Comportamento higiênico e identificação de patógenos em colmeias de apis mellifera l. Africanizadas no Sertão Paraibano

Abstract

Beekeeping is one of the few agricultural activities that meets the three requirements of sustainability: economic, social and ecological. Therefore, provides income for the beekeeper, occupies family labor or hired and contributes to the preservation of native flora. The bee is important for the world economy as a pollinator, increasing the production of fruits and seeds, and as a supplier of honey, beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, pollen and venom (bee venom). These products are in high demand for raw materials in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries and for consumption in natural form industries. Sanity may affect the development of beekeeping because Apis mellifera like any other living organism is susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites and metabolic, nutritional and hormonal disorders, and several poisoning. Thus, because of the need for studies concerning the apiculture health, this study focuses on hygienic behavior and the identification of varroatose and nosemosis in Apis mellifera honeybee colonies in apiaries located in the backlands of the state of Paraíba. The survey was conducted from March, April and May 2014, in five apiaries located in the cities of Condado, Pombal, Jericó, São Bentinho and São Domingos, both located in the Greater Region of the Backlands of the State of Paraíba, with a total of 25 evaluated hives. The hygienic behavior test was conducted based on the method of drilling the brood. For analysis of the mite Varroa destructor infestation, the adult bees were collected and placed in glass vials containing 70% alcohol, after 24 hours was performed to count the mites. For the identification of Nosema spp. we used the colony of infection level method, selecting ten adult bees to remove the intestinal and later reading device in an optical microscope. The hygienic behavior percentage was similar in both apiaries, especially in Condado (93.96%), Pombal (94.30%), Jericó (87.63%) and São Domingos (95.20%); there was one slight difference in the apiary of São Bentinho with an average of 76.31%. In Condado apiary found 59 mites Varroa destructor in the apiary hives of Pombal was obtained only six mites Jericó found 19 mites in the apiary of São Bentinho, it was observed the largest number of mites between apiaries, 62 varroas in total and in the apiary of São Domingos were observed 48 mites. The frequency of Nosema spp. In the hives managed in the region of the study was 36% of a total of 25 clusters evaluated. Apiary located in the city of Pombal obtained the best results, with high level of hygienic behavior and low values for varroatose and nosemosis. The Africanization of bees and the high temperatures of the Paraiba’s hinterlands tend to provide improved resistance to diseases of the hives.