Susceptibility of European and Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L) and their hybrids to Varroa jacobsoni Oud

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if European, Africanized, and hybrid honeybees differ in susceptbility to Varroa infestation and to determine if Varroa differentially reproduce on different types of brood. European brood was twice as attractive to female Varroa compared to Africanized brood, while hybrid brood was equally attractive than European brood. European adult workers were twice as susceptible to infestation as Africanized bees, whereas hybrid workers were not different from Africanized bees. Varroa reproduced on more than 69% of the infested hybrid brood, and on less than 52% of the Africanized and European broods, suggesting differences in host suitability for reproduction. Mite reproduction didnot vary between European and Africanized brood. Genetic effects could explain some of these results. Other plausible hypotheses that could explain these results, and the implications of these findings on commercial and feral populations of honeybees are discussed.