Mite infestation of honeybee (Apis mellifera) in apiaries of North East of Iran

Varroa destructor, Acarapis woodi and Tropilaelaps spp. are the main parasitic honeybee mites. The present study was carried out to determine the situation of parasitic honeybee mite infestation in the apiaries of North East of Iran. A total of 54 apiaries were sampled from April to July 2011 and April to July 2012. Five colonies were randomly selected in each apiary (overall 270 colonies) and 50 adult honeybees and a piece of sealed brood cells were taken from each colony. Parasitological examinations showed that prevalence of Varroa infestation in apiaries of this region was 31.5%. Likewise, the Varroa infestation rate of honeybee colonies was 7.40% in the spring. The measured morphometrical characteristics showed that Varroa infestative species in this region was V. destructor. In this study, infestation with A. woodi and Tropilaelaps spp. were not observed. In conclusion, Varroa is the main parasitic mite of honey bees in the study area. It is recommended that infested colonies be monitored and mite population level in the hives be determined and based on economic threshold treatment started.