SEASONALITY AND COLONY VARIATION OF REPRODUCING AND NON-REPRODUCING VARROA JACOBSONI FEMALES IN WESTERN HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA) WORKER BROOD

Abstract

From June 19 to September 26, 1985, the worker brood of 14 honey bee colonies was periodically examined. Observations of numbers of reproducing female mites and numbers of non-reproducing females were recorded. Similar observations were recorded during 1986 from June 28 to October 1. Data for 1985 and 1986 were analyzed independently. Numbers of reproducing females and numbers of nonreproducing females were analyzed using a randomized block design in an analysis of variance in which colonies were considered as blocks and dates were considered as treatments. The analyses indicated significant differences among dates in 1985 for numbers of reproducing females (p < 0.0001) and numbers of non-reproducing females (p < 0.1). Analyses of the data from 1986 failed to uncover the differences found for 1985. The number of non reproductive female mites remained low for both years. In 1985 the average number of non-reproductive females per 100 cells per colony ranged from 0.29 (6/19/85) to 2.36 (9/14/ 85). In 1986 the average number ranger from 0.31 (10/01/86) to 1.06 (7/16/86). The number of reproductive females varied tremendously in 1985. The average number of reproductive females per 100 cells per colony ranged from 0.29 (6/19/85) to 32.50 (9/14/85). In 1986 the average number varied from 3.13 (10/01/86) to 20.38 (7/16/86).