Honey bees increase social distancing when facing the ectoparasite Varroa destructor.

ABSTRACT: Social distancing in response to infectious diseases is a strategy exhibited by human and nonhuman animals to counteract the spread of pathogens and/or parasites. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies are ideal models to study this behavior because of the compartmentalized structure of these societies, evolved under exposure to parasite pressure and the need to ensure efficient functioning. Here, by using a combination of spatial and behavioral approaches, we investigated whether the presence of the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor induces changes in the social organization of A. mellifera colonies that could reduce the spread of the parasite. Our results demonstrated that honey bees react to the intrusion of V. destructor by modifying space use and social inte

SUBMITTER: Pusceddu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8555907 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature