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Sipos T, Glavák C, Turbók J, Somfalvi-Tóth K, Donkó T, Keszthelyi S. Analysis of X-ray irradiation effects on the mortality values and hemolymph immune cell composition of Apis mellifera and its parasite, Varroa destructor. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 204:108109. [PMID: 38631557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Varroa destructor is one of the most destructive enemies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera all around the world. Several control methods are known to control V. destructor, but the efficacy of several alternative control methods remains unexplored. Irradiation can be one of these unknown solutions but before practical application, the effectiveness, and the physiological effects of ionizing radiation on the host and the parasite are waiting to be tested. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate the effects of different doses (15, 50, 100, and 150 Gy) of high-energy X-ray irradiation through mortality rates and hemocyte composition changes in A. mellifera workers and record the mortality rates of the parasite. The mortality rate was recorded during short-term (12, 24, and 48 h) and long-term periods (3, 6, 12, 18, and 24d). The sensitivity of the host and the parasite in case of the higher doses of radiation tested (50, 100, and 150 Gy) been demonstrated by total mortality of the host and 90 % of its parasite has been observed on the 18th day after the irradiation. V. destructor showed higher sensitivity (1.52-times higher than the adult honey bee workers) at the lowest dose (15 Gy). A. mellifera hemocytes were influenced significantly by radiation dosage and the elapsed time after treatment. The higher radiation doses increased plasmatocyte numbers in parallel with the decrease in prohemocyte numbers. On the contrary, the numbers of granulocytes and oencoytes increased in the treated samples, but the putative effects of the different dosages on the recorded number of these hemocyte types could not be statistically proven. In summary, based on the outcome of our study X-ray irradiation can be deemed an effective tool for controlling phoretic V. destructor. However, further research is needed to understand the physiological response of the affected organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Sipos
- Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár Campus, Guba Sándor str. 40., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary; Institute for Farm Animal Gene Conservation, National Centre for Biodiversity and Gene Conservation, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary.
| | - Csaba Glavák
- Moritz Kaposi Teaching Hospital, Dr. József Baka Diagnostic, Radiation Oncology, Research and Teaching Center, Guba Sandor str. 40., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
| | - Janka Turbók
- Department of Physiology and Animal Health, Institute of Physiology and Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár Campus, Guba Sándor str. 40., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
| | - Katalin Somfalvi-Tóth
- Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár Campus, Guba Sándor str. 40., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
| | - Tamás Donkó
- Medicopus Nonprofit Ltd., Guba Sándor str. 40., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
| | - Sándor Keszthelyi
- Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár Campus, Guba Sándor str. 40., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
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2
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Johnson BL, Prouty C, Jack CJ, Stuhl C, Ellis JD. Developing a method to rear Varroa destructor in vitro. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:795-808. [PMID: 38478141 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00905-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Varroa destructor is a significant mite pest of western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Developing a method to rear and maintain populations of V. destructor in vitro would provide year-round access to the mites, allowing scientists to study their biology, behavior, and control more rapidly. In this study, we determined the impact of various rearing parameters on V. destructor survival and reproduction in vitro. This was done by collecting V. destructor from colonies, placing them in gelatin capsules containing honey bee larvae, and manipulating the following conditions experimentally: rearing temperature, colony source of honey bee larva, behavioral/developmental stages of V. destructor and honey bee larva, and mite:bee larva ratio. Varroa destructor survival was significantly impacted by temperature, colony source of larvae and mite behavioral stage. In addition, V. destructor reproduction was significantly impacted by mite: larva ratio, larval developmental stage, colony source of larva, and temperature. The following conditions optimized mite survival and reproduction in vitro: using a 4:1 mite:larva ratio, beginning the study with late stage uncapped larvae, using mites collected from adult bees, maintaining the rearing temperature at 34.5° C, and screening larval colony source. Ultimately, this research can be used to improve V. destructor in vitro rearing programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brynn L Johnson
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Cody Prouty
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Cameron J Jack
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Charles Stuhl
- Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 32608, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James D Ellis
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Zhang L, Shao L, Raza MF, Han R, Li W. The Effect of Comb Cell Size on the Development of Apis mellifera Drones. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:222. [PMID: 38398731 PMCID: PMC10890408 DOI: 10.3390/life14020222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The growth and development of honeybees are influenced by many factors, one of which is the cell size of the brood comb. Larger worker bees can be obtained by being raised in bigger cells. However, whether cell size has the same effect on drone development is still unknown. Here, using 3D-printed foundations, we observed the development of drones kept in comb cells of different sizes from the late larval stage through eclosion. The results showed that drones in larger cell-size combs had heavier body weights, longer body lengths, and larger head widths, thorax widths, and abdomen widths compared to those in smaller cell-size combs. Furthermore, regardless of developmental stages, the drones' body weights increased linearly with the comb's cell size. However, the other morphological changes of drones in different developmental stages were out of proportion to the cell-size changes, resulting in smaller cells with a higher fill factor (thorax width/cell width). Our findings confirm that comb cell size affects the development of honeybees; drones become bigger when raised in large cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifu Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (L.Z.); (L.S.); (M.F.R.); (R.H.)
