Effects of Nosema apis Zander on inbred New Zealand honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica L)

• Published in: Apidologie Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 479 - 486
• Main Authors: MALONE, L. A, GIACON, H. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Les Ulis EDP Sciences 1996; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Animal biology; Animal production studies; Animal productions; Apiculture; Apis mellifera ligustica; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Ecology, environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Insecta; Invertebrate Zoology; Invertebrates; Life Sciences; Nosema apis; Terrestrial animal productions; New Zealand; Oceania; Protozoa; Host parasite relation; Insecta; Apidae; Parasite; Host; Longevity; Nosema apis; Social insect; Apis mellifera ligustica; Cnidosporidia; Sensitivity resistance; Seasonal variation; Apoidea; Arthropoda; Consanguinity; Intraspecific comparison; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Aculeata
• ISSN: 0044-8435; 1297-9678
• DOI: 10.1051/apido:19960607

Inbred bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) from seven different colonies were dosed individually with spores of Nosema apis and kept in cages. Longevity and spores carried at the time of death were recorded for each bee. The experiment was repeated on three different dates. Control bee longevity varied with experiment date, although the pattern of this response varied from colony to colony. Dosing significantly reduced the lifespans of bees in all but three colonies. Results suggest that bees with superior ability to survive in cages may also withstand N. apis infection better. Each cage of dosed bees produced a number of dead bees without detectable spore loads. Survival data comparisons suggest that dosing newly-emerged bees with N. apis may result in a relatively fast death for some bees and a slower death for the majority. Spore loads were very variable with no clear relationship to survival time.