We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Winter survival of individual honey bees and honey bee colonies depends on level of Varroa destructor infestation.
- Authors
van Dooremalen, Coby; Gerritsen, Lonne; Cornelissen, Bram; van der Steen, Jozef J M; van Langevelde, Frank; Blacquière, Tjeerd
- Abstract
Recent elevated winter loss of honey bee colonies is a major concern. The presence of the mite Varroa destructor in colonies places an important pressure on bee health. V. destructor shortens the lifespan of individual bees, while long lifespan during winter is a primary requirement to survive until the next spring. We investigated in two subsequent years the effects of different levels of V. destructor infestation during the transition from short-lived summer bees to long-lived winter bees on the lifespan of individual bees and the survival of bee colonies during winter. Colonies treated earlier in the season to reduce V. destructor infestation during the development of winter bees were expected to have longer bee lifespan and higher colony survival after winter.
- Publication
PloS one, 2012, Vol 7, Issue 4, pe36285
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0036285