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Linxin Shao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (L.Z.); (L.S.); (M.F.R.); (R.H.)
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Muhammad Fahad Raza
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (L.Z.); (L.S.); (M.F.R.); (R.H.)
| | - Richou Han
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (L.Z.); (L.S.); (M.F.R.); (R.H.)
| | - Wenfeng Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (L.Z.); (L.S.); (M.F.R.); (R.H.)
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4
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Han B, Wu J, Wei Q, Liu F, Cui L, Rueppell O, Xu S. Life-history stage determines the diet of ectoparasitic mites on their honey bee hosts. Nat Commun 2024; 15:725. [PMID: 38272866 PMCID: PMC10811344 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44915-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Ectoparasitic mites of the genera Varroa and Tropilaelaps have evolved to exclusively exploit honey bees as food sources during alternating dispersal and reproductive life history stages. Here we show that the primary food source utilized by Varroa destructor depends on the host life history stage. While feeding on adult bees, dispersing V. destructor feed on the abdominal membranes to access to the fat body as reported previously. However, when V. destructor feed on honey bee pupae during their reproductive stage, they primarily consume hemolymph, indicated by wound analysis, preferential transfer of biostains, and a proteomic comparison between parasite and host tissues. Biostaining and proteomic results were paralleled by corresponding findings in Tropilaelaps mercedesae, a mite that only feeds on brood and has a strongly reduced dispersal stage. Metabolomic profiling of V. destructor corroborates differences between the diet of the dispersing adults and reproductive foundresses. The proteome and metabolome differences between reproductive and dispersing V. destructor suggest that the hemolymph diet coincides with amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis in the foundresses while the metabolism of non-reproductive adults is tuned to lipid metabolism. Thus, we demonstrate within-host dietary specialization of ectoparasitic mites that coincides with life history of hosts and parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiangli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qiaohong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Fengying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lihong Cui
- Cell Biology Facility, Center of Biomedical Analysis, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G2L3, Canada.
| | - Shufa Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Wu T, Gao J, Choi YS, Kim DW, Han B, Yang S, Lu Y, Kang Y, Du H, Diao Q, Dai P. Interaction of chlorothalonil and Varroa destructor on immature honey bees rearing in vitro. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166302. [PMID: 37595923 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Under realistic environmental conditions, bees are often exposed to multiple stressors, especially Varroa destructor and pesticides. In this study, the effects of exposure to NOAEC of chlorothalonil during the larval stage, in the presence or absence of V. destructor, was examined in terms of survival, morphological and transcriptional changes. The interaction between chlorothalonil and V. destructor on the survival of honey bee was additive. V. destructor are the dominant factor in the interaction for survival and transcriptome alternation. The downregulation of the genes related to tissue growth and caste differentiation may directly link to the mortality of honey bees. Either chlorothalonil or V. destructor induces the irregular morphology of trophocytes and oenocytes in the fat body. In addition to irregular shapes, oenocytes in V. destructor alone and double-stressor treatment group showed altered nuclei and vacuoles in the cytoplasm. The interaction of V. destructor and chlorothalonil at the larval stage have potential adverse effects on the subsequent adult bees, with up-regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism and detoxification/defense in fat body tissue. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of combinatorial effects between biotic and abiotic stressors on one of the most important pollinators, honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Yong Soo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ying Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Northern Urban Agriculture of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Bioscience and Resource Environment, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yuxin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hanchao Du
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qingyun Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Pingli Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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Piou V, Vilarem C, Blanchard S, Strub JM, Bertile F, Bocquet M, Arafah K, Bulet P, Vétillard A. Honey Bee Larval Hemolymph as a Source of Key Nutrients and Proteins Offers a Promising Medium for Varroa destructor Artificial Rearing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12443. [PMID: 37569818 PMCID: PMC10419257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Varroa destructor, a major ectoparasite of the Western honey bee Apis mellifera, is a widespread pest that damages colonies in the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout their lifecycle, V. destructor females feed on almost every developmental stage of their host, from the last larval instar to the adult. The parasite is thought to feed on hemolymph and fat body, although its exact diet and nutritional requirements are poorly known. Using artificial Parafilm™ dummies, we explored the nutrition of V. destructor females and assessed their survival when fed on hemolymph from bee larvae, pupae, or adults. We compared the results with mites fed on synthetic solutions or filtered larval hemolymph. The results showed that the parasites could survive for several days or weeks on different diets. Bee larval hemolymph yielded the highest survival rates, and filtered larval plasma was sufficient to maintain the mites for 14 days or more. This cell-free solution therefore theoretically contains all the necessary nutrients for mite survival. Because some bee proteins are known to be hijacked without being digested by the parasite, we decided to run a proteomic analysis of larval honey bee plasma to highlight the most common proteins in our samples. A list of 54 proteins was compiled, including several energy metabolism proteins such as Vitellogenin, Hexamerin, or Transferrins. These molecules represent key nutrient candidates that could be crucial for V. destructor survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Piou
