Infestation levels of the mite (Varroa destructor) between two honeybee races Apis mellifera meda (Indigenous) and Apis mellifera carnica (Imported) in Savojbolagh regions of Alborz province in Iran

Abstract

The present study was aimed to evaluate the infestation level of two honey bee races A. mellifera meda and A. mellifera carnica with Varroa destructor and comparing the colony mortality in Savojbolagh regions of Alborz province in Iran in 2016. Estimation of different mites populations was based on daily mites downfall and the mites on adults and brood itself. The results of the present study was based on adult bees and brooded showed high mites development in A. mellifera meda bees where the population increased to 109.05, 48.5, 124.3 and 91.85 folds where as in carnica colonies the increase was very low 25.59, 24.89, 51.84 and 33.36 during their respective months of inspection. Based on daily mites downfall the population estimates revealed 9.4, 12.1, 68.4 and 42.35 fold increase in Indigenous colonies where as in carnica colonies (Imported) the mites population was increased to 5.24, 7.3, 38.14 and 26.5 fold folds.