COLOSS members confirm the first findings of the harmful Tropilaelaps mercedesae mite in Western Georgia. Infested honey bee colonies in three different apiaries showed high levels of infestation. In these colonies, T. mercedesae was found together with the harmful mite, Varroa destructor, both showing high reproductive success. This discovery raises alarms for beekeeping in Georgia…
COLOSS members confirm the first findings of the harmful Tropilaelaps mercedesae mite in Western Georgia. Infested honey bee colonies in three different apiaries showed high levels of infestation. In these colonies, T. mercedesae was found together with the harmful mite, Varroa destructor, both showing high reproductive success. This discovery raises alarms for beekeeping in Georgia…
The rapid increase in global plastic production and usage has led to global environmental contamination, with microplastics (MPs) emerging as a significant concern. Pollinators provide a crucial ecological service, while bee populations have been declining in recent years, and MPs have been recognized as a new risk factor contributing to their losses. Despite the pervasive…
Here is a new website put together by Stephen Martin of Salford University, UK, with the help of various beekeepers providing resources for those exploring the possibility of using varroa tolerant bees: https://www.varroaresistant.uk/
Abstract Brassica rapa L., is a crop grown globally and studies have indicated that insect pollination can improve yields. However, the importance of insect pollination in this crop depends on cultivar reproductive biology, insect pollinator species and their abundances. In Bangladesh, the acreage of B. rapa for oilseed production has been expanding, but little is…
Flumethrin is one of the few acaricides that permit the control of Varroa disease or varroosis in bee colonies. However, flumethrin accumulates in hive products. We previously discovered that sublethal doses of flumethrin induce significant physiological stress in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.), however its potential impacts on the honeybee gut microenvironment remains unknown. To fill…
The gut microbiome plays an important role in bee health and disease. But it can be disrupted by pesticides and in-hive chemicals, putting honey bee health in danger. We used a controlled and fully crossed laboratory experimental design to test the effects of a 10-day period of chronic exposure to field-realistic sublethal concentrations of two…
Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Despite extensive research to identify and study the various ecological stressors such as microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat,…