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD—Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, France; (V.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Caroline Vilarem
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD—Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, France; (V.P.); (S.B.)
- M2i Biocontrol–Entreprise SAS, 46140 Parnac, France
| | - Solène Blanchard
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD—Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, France; (V.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Jean-Marc Strub
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Bio-Organique, Département des Sciences Analytiques, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 (CNRS-UdS), 67037 Strasbourg, France (F.B.)
| | - Fabrice Bertile
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Bio-Organique, Département des Sciences Analytiques, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 (CNRS-UdS), 67037 Strasbourg, France (F.B.)
| | | | - Karim Arafah
- Plateforme BioPark d’Archamps, 74160 Archamps, France
| | - Philippe Bulet
- Plateforme BioPark d’Archamps, 74160 Archamps, France
- Institute pour l’Avancée des Biosciences, CR Université Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Angélique Vétillard
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD—Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, France; (V.P.); (S.B.)
- Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), Unité Métabiot, 22440 Ploufragan, France
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7
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Vieira JJ, Johnson CL, Varkonyi EM, Ginsberg HS, Picard KL, Kiesewetter MK, Alm SR. Using Surrogate Insects in Acid Bioassays for Development of New Controls for Varroa destructor (Arachnida: Varroidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 115:1417-1422. [PMID: 35980393 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to traditional synthetic compounds by Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman and shortcomings of the organic acid class of acaracides commonly used in varroa management requires continual development of new controls. V. destructor, however, are difficult to obtain for use in control bioassays because they are obligate parasites that cannot be easily reared outside of a honey bee colony. We conducted bioassays using other, more easily obtainable species to find organisms that could be used as surrogates for V. destructor when testing new potential controls. We compared the toxicities of acetic acid, lactic acid, formic acid, and oxalic acid at 0.005%, 0.05%, 0.5%, 5%, and 50% (20% oxalic acid only) concentrations based on natural volatility (nonheated) for the control of two beetle species, Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. and Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, greater wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella L., and V. destructor. The assay results were consistent across all species with formic acid and acetic acid showing 100% mortality of all four test species at 50% concentration. The assays also provided insight into the method of application (vaporization or contact) needed to cause mortality. Our results show that other organisms can be used in place of V. destructor for initial testing of acids and possibly other chemicals for control of the ectoparasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Vieira
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Casey L Johnson
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Varkonyi
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Howard S Ginsberg
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Rhode Island Field Station, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Kassie L Picard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | | | - Steven R Alm
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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8
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Jack CJ, Kleckner K, Demares F, Rault LC, Anderson TD, Carlier PR, Bloomquist JR, Ellis JD. Testing new compounds for efficacy against Varroa destructor and safety to honey bees (Apis mellifera). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:159-165. [PMID: 34464499 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Varroa destructor is among the greatest threats to honey bee health worldwide. Acaricides used to control Varroa are becoming increasingly ineffective due to resistance issues, prompting the need for new compounds that can be used for control purposes. Ideally, such compounds would exhibit high toxicity to Varroa while maintaining relatively low toxicity to bees and beekeepers. We characterized the lethal concentrations (LC50 ) of amitraz, matrine, FlyNap®, the experimental carbamates 2-((2-ethylbutyl)thio)phenyl methylcarbamate (1) and 2-(2-ethylbutoxy)phenyl methylcarbamate (2), and dimethoate (positive control) for Varroa using a glass vial assay. The test compounds also were applied to honey bees using an acute contact toxicity assay to determine the adult bee LD50 for each compound. RESULTS Amitraz was the most toxic compound to Varroa, but carbamate 2 was nearly as active (within 2-fold) and the most selective due to its lower bee toxicity, demonstrating its promise as a Varroa control. While carbamate 1 was less toxic to honey bees than was amitraz, it was also 4.7-fold less toxic to the mites. Both matrine and FlyNap® were relatively ineffective at killing Varroa and were moderately toxic to honey bees. CONCLUSION Additional testing is required to determine if carbamate 2 can be used as an effective Varroa control. As new chemical treatments are identified, it will be necessary to determine how they can be utilized best alongside other control techniques as part of an integrated pest management program. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron J Jack
