Ecology, Life History, and Management of Tropilaelaps Mites.
Parasitic mites are the major threat to the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera L. For much of the world, Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman single-handedly inflicts unsurmountable problems to A. mellifera beekeeping. However, A. mellifera in Asia is also faced with another genus of destructive parasitic mite, Tropilaelaps. The life history of these two parasitic mites is very similar, and both have the same food requirements (i.e., hemolymph of developing brood). Hence, parasitism by Tropilaelaps spp., especially Tropilaelaps mercedesae and Tropilaelaps clareae, also results in death of immature brood or wing deformities in infested adult bees. The possible introduction of Tropilaelaps mites outside their current range heightens existing dilemmas brought by Varroa mites. In this review, we provide historic, as well as current information on the taxonomic status, life history, distribution and host range, diagnosis, and control of Tropilaelaps mites. Because the biology of Tropilaelaps mites is not well known, we also suggest areas of research that demand immediate attention. Any biological information about Tropilaelaps mites will provide useful information for the development of control measures against them.
USDA-ARS, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820 (lilia.deguzman@ars.usda.gov).
Lilia I
LI
de Guzman
Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland ( williams@auburn.edu ).|Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.|Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849.
Geoffrey R
GR
Williams
School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand (khongphinit@gmail.com).
Kitiphong
K
Khongphinitbunjong
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University 50200, Chiang Mai, Thailand (panuwan@gmail.com).
Panuwan
P
Chantawannakul
D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D056630:Beekeeping; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D000071421:Life History Traits; D008925:Mites / Q000502:physiology*
Apis mellifera; Tropilaelaps clareae; Tropilaelaps mercedesae; Varroa destructor; intergeneric competition