First report of established mite populations, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, in Europe

Ectoparasitic mites Tropilaelaps spp. (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) can be devastating pests of Western honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies, but have so far occurred only in Asia. Here, we report for the first time on established populations in Europe. In 2021, high losses of honey bee colonies occu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of apicultural research Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 842 - 844
Main Authors: Brandorf, Anna, Ivoilova, Marija M., Yañez, Orlando, Neumann, Peter, Soroker, Victoria
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis 27.05.2025
Subjects:
apiculture
Apis mellifera
ectoparasite
ectoparasites
genetics
honey bee
honey bees
Invasive species
mites
Russia
stakeholders
Tropilaelaps
Tropilaelaps spp
ISSN:0021-8839, 2078-6913, 2078-6913
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Ectoparasitic mites Tropilaelaps spp. (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) can be devastating pests of Western honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies, but have so far occurred only in Asia. Here, we report for the first time on established populations in Europe. In 2021, high losses of honey bee colonies occurred in the Krasnodar region, Western Russia (53%) with clinical symptoms and mite morphology showing Tropilaelaps spp. infestations. We found that brood infestations fluctuated seasonally, and mites were able to overwinter locally. The specimens were identified as Tropilaelaps mercedesae using genetics. The source of pest invasion is yet unidentified, but it is very likely that T. mercedesae will further spread west and south. This calls for respective stakeholder action, especially in neighboring countries.
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ISSN:0021-8839
2078-6913
2078-6913
DOI:10.1080/00218839.2024.2343976