THAKUR, MEENANEGI, NITIKA2017-10-312017-10-312017-10http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810034245ABSTRACT The present investigations entitled “Seasonal incidence of diseases and enemies in Apis cerana F.” were conducted during April, 2016 to March, 2017 in Apis cerana F. colonies maintained by the Department of Entomology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, situated at 33.3N° latitude, 70.70°E longitude and 1256 m above mean sea level (amsl). Studies were also carried out on confirmation of Melissococcus plutonius infecting A. cerana through morphological and PCR study at CPRI, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. European foulbrood disease incidence was statistically maximum (23.00%) in the month of July, 2016 when temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were high. Maximum incidence of Thai sacbrood disease was recorded during the May, 2016 (2.33%) when humidity was low (46.00%). The incidence of ectoparasitic mite (Tropilaelaps clareae) was maximum in the month of September, 2016 (10.00%), whereas, no incidence of Varroa destructor was observed during the study period. No incidence of wasps was recorded on A. cerana apiary. Average per cent mortality of wax moth (Galleria mellonela) was maximum in Frame dip method (20.83%). Irrespective of methods maximum mortality (33.34%) was observed in treatment T4 (Bacillus thurengiensis 8 g/lt spray). PCR studies using specific primer sequence as well as universal primer could not confirm the presence of M. plutonius. PCR studies with universal primer (BCF1 /BCR2) indicated the presence of Enterococcus faecalis, which was further confirmed by sequencing. E. faecalis, previously thought to cause European foulbrood disease is secondary bacteria which rapidly accelerate the death of the infected larvae and is responsible for sour smell encountered with European foulbrood. According to present study E. faecalis can produce symptoms similar to M. plutonius, but this needs further confirmation.ennullThesis