Ibrahim ÇAKMAK1 and Levent AYDIN2
Uludağ Üniversitesi, Mustafakemalpaşa MYO, M.Kemalpaşa, Bursa, Turkiye
2
Uludağ Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Parazitoloji ABD, Bursa, Turkiye
E-mail: icakmak@uludag.edu.tr
1
INTRODUCTION
The Republic of Turkey is in a geographical position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and
Middle East. There is no mechanism to limit the spread of honey bee diseases. Therefore
parasites and diseases’ spread should be slow down or stop with strict inspections and
regulations. Although bees are regularly inspected at the border for diseases, feral and
smuggled bees regularly cross without regulatory inspection from Eastern Europe through
Greece, Bulgaria and from the Middle East through Syria, Iraq, Iran, from Central Asia,
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Republic of Georgia (Personal comm.). Consequently, parasites
and diseases, particularly Varroa destructor are widespread in Turkey.
Environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, humidity may limit honeybee parasites,
pests and diseases and also regulations, inspections may help to slow down the spread.
Management by beekeepers is also important factor for control. Hives that are not managed
for the changes in the environmental factors provides suitable conditions for many diseases
and pests. Moreover, the addition of wrong approaches and medication causes threats not
only for the colony and beekeeping but also for human health (Bailey and Ball 1991).
RESULTS
Parasitic mite, Varroa destructor was detected in almost all apiaries that were sampled in
Turkey but not in all colonies (Çakmak et al. 2003, Warrit et al. 2004). Therefore, some levels
of resistance to varroa might be developed in the endemic populations over time. On the
other hand, there are open debates about the existence of tracheal mites, Acarapis woodi in
Turkey. Interestingly, A.woodi was not found from large no. of workers sampled in most
regions of Turkey even though it was reported in most of the neighbouring countries (Ellis
and Munn 2005). In addition, Varroa destructor is the most damaging parasite of honey bee
colonies and without effective chemical control tools, many colonies die off due to varroosis
every year in Turkey. Beekeeping would be neither profitable nor enjoyable in many areas of
Turkey without effective treatment against varroa (Çakmak et al. 2003). The beekeeping
market with 4.2 million colonies in Turkey is large enough to induce manufacturers to
generate a variety of control tools if current registered products fail.
Nosema (Nosema apis) and Amoeba (Malpighamoeba mellificae) disease level is usually
higher in Blacksea and Marmara region more than other regions. High precipitation regions
may represent disease reservoirs from which nosema disease radiates each year, and
epidemic years may reflect only high precipitation years in these reservoir regions.(Northern
Turkey). Precipitation but not the temperature was a significant factor for predicting nosema
in wet regions (Aydın et.al. 2005). No data has been reported about Nosema cerena cases in
Turkey yet. Brood diseases, AFB (Paenibacillus larvae larvae) and EFB (Melissococcus
plutonius) are not widespread and only very few cases were reported (Şimşek & Özcan
2001). Chalkbrood (Ascophaera apis) was transmitted to Turkey by imported wax and did
spread all over Turkey.
Wax moth (Galleria mellonella) is common and become a major problem in some years
particularly in Egean and Mediterranean regions. Braula is seldom seen and small hive
beetle (Aethina tumida) has not been detected yet. There is not much known about
honeybee viruses in Turkey. Bee paralysis or “hairless black syndrome” is the most common
case of virus disease in Anatolian bees reported by Ruttner (1988).
CONCLUSION
The different climatic zones and habitats can also be seen as great diversity in honeybee
Apis mellifera in Turkey. Therefore at least five different races of Apis mellifera; A.m.
anatoliaca, caucasica, meda, syriaca, and carnica exist in this country (Kandemir et al.
2000). These different races adapted to different habitats and have differences in many
characters such as size, over-wintering, honey production, defensiveness, resistance to
parasites and diseases, flower fidelity and all can be evaluated and selected for different
purposes. The great diversity of honeybees have not been used efficiently for breeding
purposes in Turkey so far. Native honeybee races should be preserved in their natural
habitats and can be used as row material.
In recent years hygienic behavior, SMR (Supressed mite reproduction) and perhaps
grooming behavior have been major research areas and are all related to resistant bees.
Some honeybee races, strains or some local populations can be selected for resistant bees
in Turkey.
REFERENCES
Aydın, L., Çakmak, İ., Güleğen, E., and H. Wells, “Honey bee nosema disease in the Republic of
Turkey”. Journal of Apicultural Research, 44(4):156-157, (2005).
Aydın, L., Güleğen, E., Çakmak, İ., Giriskin, O., and H. Wells 2006. Relation between nosema and
chalkbrood disease and its implications in hive management model. Bulletin of Veterinary
Institute (In press).
Bailey, L. and Ball, B.V. 1991. Honey bee pathology. Academic Press.
Çakmak, İ., Aydın, L., Güleğen, E., and H. Wells, “Varroa (Varroa destructor) and Tracheal mite
(Acarapis woodi) incidence in the Republic of Turkey”. Journal of Apicultural Research, 42:5760, (2003).
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