PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE NATURAL DEFENSE BEHAVIOUR IN HONEY BEE COLONIES AGAINST VARROA MITES

Abstract

Colonies showed a higher number of mites attracted to the tested brood than tolerant ones. Tolerant colonies of Camiolian from Manzala followed by Egyptian race, Italian hybrid and Camiolian hybrid indicated high values of infestation with one female mite without progeny during the different seasons, particularly in spring and summer. The tested colonies of Egyptian race in both tolerant and non-tolerant colonies indicated the lowest length of capping stage, but the tolerant colonies recorded the lowest value than non-tolerant one. 2- Tolerant healthy worker bees indicated more total protein (g/dl haemolymph) than the non-tolerant one. Carniolian from Manzala recorded the highest value followed by Camiolian hybrid and Egyptian race. While, Italian hybrid showed the lowest value. Tolerant worker bees of Egyptian race recorded the highest value of GOT and followed by Carniolian and Italian hybrids. Although, the GOT activity in Carniolian race from Manzala was higher in tolerant bees than in non-tolerant, the differences between them were not significant. Tolerant Egyptian race showed the highest value of GPT activity and followed by Camiolian hybrid, while Camiolian from Manzala and Italian hybrid indicated the lowest values. Tolerant healthy worker bees indicated that the molecular mass of protein fingerprints ranged from 134 KDa to 13 KDa. While, the molecular mass of protein fingerprints of non­ tolerant healthy worker bees ranged from 120 KDa to 14 KDa. In addition to the tolerant healthy worker bees possess the specific protein bands were; Egyptian race (125,58,43 and 39 KDa), Italian hybrid (82KDa), Carniolian from Manzala (134KDa) and Carniolian hybrid(l24 and the band near of71KDa). Tolerant newly emerged worker bees of Camiolian from Manzala followed by Egyptian race recorded the highest chitin concentration, while Carniolian and Italian hybrids indicated the lowest values. 3-The mean number of sensilla organs was high in flagellomeres 4,6,8 and 10 in both tolerant and non-tolerant worker bees. However, counted number of these •organs including all tested flagel!omeres were highest in tolerant worker bees. There were significant differences in the studied sensilla organs of the tested flagellomeres between the tolerant and non-tolerant bees especially, sensilla basiconica and placodea. Also, significant differences were recorded among the tested flagellomeres particularly for sensilla trichodea (type A&B) and placodea for tolerant bees.