Research article

DETECTION OF VARROA SPP. MORPHOLOGY, MOLECULAR, AND ESTIMATION OF INFECTION RATE IN BAGHDAD PROVINCE.

Ibtisam Hussein Awwad and Kamila Ward Shaher

Online First: February 22, 2023


A field survey experiment was conducted for Baghdad province, which included five regions, namely (Al-Jadriya, Abu Ghraib, Al-Rashidiyah, Al-Zafaraniya, Al-Madaen) for the period from 24/2/2021 to 31/5/2022. As for the collection of data for Varroa-infected hives for Baghdad provainc in its two branches (Karkh and Rusafa) from the year 2018-2021, which were taken from the Plant Protection Department - Department of Bees, It aimed to study the determination of the type of Varroa in Baghdad province through phenotypic and partial examination using the PCR technique and calculating the percentage of Varroa infection by placing white papers greased with Vaseline at the bottom of the cells and then collecting them the next day and calculating the number of fallen Varroa for five cells in each of the regions representing Baghdad Governorate per week. The results of data collection for Baghdad Governorate, with its two branches, Al-Karkh and Al-Rusafa, showed that the highest infection rate was during 2021, reaching 72.85%.As for the results of the phenotypic and molecular examination of Varroa mites in Baghdad, there is only one species represented by Varroa destructor.As for the results of the field survey, it was found that the highest rate of infection with Varroa was in the Abu Ghraib area, which amounted to 77.9%, while the Al-Rashidiya site reached 73.4%, and the lowest infection rate was in the Jadiriya area, which amounted to 18.8%.The rates of infection rates for the province of Baghdad have all exceeded the economic critical limit for all regions and in varying proportions.

Keywords

Varroa spp., Apis mellifera, infection rate