The Effects of Miticides on the Reproductive Physiology of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens and Drones

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dc.contributor.authorBurley, Lisa Marieen
dc.contributor.committeechairFell, Richard D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMullins, Donald E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSaacke, Richard G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBrewster, Carlyle C.en
dc.contributor.departmentEntomologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:43:35Zen
dc.date.adate2007-09-05en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:43:35Zen
dc.date.issued2007-08-02en
dc.date.rdate2007-09-05en
dc.date.sdate2007-08-16en
dc.description.abstractThe effects of miticides on the reproductive physiology of queens and drones were examined. The first study examined the effects of Apistan (fluvalinate), Check Mite+ (coumaphos), and Apilife VAR (74% thymol) on sperm production and viability in drones. Drones from colonies treated with each miticide were collected at sexual maturity. Sperm production was determined by counting the number of sperm in the seminal vesicles. Sperm for viability assays was analyzed by dual fluorescent staining. Apilife VAR and coumaphos significantly lowered (P<0.0001) sperm production and coumaphos treatments caused a significant decrease (P<0.0001) in the sperm viability. The effects of miticides on queens was examined by treating queen-rearing colonies and examining the number and viability of sperm in the spermathecae of newly mated queens. Queens from each treatment group were collected after mating and the spermathecae were removed and analyzed. Colonies treated with coumaphos failed to provide viable queens and were excluded. Apilife VAR was found to significantly decrease (P<0.0016) sperm viability. No significant differences in sperm numbers were found between treatments. The effect of miticides on sperm viability over time was also examined. Drones were reared as described, but the spermatozoa were collected as pooled samples from groups of drones. The pooled samples from each treatment were subdivided and analyzed periods of up to 6 weeks. Random samples were taken from each treatment (n = 6 pools) over a period of 6 weeks. The exposure of drones to coumaphos during development significantly reduced sperm viability for all 6 weeks, and caused a large decline in week 6. The potential impacts of these results on queen performance and failure are discussed.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen
dc.identifier.otheretd-08162007-092313en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08162007-092313/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/34584en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartlmburley.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectDroneen
dc.subjectQueenen
dc.subjectMiticidesen
dc.subjectSpermatozoa viabilityen
dc.subjectNumbers of Spermatozoaen
dc.subjectHoney Beeen
dc.subjectReproductive Physiologyen
dc.subjectApis mellifera L.en
dc.titleThe Effects of Miticides on the Reproductive Physiology of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Queens and Dronesen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineEntomologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen

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