title: Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis strains virulent to Varroa destructor on larvae and adults of Apis mellifera.
abstract: The sublethal effects of two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis, which were virulent in vitro to Varroa destructor, were measured on Apis mellifera. The effects of five concentrations of total protein (1, 5, 25, 50 and 100μg/mL) from the EA3 and EA26.1 strains on larval and adult honey bees were evaluated for two and seven days under laboratory conditions. Based on the concentrations evaluated, total protein from the two strains did not affect the development of larvae, the syrup consumption, locomotor activity or proboscis extension response of adults. These same parameters were also tested for the effects of three concentrations (1, 10 and 15μg/kg) of cypermethrin as a positive control. Although no significant differences were observed after two days of treatment with cypermethrin, a dose-response relationship in syrup consumption and locomotor activity was observed. A significant reduction in the proboscis extension response of the bees treated with cypermethrin was also observed. Therefore, in contrast to cypermethrin, our results indicate that the EA3 and EA26.1 strains of B. thuringiensis can be used in beehives to control V. destructor and reduce the negative effects of this mite on colonies without adverse effects on the larvae and adults of A. mellifera. Additionally, the overuse of synthetic miticides, which produce both lethal and sublethal effects on bees, can be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62209, Mexico. Electronic address: eva.alquisira@uaem.mx.
authors.forename: Eva Vianey
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Alquisira-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62209, Mexico. Electronic address: penacg@uaem.mx.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peña-Chora
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62209, Mexico. Electronic address: vmanuelh@uaem.mx.
authors.forename: Víctor Manuel
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Hernández-Velázquez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62209, Mexico. Electronic address: andres.salvear@uaem.mx.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvear-García
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Morelos, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos CP: 62210, Mexico. Electronic address: arsoivan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arenas-Sosa
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62209, Mexico. Electronic address: rsuarez@uaem.mx.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suarez-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D056630:Beekeeping; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011679:Pupa; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity; D013983:Tick Control; D057077:Varroidae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017160:cypermethrin
keywords: Apis mellifera; Bacillus thuringiensis; Cypermethrin; Sublethal effect; Varroa destructor