ABSTRACT
A review of the present situation of the Varroa jacobsoni Oud. infestation in European Countries (Fig. 1) put in evidence the follow: <italic>Varroa jacobsoni</italic> Oud.: distribution and spread-Europe May 1986. <italic>Arrows</italic>: indicate spread of Varroatosis through migratory beekeeping, <italic>Asterisks</italic>: indicate direct movement between two countries by long distance transportation, <italic>Cross hatch</italic>: countries still free from infestation. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003211464/ebe93f49-be0b-4296-9688-12e56cd568ce/content/fig3_1.tif"/>
– Belgium (Prof. O. VAN LAERE) = V. jacobsoni is found in the regions bordering Germany and Netherlands. Apparently the spreeding of the mite is relatively slow. There were no damages due to Varroatosis reported up to data.
– Denmark (Dr. H. HANSEN) = There were no reports from Denmark yet. But the mite has reached the border in Schleswig Holstein recently. Precautions will be taken to prevent Varroa from entering the Danish islands.
– Federal Republic of Germany (Dr. F. GNADINGER) = The treatment of Varroatosis is practised with official support of the veterinary services. Mass losses of bee colonies occured only in the first year (1981–82). But still there are local damages. The general pollination of agricultural crops was not endangered, but there were some indications of failure of pollination in an apple growing region. Altogether no reliable estimation of the economic damages caused by V. jacobsoni in Germany is available yet.
– France (Dr. R. BORNECK) = There were no major losses of colonies in the eastern part of the country. But the situation in some southern areas and at the Mediterranean is more dangerous because the colonies have sealed broods throughout the year and no control method is available which allows to destroy the mites in the brood cells. French beekeepers were controlling Varroatosis by applications of Amitraze mainly, but remarkable damages were reported in spite of multiple treatments with Amitraze. A resistance of V. jacobsoni against Amitraze might be a cause for the failure of this treatment.
– Great Britain (Dr. D.A. GRIFFITHS) = Varroa was not found in the country yet. All measurements to prevent importation of the mite were put in operation. In case of occurence Folbex VA will be used for diagnosis.
– Greece (Prof. L.A. SANTAS) = Substantial losses of colonies due to Varroatosis which were common in the first years after the invasion of the mite do not occur any more. In Greece Malathion is generally used 12to control V. jacobsoni. Beekeepers apply it after honey harvest and reduce the number of mites to minimal level. Though Malathion is in general use now for more than three years no reduction in its efficacy against Varroa was observed.
– Ireland (Dr. H.D. HUME) = A survey of the extention service on a limited number of colonies was carried out. No Varroa was detected.
– Italy (Prof. F. FRILLI) = After its first report in the country far in the North near Trieste, V. jacobsoni spread with an enormous speed due to migratory beekeeping. Today the mite is found in many areas including Sicily and Sardinia. Folbex VA is generally used.
– Netherlands (Dr. A. DE RUIJTER) = In spite of quarantine measures Varroa has spread throughout the country. The main treatment applied 13was Folbex VA and recently Perizin. Due to the activities of the government extension in personnel and to the beekeepers, losses of colonies did not happen yet.
– Spain (Dr. A. GOMEZ PAJUELO) = First infestations were found recently near the French border. But much more serious were reports of V. jacobsoni near Alicante, in the surrounding of a settlement of German tourists. This is one of the major beekeeping areas of Spain and many thousands of colonies have migrated into the area. So, the mite might spread in Spain very fast, like in the other European countries with migratory beekeeping.
– Yugoslavia (Prof. J.M. KULINCEVIC) = V. jacobsoni entered the country already in 1974. It spread rapidly and besides some regions in the North the mite is present everywhere in the country. Beekeepers used Danicropa, Phenothiazin and some preparations of Amitraze for treatment of colonies. The development of the mite and the losses of colonies followed a specific pattern. In 1984 many colonies were destroyed or badly weakened by Varroa. Last year, 1985, the colonies developed well and the losses were replaced. For 1986 the observation of mass mite reproduction indicates that again damages are to be expected.
