Parasitic mite infestation in introduced colonies of European bumblebees, Bombus terrestris

Abstract

The endoparasitic mite Locustacarus buchneri Stammer 1951 (Podapolipidae) was found in commercially introduced colonies of the European bumblebee, Bombus terrestris. The average infestation rate of colonies (n=367) from the Netherlands and Belgium was 20%. Urgent investigation of the infectivity and pathogenicity of this mite to Japanese native bumblebees and the geographic distribution of this mite in Japan is required.