Stimulating effect of sugar dusting on honey bee grooming behaviour

  1. Jevrosima Stevanovic1,*,
  2. Zoran Stanimirovic1,
  3. Nada Lakic2,
  4. Ninoslav Djelic1,
  5. Ivica Radovic3

Article first published online: 20 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01231.x

Issue

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata

Volume 143, Issue 1, pages 23–30, April 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Stevanovic, J., Stanimirovic, Z., Lakic, N., Djelic, N. and Radovic, I. (2012), Stimulating effect of sugar dusting on honey bee grooming behaviour. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 143: 23–30. doi: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01231.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

  2. 2

    Department of Statistics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11081 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia

  3. 3

    Civil Protection and Environment Protection Studies Department, Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, Gospodara Vucica 50, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

* Jevrosima Stevanovic, Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. E-mail: rocky@vet.bg.ac.rs

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 MAR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 20 FEB 2012
  3. Accepted: 19 December 2011

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Keywords:

  • Apis mellifera;
  • Varroa destructor;
  • sucrose;
  • defence;
  • Hymenoptera;
  • Apidae;
  • Acari;
  • Varroidae

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate whether or not sugar dusting can stimulate the grooming behaviour in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an important defensive mechanism against Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae), and to assess the most effective dose and frequency of treatment. The criterion for evaluation of grooming potential was the percentage of damaged mites (PDM) among the total number collected on the bottom boards of the hives. In each sugar-treated group PDM was significantly higher in comparison both with the negative control (no treatment) and with the values preceding the treatment. The results point to a stimulating effect of sugar on the grooming behaviour at all doses and frequencies tested. Treatment frequency influenced the stimulating effect of sugar: treatments at 3- and 7-day intervals with 30 and 40 g resulted in significantly higher PDMs than the least frequent treatment (every 14 days); dusting with 20 g influenced PDM only when repeated at 3-day intervals. Because treatments at 3-day intervals are time-consuming, those with 40 or 30 g repeated every 7 days may be recommended. In the positive control (hives treated with amitraz), average PDM was significantly lower than in the negative control and all sugar-treated groups. Possible causes of the stimulating effect of sugar dusting on bee grooming behaviour are discussed.

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