Title "Interactions between the biological control agent Metarhizium anisopliae, the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and its host the western honeybee"

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is the major pest of the western honeybee Apis mellifera. Without treatments most honeybee colonies will collapse within two or three years. Up to now several measures to control V. destructor have been taken, but none of them were satisfactory and therefor there is a need to find new techniques. A promising method is biological control, for example the use of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae. This fungus has shown its potential as biocontrol agent for V. destructor in few field trials and laboratory assays. Its direct lethal effect on V. destructor has been well documented, whereas not so much is known about its possible effect on the behaviour of the mite as well as the potential side-effects on the honeybees.
In this work two questions are investigated. The influence of the application of M. anisopliae on the host-finding behavior of V. destructor and its impact on the cuticular hydrocarbons of A. mellifera.