title: The ectoparasitic mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae reduces western honey bee, Apismellifera, longevity and emergence weight, and promotes Deformed wing virus infections.
abstract: Historically an ectoparasite of the native Giant honey bee Apis dorsata, the mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae has switched hosts to the introduced western honey bee Apis mellifera throughout much of Asia. Few data regarding lethal and sub-lethal effects of T. mercedesae on A. mellifera exist, despite its similarity to the devastating mite Varroa destructor. Here we artificially infested worker brood of A. mellifera with T. mercedesae to investigate lethal (longevity) and sub-lethal (emergence weight, Deformed wing virus (DWV) levels and clinical symptoms of DWV) effects of the mite on its new host. The data show that T. mercedesae infestation significantly reduced host longevity and emergence weight, and promoted both DWV levels and associated clinical symptoms. Our results suggest that T. mercedesae is a potentially important parasite to the economically important A. mellifera honey bee.
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. Electronic address: khongphinit@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kitiphong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khongphinitbunjong
authors.affiliation: Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. Electronic address: panuwan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Panuwan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chantawannakul
authors.affiliation: Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Geoffrey R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D057077:Varroidae / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Apis mellifera; Deformed wing virus; Longevity; Tropilaelaps mercedesae; Vector