A country-wide survey of Varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of honey bees, in Nigeria: a preliminary report

Abstract

Through a country-wide survey, the present study aimed at investigating the extent of the spread of Varroa destructor in Nigeria. To this end, a total of 122 Apis mellifera colonies from 13 localities were sampled in regions without previous assessment of the mite. Infestation and prevalence rates were estimated using the soap washing method. Varroa mites were found in 87% of the sampled colonies with a parasitic load ranging from 0.20 to 16.35 mites per 100 adult bees per colony. Given the presence of the mite with a very high prevalence in all the sampled localities and the fact that each of the states from which the mite is not yet reported is next to at least one occupied state, it is very likely that V. destructor spread throughout Nigeria. Future molecular analyses can evaluate whether V. destructor in Nigeria stems from a single source or additional introductions.

Keywords:

• Varroa destructor
• Honey bee
• Apis mellifera
• mite
• spread

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the following persons for their assistance in sampling: Mr. Musa Ibrahim of Abubakakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Mr. Aare Oloyin of Iseyin; Mr Peter Ajayi of Lagos; Professor Muhammad R. Jaafar-Furo, Mahmud, Titus and James of Mubi; Mr. Martins Stephen and Bitrus of Ganye; Mr. Saidu Yohanna, Mr. Pepe Kamaya and Mr. Lucas Bello of Serti; Professor Yusuf S. Ringim and his student, Abdulhafiz, of Kano; Mr. Hassan Gamaji and Mr. Abdulkarim Bara of Daura; Mr. Muhammad G. Boyi and Danliti of Nguru; Mr. Shuaibu Gadu of Tilden Fulani; Mr. Umaru Dange and Professors Q. Majeed and Abdullahi A. Yakubu of Sokoto; Mr. Ahmad Usman and Mr. Abubakar Lolo of Birnin Kebbi; the Village Head of Kende, Hassan, and his subjects, Umaru, Ruwa and Bube; Mr Christian C. Akpoke of Abalaliki and Mr Dagogo Brown of Bonny. We are indebted to Mr. John J. Shirputda for his assistance with graphics.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

The research was funded by the government of Nigeria through tetFund.