Abstract
The studies were conducted to compare the hygienic and grooming behavior of honey
bees (Apis mellifera Ligustica) headed by new (0-year) and old queens (1-year) against
Varroa mites at Apiculture Research Farm, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University
Rawalpindi during 2013-14. Worker bees removed 91.56, 95.11 and 98.52 % dead
brood in colonies headed by new queens, while 75.22, 82.78 and 88.78%, in colonies
headed by old queens; after 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Similarly, significant
differences were observed regarding the removal of artificially introduced Varroa
mites between both types of colonies; bees in colonies headed by new queens removed
74.67 and 84.67%, while the bees headed by old queens removed 52.67 and 66.67%
artificially introduced Varroa mites from brood cells after 5 and 7 days, respectively.
The mean percentage of leg deformed Varroa mites due to grooming behavior of adult
bees in colonies with new and old queens was 67.45 and 57.83%, and mites with
deformed dorsal shield was 27.03% and 20.71%, respectively. Colonies with new
queens exhibited better hygienic and grooming behavior against the Varroa mite as
compared to those having old queens. Replacing old queens with new queens every
year is suggested for better management of Varroa mite in Pothwar region of Punjab.
Muhammad Asif Aziz, Saboor Ahmad, Munir Ahmad, Imran Bodlah. (2017) Effect of queen age on hygienic and grooming behavior of Apis mellifera Ligustica against Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman), Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 5, Issue 3.
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