Periodical prevalence of brood pestilence and epizoan mites in Apis mellifera L. underneath stationary and migratory surroundings of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Field demonstration were orchestrate during July 2015 to June 2016 in Apis mellifera L. colonies perpetuated by the Department of Entomology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, situated at 33.3N° latitude, 70.70 °E longitude and 1256 m above mean sea level (Amsl). The scrutiny was under taken to documentation the seasonal incidence of diseases and enemies of A. mellifera under stationary and migratory conditions. The European foulbrood disease infestation array from 0 to 29 per cent in stationary and 1.12 to 4.90 per cent during migratory period. The disease prevalence was assuredly correlated with temperature, colony strength and rainfall. Sac brood disease incidence was evidenced with 8 per cent brood infestation only in the month of April, 2016. The population of ectoparasitic mites i.e. Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps clareae was recorded by three different methods viz. sticky paper, per 100 bees and visual examination. The incidence of V. destructor and T. clareae was observed during summer months when the temperature was high and relative humidity was low under stationary conditions. No mites were remarked during migratory period.