A method for semi-field rearing of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) to obtain mites of controlled age and specific life cycle

IRINA MUNTAABSKI; ROMINA M. RUSSO; M. CLARA LIENDO; LUCAS LANDI; SILVIA B. LANZAVECCHIA; ALEJANDRA C. SCANNAPIECO

Acarologia

Les Amis d'Acarologia

Año: 2023 vol. 63 p. 383 - 389

Varroa destructor is one of the most devastating ectoparasites of the honey bee, Apismellifera, worldwide. Given that V. destructor has very low survivability and exhibitsno successful reproduction away from their natural environment and host and that theavailability of mites for experimental purposes is limited by seasonality, several protocolsof mite rearing under laboratory conditions have been developed. However, only one ofthese rearing systems has been able to yield a fertile second generation with a low mitesurvival. The aim of this study was to develop a semi-field rearing method to obtainmites of known age and life cycle that can be maintained through several generations. Weregistered and compared survival and reproductive parameters of mites of controlled ageduring four generations (P, F1, F2, F3) and evidenced no significant differences betweenthese mite groups for these life-history traits. With present results we demonstrate that itis possible to successfully produce a third generation of mites under semi-field conditions.This study brings useful information about key conditions for the proper reproduction ofmites in a controlled rearing system and provides a potential standardized method for V.destructor research, especially for host-parasite interaction experiments.