<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Many studies have reported sudden and large-scale losses in honey bee colonies. There is no precise explanation for this happening, but it may be caused by the interaction of pathogenic viruses and ectoparasite <italic>Varroa destructor.</italic> Deformed-wing virus (DWV) is common in <italic>Apis mellifera</italic> L. and has been implicated in worldwide Varroa-associated colony losses. Hygienic behavior may be one of the ways that limit <italic>V. destructor</italic> infestation level and DWV load. The purpose of this research was to determine whether the selection of higher hygienic behavior is effective against <italic>V. destructor</italic> and DWV. Workers and pupae of <italic>A. m. anatoliaca</italic> were collected from colonies showing four generations of hygienic behaviodr, and non-hygienics were used as a control. Loads of DWV were investigated by one-step RT-qPCR, and the bottom-board method was used to allow mites count. The prevalence of DWV in pupae were higher in hygienic colonies (69.0%, average viral load 234.38) than control colonies (60.8% average viral load 937.70). However, the prevalence of worker bees infected with DWV was lower in hygienic colonies (41.3%, average viral load 181627.69) than in control's (66.0%, average viral load 241982.35). Although the averages of the <italic>Varroa</italic> counts were significantly different for both hygienic (28.92) and control colonies (108.90), we could not find any correlation between DWV loads of both workers and pupae in this study. When all these results are evaluated, the selection performed in terms of hygienic behavior can said to have been said successful against DWV.</p></abstract>

Many studies have reported sudden and large-scale losses in honey bee colonies. There is no precise explanation for this happening, but it may be caused by the interaction of pathogenic viruses and ectoparasite Varroa destructor. Deformed-wing virus (DWV) is common in Apis mellifera L. and has been implicated in worldwide Varroa-associated colony losses. Hygienic behavior may be one of the ways that limit V. destructor infestation level and DWV load. The purpose of this research was to determine whether the selection of higher hygienic behavior is effective against V. destructor and DWV. Workers and pupae of A. m. anatoliaca were collected from colonies showing four generations of hygienic behaviodr, and non-hygienics were used as a control. Loads of DWV were investigated by one-step RT-qPCR, and the bottom-board method was used to allow mites count. The prevalence of DWV in pupae were higher in hygienic colonies (69.0%, average viral load 234.38) than control colonies (60.8% average viral load 937.70). However, the prevalence of worker bees infected with DWV was lower in hygienic colonies (41.3%, average viral load 181627.69) than in control's (66.0%, average viral load 241982.35). Although the averages of the Varroa counts were significantly different for both hygienic (28.92) and control colonies (108.90), we could not find any correlation between DWV loads of both workers and pupae in this study. When all these results are evaluated, the selection performed in terms of hygienic behavior can said to have been said successful against DWV.

Success of Selection in Terms of Hygienic Behavior in Struggle Against DWV and <italic>Varroa</italic>

Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology

Ula Ali Koçman Vocational School, Department of Plant and Animal Production

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Success of Selection in Terms of Hygienic Behavior in Struggle Against DWV and 

Many studies have reported sudden and large-scale losses in honey bee colonies. There is no precise explanation for this happening, but it may be caused by the...

Success of Selection in Terms of Hygienic Behavior in Struggle Against DWV and Varroa

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Dec 18, 2020

Page range: 229 - 240

Received: Aug 27, 2019

Accepted: Sep 11, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2020-0027

Keywords
deformed wing virus, hygienic behavior, RT-qPCR,

© 2020 Kemal Karabağ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Success of Selection in Terms of Hygienic Behavior in Struggle Against DWV and Varroa

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Dec 18, 2020

Page range: 229 - 240

Received: Aug 27, 2019

Accepted: Sep 11, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2020-0027

Keywordsdeformed wing virus, hygienic behavior, RT-qPCR,

© 2020 Kemal Karabağ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
deformed wing virus, hygienic behavior, RT-qPCR,