Notes and Comments

Honey bee losses in Brazil have been observed over the past few years. These losses share somewhat similar symptoms with the syndrome known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in the USA. After more than a half century of introgression from Apis mellifera subsp. scutellata, Africanized honey bees have tolerance against Varroa destructor and other parasites and other pathogens (Aumeier et al., 2001; Guzmán-Novoa et al., 1999; Mondragón et al., 2005; Moretto and Mello, 1999; 2001; Rosenkranz, 1999; Vandame et al., 2002).