SURVEY ON MAJOR HONEY BEE: APIS MELLIFERA (HYMENOPTERA: APIDEA) INSECT PESTS IN AL-QADISIYAH GOVERNORATE, IRAQ,

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies are subjected to several insects that influence adult bees and larvae. Thus, this study aimed to describe the recognition of the some more common pests in five locations (A, B, C, D, and E) in Al-Qadisiyah province, Iraq. Several samples of insects (Galleria mellonella, Vespa orientalis, and Monomorium pharaonis) were collected from the period of 01/06/2020 to 01/06/2021 to identify the insects. The results showed that the most sites in Al-Qadisiyah province were infested with Oriental hornet and ant more than Greater wax moth. Significant differences of infection with the Oriental hornet compared with other insects was observed in the two Locations C and E in Al-Qadisiyah province. The study indicated that Vespa orientalis was the most common insects of the honey bee in Al-Qadisiyah with a recommendation not to depend on the visual inspection to identify the infection of pests.