Microsporidia from the Nosema (Vairimorpha) genus are pathogenic fungi that complete their life cycle in the honeybee intestine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of the course of infection on the viability of honeybee intestine cells. Methods and Results: Intestines isolated from healthy and N. ceranae-infected honeybees were stained using…
Biopesticides, having as active ingredients viruses, bacteria, or fungi, are developed to substitute or reduce the use of chemical plant protection products in different agrosystems. Though the application of mixtures containing several products is a common practice, interactions between microbial biopesticides and related effects on bees as non-target organisms have not been studied yet. In…
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) have to withstand various environmental stressors alone or in combination in agriculture settings. Plant protection products are applied to achieve high crop yield, but residues of their active substances are frequently detected in bee matrices and could affect honey bee colonies. In addition, intensified agriculture could lead to resource limitation for…
Like humans, animals use plants and other materials as medication against parasites. Recent decades have shown that the study of insects can greatly advance our understanding of medication behaviors. The ease of rearing insects under laboratory conditions has enabled controlled experiments to test critical hypotheses, while their spectrum of reproductive strategies and living arrangements –…
The western honey bee Apis mellifera is globally distributed due to its beekeeping advantages and plays an important role in the global ecology and economy. In recent decades, several studies have raised concerns about bee decline. Discussed are multiple reasons such as increased pathogen pressure, malnutrition or pesticide use. Insecticides are considered to be one of the…
Background: European foulbrood is a significant bacterial brood disease of Apis sp. and can cause severe and devastating damages in beekeeping operations. Nevertheless, the epidemiology of its causative agent Melissococcus plutonius has been begun to uncover but the underlying mechanisms of infection and cause of disease still is not well understood. Here, we sought to…
Graduate Research Associate (PhD) in wild honey bee ecology Position Announcement: We are seeking an exceptional candidate to join the University of Florida’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (HBREL) as a PhD student investigating wild honey bee ecology in South Africa. Headquartered in the Entomology and Nematology Department, the PhD student will join a…
Graduate Research Associate (PhD) in honey bee toxicology Position Announcement: We are seeking an exceptional candidate to join the University of Florida’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (HBREL) as a PhD student investigating honey bee toxicology. Headquartered in the Entomology and Nematology Department, the PhD student will join a dynamic team of bee-enthusiasts dedicated…