Detection of Varroa destructor Mite and Nosema spp. in Bee Samples From Bulgaria

Abstract

This study is focused on the investigation of honey bee samples for the presence of the two most common and widely distributed honey bee parasites. In a two-year period during 2020-2021, 185 bee samples were tested. All samples were examined by morphological and light microscopic methods. The obtained results showed that 32.43% of bee samples were infested with Varroa destructor. The degree of infection in the bees ranged from 0.5% to 60%. Spores of Nosema spp. were established in 25.40% of samples with a degree of invasion in the range from 3x105 to 26x106 per bee. Mixed infections of both parasites were observed in 32.43% of the samples. Negative samples were with the lowest value of 9.74%.