Endowed Professor of Entomology University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado
Apis melliferaare responsible for more than $15 billion in United States crop production every year, making them essential to U.S. agriculture. One of the most detrimentalApis mellifera parasites is Varroa destructor, and little is known about Varroareproductive mechanisms. More insight into Varroa reproduction has the potential to generate new Varroa control methods, and thus healthier bees.Here, we attempt to get a comprehensive look at Varroa ovum production using fluorescent protein Halo-tagging. Proteins are tracked from the host (Apis mellifera), through the Varroa body, and into the ovum.At the same time, we provide insight into Varroarearing methods while imaging using light microscopy, a novel way of understanding Varroa reproduction at a macro scale. This comprehensive understanding of Varroa reproduction provides at least one, and likely more opportunities for more effective Varroa control research.