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Interazioni nel sistema Apis mellifera-Varroa destructor-Deformed Wing Virus e collasso delle colonie d’api
Full text linkNegli ultimi anni, in tutto il mondo, sono state registrate gravi perdite di alveari. Nel presente lavoro sono state studiate le interazioni fra l’acaro parassita Varroa destructor e gli altri patogeni, con particolare riferimento al Deformed Wing Virus, che determinano il collasso delle colonie d’api. Allo scopo, sono stati condotti esperimenti di campo e di laboratorio che hanno permesso di individuare le cause prossime e remote del fenomeno delle mori
How does the mite Varroa destructor kill the honeybee Apis mellifera? Alteration of cuticular hydrcarbons and water loss in infested honeybees.
No full textSeveral factors threaten the health of honeybees; among them the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the Deformed Wing Virus play a major role. Recently, the dangerous interplay between the mite and the virus was studied in detail and the transition, triggered by mite feeding, from a benign covert infection to a devastating viral outbreak, characterized by an intense viral replication, associated with some characteristic symptoms, was described. In order to gain insight into the events preceding that crucial transition we carried out standardized lab experiments aiming at studying the effects of parasitization in asymptomatic bees to establish a relationship between such effects and bee mortality. It appears that parasitization alters the capacity of the honeybee to regulate water exchange; this, in turn, has severe effects on bee survival.
Journal of Insect Physiology
Available online 3 October 2012
In Press, Uncorrected Proof — Note to users
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How does the mite Varroa destructor kill the honeybee Apis mellifera? Alteration of cuticular hydrcarbons and water loss in infested honeybees
* Desiderato Annoscia,
* Fabio Del Piccolo,
* Francesco NazziCorresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author
* Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy
Received 24 May 2012
Revised 20 September 2012
Accepted 22 September 2012
Available online 3 October 2012
* http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.09.008, How to Cite or Link Using DOI
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Abstract
Several factors threaten the health of honeybees; among them the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the Deformed Wing Virus play a major role. Recently, the dangerous interplay between the mite and the virus was studied in detail and the transition, triggered by mite feeding, from a benign covert infection to a devastating viral outbreak, characterized by an intense viral replication, associated with some characteristic symptoms, was described. In order to gain insight into the events preceding that crucial transition we carried out standardized lab experiments aiming at studying the effects of parasitization in asymptomatic bees to establish a relationship between such effects and bee mortality. It appears that parasitization alters the capacity of the honeybee to regulate water exchange; this, in turn, has severe effects on bee survival.
These results are discussed in light of possible novel strategies aiming at mitigating the impact of the parasite on honeybee health
Research and education for sustainability in a beekeeping project in sub-Saharan Africa.
No full textSupport to small farmers is at the heart of the fight against poverty. However, the continuous provision of support poses a major challenge which greatly affects the sustainability of development related projects. Using a research and education approach, in which beekeeping was introduced into the curriculum of two secondary schools, we tested the potential of knowledge transfer as a means of promoting beekeeping. In this paper, we show that, with an educational program tailored to the audience needs, knowledge transfer and self start-ups ensure better sustainability than material support. We further discuss the implications of these results in the sustenance of beekeeping as a development related activity
Mite infestation during development alters the in-hive behaviour of adult honeybees.
No full textHoneybee colonies (Apis mellifera) host a number of parasites, among which the mite Varroa destructor has been implicated in colony losses recorded around the world in recent years. Although many studies have been carried out on the direct and indirect damage caused by the mite to its host, the possible influence of mite infestation on the in-hive behaviour of honeybees has received little attention so far; moreover, to our knowledge, no behavioural study has been performed on adult bees infested during the pupal stage, which is when the mite causes most of its detrimental effects. In order to assess any possible consequence of infestation on the in-hive behaviour of honeybees, we carried out detailed observations on adult bees artificially infested during the pupal stage. We recorded a higher proportion of inactive bees among the infested ones; moreover, we observed that infested bees are less involved in tending larvae and dealing with hive duties compared to their uninfested mates. These results allow to draw some hypotheses which could be tested using the infestation method presented here
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