A rapid field and laboratory method to detect Varroa jacobsoni in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

The most serious disease in apiculture is varroasis caused by the mite Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans, Immediate diagnosis of varroasis is not possible, especially in spring time when bee colonies are purchased. A new method was developed to detect ecto- and endoparasites of honey bees focussing on the varroa mite (n=129 separate examinations). The method incorporates washing and centrifugal force to separate mites from bees in a closed container. Four rotational speeds: 6342, 5718, 5076 and 4752 rpm, were tested, for 10, 30 and 60 seconds, with two concentrations of detergent solution, Both live and frozen bees were examined. The high detergent level as well as the highest speed were significantly better (p<0.05) than the low detergent and lower speeds respectively, The duration of the centrifugation is not critical. The qualitative detection efficiency (detection % of all infested samples) of the method is 1000% (n = 93) when the infestation level is >3 mites/100 bees, and at 1 mite/100 bees the efficiency is >85% (i.e. 13 positive detection out of 15 samples). The quantitative detection efficiency (% of mite individuals detected in a sample) of the method under optimum conditions is >90% when the infestation level is >3 mites/100 bees. The detection rate when using frozen bees was significantly better (p<0.05) than when live bees were used.