Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on parasitic honeybee diseases, pests and predators Lay armachiho and Tach armachiho districts of North Gondar zone from October 2017 to May 2018. The objectives of this study were to assess the different parasitic honeybee diseases, pests and predators. The study mainly involves with the collection of adult honeybee abdominal suspension of wet mount for nosema and amoeba diseases and direct observation of varroa mite and bee louse from adult honey bee and brood cells. Questioner survey was used to know different honeybee pests, predators and agrochemicals in the study area. The SPSS version 20 was used for chi-square test and p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistical significant. During the study period a total of 384 honey bee sample in traditional, modern and transitional hives were examined. The overall prevalence 24.47% (94/384) of hives were found positive for Nosema apis, 17.2% (66/384) foramoeba (malphighamoeba mellificae), 30.5% (117/384) for varroa destructor and 37.5% (144/384) for bee louse (braula cocae). Bee louse was the predominant external parasitic disease in adult honeybees followed by varroa destructor. There was statistically significant variation between Nosema Apis and bee louse observed among the two selected districts and hive types (x2=23.5, p-value=0.0001) for bee louse and (x2=5.3, p-value=0.071) for Nosema Apis. About the 100 respondents are 46%, 42%, 39%, 35%, 28%, small hive beetle 26% and spider 24% were complaining on the impact of wax moth, chemical spray, skunk, birds, small hive beetle and spiders respectively. They have also responded that pests play a major role on the production loss, damaging of honey bee colony and absconding of the colony. In conclusion, the highest prevalence parasitic honeybee diseases and pests were recorded in the study areas that signify the occurrence of the parasitic burden has to be carried out and immediate intervention was implemented.