Out of 53 queens captured for initiating colonies in the
laboratory, 33 laid eggs (62 percent), 29 of these produced colonies
(55 percent), and 14 produced queens (26 percent). A behavioral model
depicts the activities of queens from spring emergence through colony
development. A discussion of its application to bumble...
Larval mortality of leafcutting bee, Megachile pacifica (Panzer)
(= rotundata (F.)), is high, usually exceeding 50%. Parasites and
predators are not a limiting factor in the survival of the progeny.
The disease chalk brood has been an important mortality factor since
1974. Inadequate food supply, pollen and nectar, may affect...
Chalkbrood is a mycosis of larvae of the alfalfa leafcutting bee,
Megachile rotundata (Fabricius). It is a serious threat to alfalfa seed
growers in western North America who use populations of this bee for
pollination. Basic studies were conducted to determine the etiology of
this disease and the course of...
The tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi (Rennie), parasitizes the
honey bee, Apis mellifera L., an insect used extensively by humans
for pollination of domestic crops and for bee products, primarily
honey.
This parasite was first discovered in 1921 on the Isle of
Wight, a small island situated in the English Channel...
Thirteen New World populations of Megachile rotundata and M. apicalis and
two Old World populations of M. rotundata were analyzed at 23 enzyme loci using
cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Conventional and G- or C-banded karyotypes were
also examined in these populations. The principal findings are (1) No differences
were found in...
Aspects concerning the bionomics of the parasitic honey bee brood mite, Varroa
jacobsoni Oudemans were investigated. Mite mortality is great during the winter season
when the host colony is not rearing brood, appearing to be independent of the mortality of
its host. In winter period, no significant association between the...
The number of drones and genetic diversity among drones are
essential components to a well mated queen. Varroa destructor
preferentially parasitizes drone brood, and is thought to be
responsible for the loss of feral populations that once provided
additional drones for honey bee mating areas. It is necessary to
use...