THE KAIROMONAL ESTERS ATTRACTIVE TO THE VARRAO-JACOBSONI MITE IN THE QUEEN BROOD

In the queen brood, methyl and ethyl esters reach their maximum secret ion around the capping period. During this period, 3 kairomonal esters attractive to the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni are secreted by que en brood at half the rate found for worker brood. Methyl oleate, repel lent to the mite, is secreted in large amounts compared with the attra ctive esters. Quantitative and qualitative differences in the esters p resent on worker, drone, and queen broods could partially explain the weaker attraction exerted by queen brood on the mite, compared with th e attractive effects of worker and drone broods.