First report of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) in colonies of the stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

Abstract

Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) has the potential for controlling pest insects in the laboratory, although little is known about its interaction with beneficial species such as bees. Here we report an infestation of T. putrescentiae and its predatory effect in colonies of the stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. After the mite infestation, the F. varia colonies became weak and the population died. Because T. putrescentiae develops preferentially in warm and damp environments, special care should be taken when performing in vitro rearing (e.g., sterilizing transfer needles, tweezers, and incubators) of F. varia. Moreover, stingless bee colonies maintained in meliponaries should be periodically monitored, in order to prevent not only mite infestation but diverse health issues.

Keywords:

• Astigmata
• mites
• new find
• Brazil

Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Dr. Weyder Cristiano Santana and Dr. Dirk Louis Schorkopf for their suggestions on the mite identification.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001 and is part of the dissertation of JAS as a requirement to obtain a master’s degree in environmental sciences at the Federal University of Alfenas – UNIFAL-MG.