Comparing Four Methods of Rearing Varroa Destructor in Vitro

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman continues to devastate western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies throughout most of the world where they are managed. The development of a method to rear Varroa in vitro would allow for year-round Varroa research, rapidly advancing our progress towards controlling the mite. We created two separate experiments to address this objective. First, we determined which of four in vitro rearing methods yields the greatest number of Varroa offspring. Second, we attempted to improve the rearing rates achieved with that method. The four methods tested included (1) rearing Varroa on honey bee pupae in gelatin capsules, (2) rearing Varroa on in vitro-reared honey bees, (3) group rearing Varroa on honey bee pupae in Petri dishes, and (4) providing Varroa a bee-derived diet. The number of reproducing females and the number of fully mature offspring were significantly higher in the gelatin capsules maintained at 75% RH than in any other method. A 2 × 3 full factorial design was used to test combinations of gelatin capsule size (6 and 7 mm diameter) and relative humidity (65, 75, or 85%) on Varroa rearing success. Varroa reproduction and survival were significantly higher in 7-mm-diameter gelatin capsules maintained at 75% RH than in those maintained in 6-mm capsules and at the other humidities. By identifying factors that influence Varroa reproductive success in vitro, this work provides an important foundation for the development of future rearing protocols.