Dear friends

VARROA IN TROPICAL AFRICA

For some time now we have been receiving e-mails and reports from readers in sub-Saharan Africa of Varroa in their honey bee colonies, for example Dr Issa Nombre (see below) and Mr Mike Ukattah in Nigeria (BfDJ 86). Now a study published in the Journal Apidologie* has provided scientific evidence for the identification of Varroa destructor in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Yet so far, no beekeepers in this region have described adverse problems being caused by the presence of this mite. Why not? This may be a consequence of the extensive, genetically varied, indigenous honey bee populations that still exist in tropical Africa. These bees’ specialised biology and behaviour exemplified by the frequent migration, absconding and swarming of colonies, and the non-interventionist nature of tropical African beekeeping are likely to be significant factors. The worst thing that African beekeepers can do now is to begin using chemicals in their colonies to control Varroa – in this way, Varroa tolerant colonies will not have the opportunity to be identified, and beekeeping will become – as it has in so many regions – a race against mite resistance. At the same time, the input costs of beekeeping would be increased while honey and beeswax would be reduced in value by the presence of chemical residues.

*FRAZIER,M.; MULI,E.; CONKLIN,T.; SCHMEHL,D.; BALDWYN,. T.; FRAZIER,J.; TUMLINSON,J.; EVANS,J.D.; RAINA,S. (2010) A scientific note on Varroa destructor found in East Africa; threat or opportunity? Apidologie (463-465) Available online at: www.apidologie.org

VARROA IN BURKINA FASO?

In April 2010 we held a training course for local-style beekeepers from Mali. One of the practical sessions involved an apiary visit and we collected some honey. The honey was extracted the following day and upon inspection of some of the brood combs, we saw for the first time in Burkina Faso the mite Varroa destructor. Will our beekeeping be able to survive this? We ask for all the good will that can contribute to a better study of this parasite, to join us in order to understand the status of the infestation in Burkina Faso.

Dr Issa Nombre Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales, Ouagadougou

From BfD

Sorry to read that you have discovered Varroa destructor in Burkina Faso. It is possible that the method of beekeeping practised in Burkina Faso is allowing honey bee colonies and the predator to evolve in natural ways that permit normal host-parasite relationships to develop. Research may reveal whether the mites are detrimental to the bee colonies, or the bees are surviving in their presence.

VARROA DESTRUCTOR

The ectoparasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor was originally confined to the Asian honey bee Apis cerana. During the first half of the 20th century, as a consequence of beekeepers moving honey bee colonies around the world, Varroa spread to colonies of Apis mellifera, the honey bee species used by beekeepers in many countries. In this way, Varroa eventually became dispersed to Apis mellifera colonies and spread to many world regions. It arrived in North Africa during the 1980s and was first identified in South Africa in 1997. Until recently, there had been no reports of Varroa in sub-Saharan Africa. Damage caused to bees by the presence of Varroa is believed to be the main driver behind colony loss episodes in Europe and North America: Varroa is in many countries therefore considered a major threat for apiculture.

Let us know if you have seen Varroa in your honey bee colonies – often the easiest way to find Varroa is by inspecting some drone larvae - for information on how to identify Varroa, please go to our Information Portal at www.beesfordevelopment.org/portal