Development of a molecular procedure for the identification of Varroa destructor in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Varroa mites are a major cause among other factors such as disease, climate change, and other identified pests of the global decline in honeybees’ colonies. The four species of Varroa mites (which have varying destructive capability) are morphologically similar and the current technique of using the body ratio may lead to misidentification. The present study was designed to investigate the species of Varroa mites in Nigeria and the molecular procedure for identifying the mites. The body ratio of the varroa mites ranged between 1.46 ± 0.00 and 1.53 ± 0.03 across the four states studied in southwestern Nigeria, suggestive of Varroa destructor (≥1.4). Molecular identification using universal primers LCO 1490 and HCO 2198 failed to amplify the COX1 gene of the samples. However, a species-specific primer designed by the local team amplified the targeted gene at 230 bp. The results highlighted that V. destructor is the major pest mite in southwestern Nigeria and it can be easily identified using the species-specific primers presented in this study.