Investigation of the Parasitic Mite

As it has been established that Tropilaelapidae (the family of T. clareae) tends to be associated with A. dorsata complex showing an old phylogenetic relationship of natural host and parasite, the results of the present research corroborate the theory of such relationship with the finding that T. clareae was the only parasitic mite attacking the colonies of A. dorsata. The rate of infestation of mite was initially low but it increased steadily with time, as the colonies became older and long staying in situ. Grooming (behavior) and migration/absconding are the mechanisms by which A. dorsata are presumably reckoned to regulate or suppress the infestation level of mites up to the limit beyond which it becomes harmful and intolerable for them. Maintaining the low level of infestation of mite may apparently be relatively less expensive in A. dorsata colonies than eliminating the mite completely from the colonies, since T. clareae is found in most of the A. dorsata colonies and can re-infest the colonies easily. T. clareae of A. dorsata colonies may act as a source of infestation for the bees like A. mellifera, which entails avoiding robbing or using chemicals for control of mites.