STONEBROOD AND SOME OTHER FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH APIS-FLOREA IN IRAN

Combs from 209 colonies of Apis florea were collected in Khuzestan pro vince, south-west Iran, in 1987-92 and examined for fungi. Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., an d Phoma sp. were identified. Aspergillus spp., which are known to caus e stonebrood in A. mellifera, were found frequently associated with dr one brood of A. florea and may present a potential threat to this bee. Of the 600 mummies sectioned and examined microscopically, 252 (42%) were infected with A. flavus, 138 (23%) with A. niger, 72 (12%) with A . fumigatus and 102 (17%) with either two or three of these species. T he other three species identified were associated with the remaining 3 6 (6%) of the specimens. This is the first report from Iran of an asso ciation of stonebrood-causing fungi with A. florea. The morphological characteristics of the Aspergillus species found are described.