Survey on Pests of Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L.) In Private Apiaries In Addis Ababa
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Date
2017-09-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is one sub species able to survive in a wide range of climates and environments, occupying every continent of the world except Antarctica. They have several natural enemies which disturb the colony, can cause death and absconding of the colony and also damage products (honey and wax ).This survey was made in Addis Ababa to detect the occurrence of those enemies, determine their distribution and generate information on the prevention and control methods. Laboratory and field diagnosis was conducted and the apiaries were visually examined for the presence of pests. About 100 beekeepers were involved in the survey for honey bee pests and predators and laboratory diagnosis has been conducted on 50 samples of adult honey bees and 20 samples of brood to identify honey bee diseases. The field diagnosis indicated that ants attacked30.8% of the colony, and 10.07% of the colonies were found infected by wax moth, 13.8% of the colonies were attacked by spider, the “bee eater birds” attacked 14.3% of the bee colonies. The laboratory diagnosis showed that 100% positive for the adult honey bee diseases nosema and amoeba in all examined samples. It is also identified on this diagnosis that the mite pest varroa also attacked the adult and brood bee colonies. The result obtained from this study in some aspects is the same with that of Desalegn and Yosef (2005). Generally the sector in the city has challenging pests which disturb the colony and damage their product. There for it is always better and easier to protect colonies of bees from any damage caused by pests than cure after been exposed. Good sanitation, regular inspection of the food and water and strong quarantine on imported used bee equipments are some of the ways which are important to control pests.
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Honey Bee Diseases, Honey Bee Pests, Honey Bee Parasites, Honey Bee Predators, Brood Diseases and Brood Parasites