The effects of climate and bee race on Varroa jacobsoni Oud infestations in Brazil

Abstract

Varroa jacobsoni infestation rates on adult Africanized and Italian/Africanized hybrid honey bees Apis mellifera were measured in Ribeirao Preto, Rio do Sul and Sao Joaquim (mean temperatures 21, 18 and 13°C, respectively). Mean infestation rates were 3.5, 5.11 and 11.37 mites per 100 bees in the regions, respectively. The Italian hybrids were significantly more infested than the Africanized bees (7.53 and 5.78 mites per 100 bees, respectively). -from Authors