de Guzman Lilia I, Williams Geoffrey R, Khongphinitbunjong Kitiphong, Chantawannakul Panuwan
USDA-ARS, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820 (
Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland (
J Econ Entomol. 2017 Apr 1;110(2):319-332. doi: 10.1093/jee/tow304.
Parasitic mites are the major threat to the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera L. For much of the world, Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman single-handedly inflicts unsurmountable problems to A. mellifera beekeeping. However, A. mellifera in Asia is also faced with another genus of destructive parasitic mite, Tropilaelaps. The life history of these two parasitic mites is very similar, and both have the same food requirements (i.e., hemolymph of developing brood). Hence, parasitism by Tropilaelaps spp., especially Tropilaelaps mercedesae and Tropilaelaps clareae, also results in death of immature brood or wing deformities in infested adult bees. The possible introduction of Tropilaelaps mites outside their current range heightens existing dilemmas brought by Varroa mites. In this review, we provide historic, as well as current information on the taxonomic status, life history, distribution and host range, diagnosis, and control of Tropilaelaps mites. Because the biology of Tropilaelaps mites is not well known, we also suggest areas of research that demand immediate attention. Any biological information about Tropilaelaps mites will provide useful information for the development of control measures against them.
寄生螨是西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera L.）面临的主要威胁。在世界上许多地方，狄斯瓦螨（Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman）给西方蜜蜂的养蜂业带来了难以克服的问题。然而，亚洲的西方蜜蜂还面临着另一种具有破坏性的寄生螨属——小蜂螨属（Tropilaelaps）。这两种寄生螨的生活史非常相似，且都有相同的食物需求（即发育中幼虫的血淋巴）。因此，小蜂螨属螨类的寄生，尤其是梅氏小蜂螨（Tropilaelaps mercedesae）和克莱氏小蜂螨（Tropilaelaps clareae）的寄生，也会导致受感染的未成熟幼虫死亡或成年蜜蜂翅膀畸形。小蜂螨属螨类可能扩散到其当前分布范围之外，这加剧了狄斯瓦螨带来的现有困境。在这篇综述中，我们提供了关于小蜂螨属螨类的分类地位、生活史、分布与宿主范围、诊断以及防治方面的历史和当前信息。由于小蜂螨属螨类的生物学特性尚不为人所知，我们还提出了一些亟待关注的研究领域。任何有关小蜂螨属螨类的生物学信息都将为制定防治措施提供有用的参考。
