title: Environment or beekeeping management: What explains better the prevalence of honey bee colonies with high levels of Varroa destructor?
abstract: Varroa destructor is one of the major threats to honey bee colonies. The mite abundance in the colonies is affected by environmental conditions as well as by beekeeping management. The aim of this study was to recognize the main drivers associated with autumn V. destructor infestation in honey bee colonies when different regions from Argentina are compared. A total of 361 colonies distributed in five Argentinean eco-regions were examined to evaluate Varroa mite infestation rate during autumn and Nosema sp. presence. Regions were different regarding annual temperature, precipitation and especially vegetation landscape. In addition, beekeeping management practices were obtained from a checklist questionnaire answered by the beekeepers. The prevalence of colonies with high infestation level was lower in semi-arid Chaco followed by humid and transition Chaco regions. Also, colonies that were positive for Nosema sp. showed a higher Varroa infestation rate. The "environmental" effect was stronger compared with the influence of secondary drivers associated with beekeeping activities. As well, a significant association between V. destructor infestation rates and Nosema presence was identified. Under contrasting natural conditions, environment seems a predominant driver on Varroa destructor infestation level in honey bee colonies.
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: agostinagiacobino@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Agostina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacobino
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: pacini.adriana@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: amolineri83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molineri
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: bulacio.natalia@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bulacio Cagnolo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: merke.julieta@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merke
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: orellano.emanuel@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orellano
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: bertozzi.ezequiel@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertozzi
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: masciangelo.german@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masciangelo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: pietronave.hernan@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pietronave
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria EEA Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: signorini.marcelo@inta.gob.ar.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Signorini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D056630:Beekeeping; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D012307:Risk Factors; D057077:Varroidae / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Beekeeping; Environment; Nosema sp.; Varroa destructor