title: Relationship of the neutral sterols and ecdysteroids of the parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsoni to those of the honey bee, Apis mellifera.
abstract: The neutral sterols of the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni were compared with Apis mellifera carnica drone pupae. Analysis by GLC-mass spectrometry indicated mite sterols were reflective of the sterol composition of the drones; 24-methylenecholesterol was the major sterol in both species, with lesser amounts of sitosterol and isofucosterol. Cholesterol accounted for less than 1% of the total sterols. Ecdysteroid analyses indicated drones contained primarily makisterone A. In addition to makisterone A, mites contained ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone, which accounted for over 66% of the ecdysteroid detected. These results indicate that while V. jacobsoni are apparently unable to convert dietary sterols to cholesterol, they are able to produce significant amount of C(27) ecdysteroids in a low cholesterol environment.
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut, LS Entwicklungsphysiologie, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartfelder
authors.forename: M F.
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Feldlaufer