mites feed on vitellogenin

[Acebird]

This is a post from squarepeg on another forum.

debbie hewitt writes:

"Samuel Ramsey, a PhD student working with Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp at the University of Maryland, gave a presentation at the Maryland State Beekeepers' Association meeting titled: "Varroa Mites: What are they Really Eating?" He also spoke at EAS this summer. While his research does not appear to be published yet, his persistence (with the help of undergrad students) in creating experiments to determine that varroa actually feed on the vitellogenin in bees' fat bodies, not on the hemolymph, is impressive. His research clarifies why colonies with high mite counts crash in the fall and winter as the bees do not have the fat body reserves to overwinter (and explains why guanine deposits are found in hives that crash from mites).
from:

http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/w...;ebbfa787.1611

What goes through my head is honey is more important than protein if the mite is consuming the fat from the winter bees making the colony crash.  How do you guys/gals read it?

[squarepeg]

vitellogenin is more than just fat.  read about it here:

http://scientificbeekeeping.com/fat-bees-part-1/

[Acebird]

Yes, I see now.  I can definitely see where a drought can cause havoc in a bee colony.

[herbhome]

Very interesting. Thanks

[Rurification]

vitellogenin is more than just fat.  read about it here:

http://scientificbeekeeping.com/fat-bees-part-1/

Thanks for this link.  Really interesting.

[tjc1]

+1 ! thanks!