Morphometric correlation between Apis mellifera morphotypes (Hymenoptera) and Varroa destructor (Acari) from Uruguay

23. GIMENEZ MARTINEZ, P; INVERNIZZI, C. ; MENDOZA, Y; FUSELLI, S; ALONSO SALCES R; FERNÁNDEZ IRIARTE P.; MAGGI M

JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH

INT BEE RESEARCH ASSOC

Año: 2017 vol. 56 p. 122 - 129

0021-8839

Uruguay is characterized by having an Africanization gradient in its honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations from areasbordering Brazil to the most remote locations. Morphological differences have also been found among Varroa destructorpopulations from different regions. A possible explanation for these morphological changes in mites could be explainedby morphological correlations in the host/parasite A. mellifera/V. destructor system. The objective of the present studywas to identify A. mellifera ecotypes in Uruguay and their correlation with V. destructor populations, using geometricmorphometrics analysis. The hypothesis states that there is an Africanization gradient of A. mellifera in the northsoutheasterndirection in Uruguay that correlates with morphological variations in V. destructor populations. Amorphometrics analysis of six honey bee populations and their respective phoretic mites was carried out by samplingzones that show the gradient in the Uruguayan region. The main results obtained were a morphometric correlationbetween honey bees and mites. The use of landmarks could be adjusted for the intraspecific differentiation of V.destructor populations, which had not been considered previously. These studies are of major importance to furtherunderstand the parasitism caused by V. destructor in honey bees