one or 10 bee equivalents, respectively, of geraniol, the main component of the pheromone. One hundred bee equivalents of geraniol caused the strongest repellent effect. Specimen gathered from 3 to 7 day old house bees did not show any influence on the mite in comparison to controls. The results show that Varroa jacobsoni is capable of olfactorial recognition of house bees as ideal host.