Índice de infestação do ácaro Varroa destructor e comportamento higiênico em colônias de abelhas africanizadas

Abstract

Beekeeping is one of the most important agricultural activities in the Chapada do Vale do Itaim Territory. In this region, the dry season is characterized by a scarcity of natural foods, lack of rainfall and high temperatures, which weaken Africanized bee colonies and make them more susceptible to pest attacks. The aim was therefore to analyse the level of Varroa mite infestation in Africanized bee colonies during the dry season in the Chapada do Vale do Itaim Territory using two methodologies, one destructive and the other non-destructive. The research was conducted in partner apiaries of the Federal Institute of Piauí, randomly selecting five repetitions per apiary in different areas, from April to July 2024, totaling 43 colonies. Two methods were used to assess infestation: a destructive method using 70% alcohol and a non-destructive method using icing sugar, both of which were applied to all the colonies assessed. In addition, the hygienic behavior of all the colonies was assessed and correlated with the mite infestation present. After counting the mites and determining the level of infestation, it was observed that the non-destructive method, consisting of icing sugar, was not an efficient method, as it presented divergent and reduced data compared to the destructive method, which consisted of 70% alcohol. While the destructive method found an average of 2.87% varroa, the non-destructive method detected only 0.21%. In some cases, the non-destructive method did not detect any varroa, even where the infestation was significant using the destructive method. The average hygienic behavior was 79.02%, with a range from 31.79 to 97.71%. It was concluded that the non-destructive method was unsatisfactory, and that selecting colonies with better hygienic behavior is a possible way of combating larger Varroa infestations in the region.