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Susceptibility of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) to synthetic acaricides in Uruguay: Varroa mites’ potential to develop acaricide resistance

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the acaricide susceptibility of Varroa destructor populations from Uruguay, which had never been exposed to synthetic acaricides. It was also to determine whether acaricide resistance to coumaphos occurred in apiaries in which acaricide rotation had been applied. Bioassays with acaricides against mite populations that had never been exposed to synthetic acaricides were performed, also against mite populations in which control failures with coumaphos had been reported. Additionally, coumaphos’ effectiveness in honeybee colonies was experimentally tested. The lethal concentration that kills 50% of the exposed animals (LC50) for susceptible mite populations amounted to 0.15 μg/Petri dish for coumaphos and to less than 0.3 μg/Petri dish for the other acaricides. Coumaphos LC50 was above 40 μg/Petri dish for resistant mites. The effectiveness of coumaphos in honeybee colonies parasitized by V. destructor ranged from 17.6% to 93.9%. LC50 for mite populations susceptible to the most commonly applied miticides was determined, and the first case of coumaphos resistance recorded in Uruguay was established.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the UNMDP, CONICET, and CREO (Oportunidades para Conservación, Investigación y Educación). This research was supported by a grant of ANPCyT, Picto 443 to M. E. and by a grant of Creo to M. M.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arthropods Laboratory, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes, 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Matías Daniel Maggi & Martín Javier Eguaras

  2. CONICET, National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Rivadavia, 1917, C1033AJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Matías Daniel Maggi & Martín Javier Eguaras

  3. School of Agrarian Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Ruta Nacional 226, Km. 73.5, CC 276 (B7620ZAA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sergio Roberto Ruffinengo

  4. INIA La Estanzuela, Colonia Department, Colonia, Uruguay

    Yamandú Mendoza, Pilar Ojeda & Gustavo Ramallo

  5. Dipartimento di Protezione delle Piante, Sezione di Entomologia Agraria, University of Sassari, Via E De Nicola, 07100, Sassari, Italy

    Iganazio Floris

Authors
  1. Matías Daniel Maggi
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  2. Sergio Roberto Ruffinengo
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  3. Yamandú Mendoza
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  4. Pilar Ojeda
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  5. Gustavo Ramallo
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  6. Iganazio Floris
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  7. Martín Javier Eguaras
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Correspondence to Matías Daniel Maggi.

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Maggi, M.D., Ruffinengo, S.R., Mendoza, Y. et al. Susceptibility of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) to synthetic acaricides in Uruguay: Varroa mites’ potential to develop acaricide resistance. Parasitol Res 108, 815–821 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2122-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2122-5

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