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kaylin Kleckner
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fabien Demares
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Leslie C Rault
- 109D Entomology Hall, Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Troy D Anderson
- 109D Entomology Hall, Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Paul R Carlier
- Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Bloomquist
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James D Ellis
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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9
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Faber NR, Meiborg AB, Mcfarlane GR, Gorjanc G, Harpur BA. A gene drive does not spread easily in populations of the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor. APIDOLOGIE 2021; 52:1112-1127. [PMID: 35068598 PMCID: PMC8755698 DOI: 10.1007/s13592-021-00891-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) are the most significant threat to beekeeping worldwide. They are directly or indirectly responsible for millions of colony losses each year. Beekeepers are somewhat able to control varroa populations through the use of physical and chemical treatments. However, these methods range in effectiveness, can harm honey bees, can be physically demanding on the beekeeper, and do not always provide complete protection from varroa. More importantly, in some populations varroa mites have developed resistance to available acaricides. Overcoming the varroa mite problem will require novel and targeted treatment options. Here, we explore the potential of gene drive technology to control varroa. We show that spreading a neutral gene drive in varroa is possible but requires specific colony-level management practices to overcome the challenges of both inbreeding and haplodiploidy. Furthermore, continued treatment with acaricides is necessary to give a gene drive time to fix in the varroa population. Unfortunately, a gene drive that impacts female or male fertility does not spread in varroa. Therefore, we suggest that the most promising way forward is to use a gene drive which carries a toxin precursor or removes acaricide resistance alleles. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13592-021-00891-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky R. Faber
- HighlanderLab, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan B. Meiborg
- HighlanderLab, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG United Kingdom
| | - Gus R. Mcfarlane
- Burdon Group, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG United Kingdom
| | - Gregor Gorjanc
- HighlanderLab, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG United Kingdom
| | - Brock A. Harpur
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
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10
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Jack CJ, Ellis JD. Integrated Pest Management Control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), the Most Damaging Pest of (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) Colonies. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2021; 21:6. [PMID: 34536080 PMCID: PMC8449538 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieab058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Varroa destructor is among the greatest biological threats to western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) health worldwide. Beekeepers routinely use chemical treatments to control this parasite, though overuse and mismanagement of these treatments have led to widespread resistance in Varroa populations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecologically based, sustainable approach to pest management that relies on a combination of control tactics that minimize environmental impacts. Herein, we provide an in-depth review of the components of IPM in a Varroa control context. These include determining economic thresholds for the mite, identification of and monitoring for Varroa, prevention strategies, and risk conscious treatments. Furthermore, we provide a detailed review of cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control strategies, both longstanding and emerging, used against Varroa globally. For each control type, we describe all available treatments, their efficacies against Varroa as described in the primary scientific literature, and the obstacles to their adoption. Unfortunately, reliable IPM protocols do not exist for Varroa due to the complex biology of the mite and strong reliance on chemical control by beekeepers. To encourage beekeeper adoption, a successful IPM approach to Varroa control in managed colonies must be an improvement over conventional control methods and include cost-effective treatments that can be employed readily by beekeepers. It is our intention to provide the most thorough review of Varroa control options available, ultimately framing our discussion within the context of IPM. We hope this article is a call-to-arms against the most damaging pest managed honey bee colonies face worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron J Jack
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - James D Ellis
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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