title: Artificial feeding of Varroa destructor through a chitosan membrane: a tool for studying the host-microparasite relationship.
abstract: Rearing pests or parasites of very small size in the absence of their living host is a challenge for behavioural, physiological and pathological studies. For feeding Varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of Apis mellifera, a confinement space with a membrane separating the nutritive solution and the space was designed. The mite measures less than 2 mm and bears a perforating apparatus with a length of 15 μm. The membrane, an essential element of the chamber, has a thickness of 0.1 μm, and is made of chitosan. It closes one face of the individual confinement chamber and allows piercing and the ingestion of the nutritive solution. Factors inducing feeding can be applied on the inner walls or on the membrane. In the particular case of Varroa, the highest percentages of feeding mites are obtained by addition of host haemolymph to the nutritive solution, suggesting the kairomonal role of haemolymph in addition to its nutritional one. The membrane concept can be easily applied to several mites or other micro-pests.
authors: Venoms and Biological Activities Laboratory, EA 4357, PRES-Université de Toulouse, Jean-François Champollion University Center, Albi, France.
authors: Jeremy
authors: J
authors: Tabart
authors: Marc-Edouard
authors: ME
authors: Colin
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Carayon
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Tene
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Payre
authors: Angelique
authors: A
authors: Vetillard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology*; D048271:Chitosan; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology; D057077:Varroidae / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010675:Pheromones; D048271:Chitosan