Colony losses, including those induced by the colony collapse disorder, are an urgent problem of contemporary apiculture which has been capturing the attention of both apiculturists and the research community. CCD is characterized by the absence of adult dead bees in the hive in which few workers and a queen remain, the ratio between the…
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Among numerous factors that contribute to honey bee colony losses and problems in beekeeping, pesticides and Nosema ceranae have been often reported. In contrast to insecticides, whose effects on bees have been widely studied, fungicides did not attract considerable attention. Prochloraz, an imidazole fungicide widely used in agriculture, was detected in honey and pollen stored inside hives…
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We are looking for Honeybees are important beneficial insects for pollinator dependent crop production. For optimisation of pollination potential, keeping managed honeybee colonies healthy is essential. To ensure the colony’s health the beekeeper needs to monitor the health status of the colonies and to decide whether or not to take action. Preferably in a timely…
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Several environmental factors (e.g. food source, pesticides, toxins, parasites and pathogens) influence development and maturation of honey bees (Apis mellifera). Therefore, controlled experimental conditions are mandatory when studying the impact of environmental factors: particularly food quality and nutrient consumption. In vitro larval rearing is a standard approach for monitoring food intake of larvae and the…
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Honey bees directly affect and are influenced by their local environment, in terms of food sources, pollinator densities, pathogen and toxin exposure and climate. Currently, there is a lack of studies analyzing these data with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate spatial relationships with the environment. Particularly for inter-colonial pathogen transmission, it is known that…
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Honey bees are highly prone to infectious diseases, causing colony losses in the worst case. However, they combat diseases through a combination of their innate immune system and social defence behaviours like foraging for health-enhancing plant products (e.g. nectar, pollen and resin). Plant secondary metabolites are not only highly active against bacteria and fungi, they…
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In Europe, approximately 84% of cultivated crop species depend on insect pollinators, mainly bees. Apis mellifera (the Western honey bee) is the most important commercial pollinator worldwide. The Gram-positive bacterium Melissococcus plutonius is the causative agent of European foulbrood (EFB), a global honey bee brood disease. In order to detect putative virulence factors, we sequenced…
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The documentary movie “Honeyland” tells the story of a woman, named Atidze, who keeps honey bees in tune with nature. “One half for me, half for you” perfectly illustrates Atidze’s beekeeping philosophy which is based on a balance between the mankind and the natural resources. The movie also shows her daily struggles with the challenges…
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Front of the new honey bee lab at the University of Florida. It was the tumultuous beginning to a long-awaited Florida Fall. Hurricane Michael headed toward the state’s panhandle in early October. Only a few short weeks previously, the grand opening of the honey bee Research and Extension Laboratory at the University of Florida took…
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Today, scientists of the honey bee research association COLOSS1 have published an article2 in the peer reviewed journal Biological Invasions which provides an action plan on how to deal with new introductions of small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) into regions free of this honey bee pest. Their proposed course of action will help stakeholders all…
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