Juvenile hormone titer and reproduction of Varroa jacobsoni in capped brood stages of Apis cerana indica in comparison to Apis mellifera ligustica

Abstract

The juvenile hormone (JH) III hemolymph titer of late larval and early pupal stages does not differ significantly in Apis cerana and Apis mellifera, particularly in freshly-sealed worker brood. In drone brood, slightly higher JH III hemolymph concentrations were recorded. Results do not agree with the hypothesis tht reproduction of the parasitic bee mite Varroa jacobsoni is regulated by host-derived JH. in Apis cerana colonies fertility of female mites is restricted to drone hosts. -from Authors