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Non-reproduction in the honeybee mite Varroa jacobsoni

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Abstract

This study brings together the results of investigations into both the causes and subsequent consequences of mites which fail to produce viable female offspring. These showed that the premature death of the male offspring within the host cell leads to unfertilized adult female offspring emerging from the cell. These unfertilized mites cannot mate and so never produce viable offspring, although they do enter cells and attempt to reproduce. Therefore, virgin females cannot account for females which normally only produce male offspring, suggesting that these males are not produced parthenogenically. In the majority of mites, the type of reproductive behaviour does not change, i.e. once abnormal always abnormal. The possible role of premature male mite death in the resistance of (Africanized) bees is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Bee Unit, Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, Yorks, YO4 1LZ, UK

    Stephen Martin

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK

    Kay Holland

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Muzz Murray

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  1. Stephen Martin
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  2. Kay Holland
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  3. Muzz Murray
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Martin, S., Holland, K. & Murray, M. Non-reproduction in the honeybee mite Varroa jacobsoni. Exp Appl Acarol 21, 539–549 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018492231639

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