Stonebrood and some other fungi associated with Apis florea in Iran
Author(s)
A Auzadeh; M S Mossadegh
Abstract
Combs from 209 colonies of Apis florea were collected in Khuzestan province, south -west Iran, in 1987-92 and examined for fungi. Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., and Phoma sp. Were identified. Aspergillus spp., which are known to cause stonebrood in A. mel/ifera, were found frequently associated with drone 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. The other three species identified were associated with the remaining 36 (6%) of the specimens. This is the first report from Iran of an association of stonebrood-causing fungi with A. florea. The morphological characteristics of the Aspergillus species found are described.
