Virus diseases of bees are becoming a major concern for apiculture, causing serious colony losses worldwide particularly in combination with the phoretic mite Varroa jacobsoni. The biology of these virus diseases, their relationship with mites and their effect on bees, apiculture and associated industries is poorly understood. Colonies affected by varroa mites are often weak with a spotty brood pattern. Recent research suggests that the mites may be a vector and/or an activator of several honey bee viruses, particularly deformed wing virus (DWV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and black queen cell virus (BQCV). Here we investigate the progression of several of these diseases throughout one season, in honeybee larvae, pupae and adult bees, and relate these to several independent estimates of mite infestation.
Species 1: Apis mellifera (honey bee)
Species 2: Varroa destructor (Varroa)
Keywords: honeybee, varroa
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA