EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE INVENTORY AND POPULATION OF VARROA MITE, VARROA DESTRUCTOR IN HONEY BEE APIS MELLIFERA COLONIES IN DOKKI, Giza, EGYPT

Abstract

Population dynamics of Varroa destructor , Anderson and Trueman were studied along the autumn season of 2018 to the summer season of 2019 in 20 Apis mellifera , shaded or unshaded colonies, located in Dokki (Giza). The number of bees, the amount of open and capped brood , daily natural mortality, level of infestation of adult bees, and level of infestation of the brood, was monitored. The obtained results showed that the infestation with Varroa mite was high in winter and autumn and was low in spring and summer on brood and on adult worker bees. Relative humidity and outdoor temperature leading to great danger to bee colonies in dearth period. So, early mite control is very important. Successive brood cycles allow the population growth of Varroa, while the absence of brood during the summer months has the opposite effect of reducing populations of Varroa.