THE FLUCTUATION OF INFESTATION WITH VARROA MITE ON HONEYBEE COLONIES IN EGYPT AND VARIATION STUDY USING SCANNING ELECTROMICROSCOPE

This study aimed to evaluate the fluctuation of infestation with Varroa mites on honeybee colonies. Research was carried out at the apiary of beekeeping research department at Dokki, Giza, Governorate, from March to December 2019 and January to February 2020. Infestation percentages reached 18.39, 16.73. 17.86 and 19.73 in broods and reached 12.53, 10.8, 13.0 and 14.27 in the same seasons on adult bees, respectively. Mean number of units covered with bees reached 8.0, 8.83, 7.17 and 4.66 per colony during spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. Adult females of Apis mellifera infected in Egypt were collected and examined by SEM. Varroa destructor was found to have a markedly different shape among the local populations (Giza, Behera and Benisuef)