Tracheal mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) infestation effects on foraging and survivorship of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
1989
Gary, N.E. | Page, R.E. Jr
The foraging activity of worker honey bees, Apis mellifera L., at the hive entrance was used to study the effects of infestation by tracheal mites, Acarapis woodi (Rennie). No significant differences were found between infested and noninfested bees for the number of foraging trips, frequency of foraging trips, round trip times, frequency of pollen collection, or time between foraging trips. Nectar loads collected by forager honey bees infested with tracheal mites were compared with loads collected by noninfested foragers. The difference in mean honey sac volumes was not significant. Survivorship of worker bees as a function of tracheal mite infestation was determined by comparing, during a 6-wk period, the ratio of infested to noninfested bees in subpopulations that were aged in common colonies. Stable infestation ratios throughout the experiment indicated no significant reduction in survivorship because of infestation.
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