Mechanisms of Resistance and Tolerance in African and European Honeybees, Apis mellifera L., against Varroa destructor

The decline of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) populations, both wild and managed, particularly in Europe and North America poses a significant threat to food security, economic development and biodiversity conservation worldwide. Varroa destructor mite and its associated pathogens are currently considered the most severe threats to the health of the Western honeybees. While African honeybee populations survive mite infestation without requiring any miticide treatment as opposed to their European counterparts, little is known about the underlying drivers that contribute to their survival against the mites. The aim of this project is to unravel the tolerance (the ability to limit the detrimental effects of the mite) and resistance (the ability to reduce the reproductive fitness of the mite) defense mechanisms that confer coping and survival strategies in the African savannah honeybee, A. m. scutellata in Kenya against the mite.