A genetic look of Varroa destructor diversity across the U.S.

Monday, November 14, 2022

10:30 AM – 10:42 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 119/120

Presenting Author(s)

Taylor Reams

PhD Student
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas

Co-Author(s)

Tonya F. Shepherd

Senior Research Associate/ Assistant Lecturer
Texas A&M University
Bryan, Texas
Dan Aurell (he/him/his)

PhD Student
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Co-Author(s)

Juliana Rangel

Associate Professor of Apiculture
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas

The Western Honey bee, Apis mellifera contributes over $207 billion annually to the world’s economy. Over the past 20 years, honey bee health has been at a constant decline due to several factors, particularly parasitization by the mite, Varroa destructor. The genetic diversity of Varroa destructor has not been thoroughly studied across the U.S., mostly because of the presumed low genetic diversity caused by its sibling-sibling mating system. Understanding the extent of genetic variation in Varroa populations could influence our treatment methods using miticides, given that there are mites with some amount of resistance to the majority of commercial miticides available on the market today. Because mite dispersal depends on whether or not a colony undergoes natural or human induced hive and bee movement, mite populations could be either isolated or crowded within a given area or distance. Our study is the first to study the genetic diversity of Varroa mites in several states within the United States.