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Varroa destructor changes its cuticular hydrocarbons to mimic new hosts
Y Le Conte1, Z Y Huang2, M Roux3
1INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon Cedex 9 84914, France.
Biology Letters
|June 5, 2015
Summary
Varroa destructor mites can mimic the chemical cues of new honeybee hosts. This adaptability, particularly in mites from Asian honeybees, helps them evade detection and may explain their spread to European honeybees.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Varroa destructor (Vd) is a significant ectoparasite threatening global honeybee populations.
- Vd mites originally infest Asian honeybees (Apis cerana) but have adapted to European honeybees (Apis mellifera).
- Parasites, including Vd, can evade host defenses by mimicking host cuticular hydrocarbons (HC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ability of Varroa destructor mites to mimic the cuticular hydrocarbons (HC) of different honeybee hosts.
- To determine if mite adaptability in HC mimicry differs between mites originating from Apis cerana versus Apis mellifera.
- To explore the role of HC mimicry in the host-shift and global spread of Varroa destructor.
Main Methods:
- Experimental transfer of Varroa destructor mites between Asian (Apis cerana) and European (Apis mellifera) honeybee colonies.
- Analysis of cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of mites and their respective host species.
- Comparison of HC mimicry efficiency between mite populations from different host origins.
Main Results:
- Varroa destructor mites demonstrated the ability to mimic the cuticular hydrocarbons of a novel host species after transfer.
- Mites originating from the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) were more effective at mimicking the HC of both Apis cerana and Apis mellifera compared to mites from Apis mellifera.
- This adaptive HC mimicry was observed in both directions of mite transfer, highlighting the mite's plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Varroa destructor exhibits remarkable adaptability in mimicking host cuticular hydrocarbons, facilitating its survival on new hosts.
- The enhanced mimicry ability of mites from Apis cerana suggests a key factor in their successful host shift to Apis mellifera.
- Understanding this adaptive mechanism is crucial for developing effective strategies to manage Varroa destructor infestations in global honeybee populations.
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