Population modelling of Varroa jacobsoni Oud

To understand population dynamics of the mite Varrroa jacobsoni and to enable computer simulations, Fries et al. [Bee World 75 (1994) 5-28] incorporated available knowledge into a mite population model. In this paper, we update and extend this model by incorporating more recent data, in particular on mite invasion from bees into brood cells. By predicting invasion into and emergence from brood cells, the model proves to be useful to evaluate the effects of changes in model parameters on the mite population when the distribution of mites over bees and brood are important. The model predicts that a longer brood rearing period dramatically increases the mite population size and that a relatively larger number of drone brood cells leads to an increased population growth. As mite control treatments often only affect mites either in brood cells or on adult bees, the model can be used to evaluate their effectiveness and timing. The model indicates that changes in parameters that affect the reproductive success of the mites in brood cells have a large impact on the mite population. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Pari