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Title: A rapid survey technique for Tropilaelaps mite (Mesostigmata: Laclapidae) detection

Author
item Pettis, Jeffery
item ROSE, ROBYN - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item LICHTENBERG, ELINOR - University Of Maryland
item CHANTAWANNAKUL, PANAWAN - Chiang Mai University
item BUAWANGPONG, NINAT - Chiang Mai University
item SOMANA, WEERAYA - Chiang Mai University
item SUKUMALANAND, PRACHAVAL - Chiang Mai University
item VANENGELSDORP, DENNIS - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2012
Publication Date: 1/30/2013
Citation: Pettis, J.S., Rose, R., Lichtenberg, E.M., Chantawannakul, P., Buawangpong, N., Somana, W., Sukumalanand, P., Vanengelsdorp, D. 2013. A rapid survey technique for Tropilaelaps mite (Mesostigmata: Laclapidae) detection. Journal of Economic Entomology. 106(4):1535-1544.

Interpretive Summary: Parasitic mites affect pollinator health and the varroa mite is the most serious single threat to European honey bees. The Tropilaelaps species of mites is a damaging pest to European honey bees in Asia and represents a serious threat if introduced to other parts of the world. The seriousness of this threat warrants the development and implementation of a tropilaelaps mite surveillance system in uninfested parts of the world. The current tropilaelaps mite detection process is not effective for large scale screening. This led to the development and testing of a new collection technique that involves the rapping of a frame of bee brood from a honey bee colony over a collection pan. This method is easier to implement, faster, less invasive to the honey bee colony and increases the likelihood of detecting infested colonies. It is suggested that screening programs sample seven colonies per apiary and randomly selected apiaries in a region to be 95% sure of detecting the introduction of tropilaelaps. Contrary to popular belief, further analysis showed that tropilaelaps mites and varroa mites compete for worker bee larva. This test should be a standard tool for monitoring for tropilaelaps introduction into previously uninfested regions.

Technical Abstract: Parasitic mites affect pollinator helath and the varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) is the most serious single threat to honey bees. Another group of mites with similar life histories to varroa mites, Tropilaelaps (Delfinado and Baker) species, have become a damaging pest of European honey bees in Asia. These mites represent a serious threat if introduced to other regions of the world. The seriousness of this threat warrants implementation of tropilaelaps mite surveillance in regions not thought to be infested. Current tropilaelaps mite detection methods are unsuitable for efficient large scale screening. We thus developed and tested a new bump technique that consists of rapping a brood frame from a honey bee hive over a collecting pan. Our method was easier to implement than current detection tests, reduced time spent in each apiary and avoided brood destruction. This feasibility increase overcomes the tests’ middle rank in sensitivity, or the probability of detecting infested colonies. Considering the sensitivity of the bump test, we suggest that screening programs sample seven colonies per apiary and randomly selected apiaries in a region to be 95% sure of detecting an incipient tropilaelaps mite invasion. Further analyses counter the currently-held view that tropilaelaps mites prefer drone bee brood cells, and support tropilaelaps mite-varroa mite competition for developing worker bees. We propose this test as a standard tool for monitoring of tropilaelaps presence in regions thought to be free from infestation.