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Mites: an emerging problem for bumblebees in the Indian Himalayan Region


Affiliations
1 Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, New Pali Road, Jodhpur 342 005, India
2 Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, New Pali Road, Jodhpur 342 005, India; Department of Zoology, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri 185 234, India
3 Zoological Survey of India, M-block, New Alipore 700 053, India
 

To increase crop yield in the high altitude ecosystem in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), bumblebees are highly valued insects. An unwanted mites association with bumblebees is an example of a serious threat for the conservation of high-altitude agro-forestry ecosystem. Mites are emerging as a serious pest for bumblebees in the IHR and cause reduction in the pollinating efficiency of bumblebees, population health and in the spread of unwanted pathogens in nests. The mite Uropodina sp. (Acari: Mesostigmata) attacks on queens of Bombus simillimus, Bombus tunicatus and males of Bombus miniatus were recorded in the present study and fitness of bumblebees attacked by the mite population was also determined. B. simillimus queens were heavily attacked and wide distribution of Uropodina sp. on the body of the bumblebees was observed in this study.

Keywords

Bumblebees, crop yield, high-altitude ecosystem, mites, pollinators.
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  • Mites: an emerging problem for bumblebees in the Indian Himalayan Region

Abstract Views: 297  |  PDF Views: 127

Authors

Rifat Husain Raina
Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, New Pali Road, Jodhpur 342 005, India
Babu Saddam
Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, New Pali Road, Jodhpur 342 005, India
Aejaz H. Parrey
Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, New Pali Road, Jodhpur 342 005, India; Department of Zoology, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri 185 234, India
Purnima Pathak
Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, New Pali Road, Jodhpur 342 005, India
Kailash Chandra
Zoological Survey of India, M-block, New Alipore 700 053, India

Abstract


To increase crop yield in the high altitude ecosystem in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), bumblebees are highly valued insects. An unwanted mites association with bumblebees is an example of a serious threat for the conservation of high-altitude agro-forestry ecosystem. Mites are emerging as a serious pest for bumblebees in the IHR and cause reduction in the pollinating efficiency of bumblebees, population health and in the spread of unwanted pathogens in nests. The mite Uropodina sp. (Acari: Mesostigmata) attacks on queens of Bombus simillimus, Bombus tunicatus and males of Bombus miniatus were recorded in the present study and fitness of bumblebees attacked by the mite population was also determined. B. simillimus queens were heavily attacked and wide distribution of Uropodina sp. on the body of the bumblebees was observed in this study.

Keywords


Bumblebees, crop yield, high-altitude ecosystem, mites, pollinators.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv121%2Fi4%2F581-585