Work

First report on Tropilaelaps mercedesae presence in Türkiye and insight into potential westward invasion corridors

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: The honey bee ectoparasitic mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae is an emerging threat to Western beekeeping, as it is expanding its range from native Asia. In this study, the first record of the presence of Tropilaelaps mercedesae in Türkiye, in the Artvin province, in the north-east of the country is documented. Following reports of weakening colonies, eight apiaries were inspected using the rapid brood decapping method. All apiaries were found positive, and infestation was detected in 22 of 24 examined colonies. Mite samples were analysed with morphometry and barcoding and were confirmed as T. mercedesae . In the paper, we discuss the impact of imports and migration practices on the mite’s occurrence in Türkiye. In addition, we forecast the potential corridors and means of further invasion and address the implications for European and global apiculture.

Source: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

DOI: 10.64898/2026.09.15.751928

Authors: Aslı Özkırım, Aleksandar Uzunov, Cecilia Costa, İrfan Kandemir

Institutions: Hacettepe University, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Apiculture Research, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria, Ankara University

Language: English

Topic: Insect and Pesticide Research

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7214007922

Cites: 14

Cited by:

Related to: 10