Review
Microbiology
Richard Galajda, Alexandra Valencakova, Monika Sucik, Petra Kandracova
Summary: Nosematosis is a honey bee disease caused by Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, with exposure to pesticides and nutritional stress being key factors that weaken the immune response of bees and make them more susceptible to parasites. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an important method for detecting and distinguishing between the two species causing the disease.
Review
Entomology
Katharina Sophia Mair, Johanna Irrgeher, Daniela Haluza
Summary: The One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of environmental, animal, and human health, has gained popularity. Honey bees have proven to be valuable biomonitors for collecting data on environmental pollutants potentially harmful to human health. This systematic literature review summarizes the previous application of the bee species Apis mellifera in pollutant monitoring from 2010 to 2020. The included studies demonstrate that honey bees and hive products can provide quantitative and qualitative information about specific pollutants.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alison McAfee, David R. Tarpy, Leonard J. Foster
Summary: The study revealed that cold stress decreased stored sperm viability in queen bees, but heat stress did not significantly impact other metrics, indicating substantial variation in temperature tolerance among queens in terms of fertility impacts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nenad M. Zaric, Robert Brodschneider, Walter Goessler
Summary: This study analyzed the elemental composition of individual honey bees for the first time, revealing significant differences in elemental concentrations between hives within the same apiary as well as between different apiaries. The study highlights the importance of sampling a larger number of hives at each location when using honey bees as biomonitors to ensure reliable interpretation of results. Additionally, negative correlations between the dry mass of a bee and concentrations of certain elements suggest potential factors such as honey or nectar content impacting the elemental composition of individual bees.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nenad M. Zaric, Simone Braeuer, Walter Goessler
Summary: This study determined arsenic concentrations and speciation analysis in honeybees for the first time, finding that the highest concentrations were near coal fired thermal power plants and urban regions. The most effective extraction method for total arsenic from honeybee samples was hot water at 90 degrees C. Inorganic arsenic accounted for the majority of arsenic species in honeybees, except in an industrial city where a significant portion was present as DMA.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Erick V. S. Motta, Ryan L. W. Arnott, Nancy A. Moran
Summary: Caffeine plays a significant role in protecting the gut microbiota of honey bees and enhancing their resistance against bacterial infection.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Delaney L. Miller, Eric A. Smith, Irene L. G. Newton
Summary: The study found that the honey bee-associated bacterium Bombella apis can inhibit the growth of insect fungal pathogens, effectively protecting bee broods from infection in vivo, possibly through the secretion of antifungal metabolites. This research provides clues for the development of new antifungal treatments.
Article
Ecology
Lucas A. Garibaldi, Nestor Perez-Mendez, Guaraci D. Cordeiro, Alice Hughes, Michael Orr, Isabel Alves-dos-Santos, Breno M. Freitas, Favizia Freitas de Oliveira, Gretchen LeBuhn, Ignasi Bartomeus, Marcelo A. Aizen, Patricia B. Andrade, Betina Blochtein, Danilo Boscolo, Patricia M. Drumond, Maria Cristina Gaglianone, Barbara Gemmill-Herren, Rosana Halinski, Cristiane Krug, Marcia Motta Maues, Lucia H. Piedade Kiill, Mardiore Pinheiro, Carmen S. S. Pires, Blandina Felipe Viana
Summary: The study found that the invasive African honey bee has become the most dominant bee species in Brazil, negatively impacting the abundance and diversity of native bees. Contrary to expectations, honey bees did not have stronger negative impacts than other native bees on the bee community.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Li, Qiang Huang, Yu Zheng, Yong Zhang, Xin Li, Shiqing Zhong, Zhijiang Zeng
Summary: The components in Camellia oleifera honey and pollen, such as oligosaccharides and alkaloids, were found to be toxic to honey bees, while these substances were not present in Brassica napus honey and pollen. The toxicological tests revealed that oligosaccharides in Camellia oleifera honey are harmful to bees, while alkaloids in Camellia oleifera pollen are not toxic to honey bees.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos H. S. Almeida, Khalid Haddi, Pedro F. S. Toledo, Sarah M. Rezende, Weyder C. Santana, Raul Narciso C. Guedes, Philip L. Newland, Eugenio E. Oliveira
Summary: The study found that pesticide exposure affects color preference and locomotion of stingless bees, while the use of imidacloprid and fungicide mixtures has different effects on bee populations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giovanni Cilia, Laura Bortolotti, Sergio Albertazzi, Severino Ghini, Antonio Nanetti
Summary: This experiment shows the potential use of honey bee colonies in SARS-CoV-2 monitoring, suggesting a novel application in the environmental detection of airborne human pathogens, at least in densely urbanized areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Coline Monchanin, Maria Gabriela de Brito Sanchez, Lorelei Lecouvreur, Oceane Boidard, Gregoire Mery, Jerome Silvestre, Gael Le Roux, David Baque, Arnaud Elger, Andrew B. Barron, Mathieu Lihoreau, Jean-Marc Devaud
Summary: The ability of honey bees to avoid food contaminated with common metal pollutants was investigated. The results showed that bees did not distinguish between contaminated and uncontaminated food, and only showed reduced intake and appetitive responses at high concentrations of lead and zinc. It was found that bees were unable to detect low concentrations of harmful metals like arsenic and lead in their food, indicating that trace metal pollution poses a major threat to pollinators.
Article
Biology
Bin Han, Qiaohong Wei, Esmaeil Amiri, Han Hu, Lifeng Meng, Micheline K. Strand, David R. Tarpy, Shufa Xu, Jianke Li, Olav Rueppell
Summary: This study found that queen bees predictably and reversibly adjust egg size based on colony size in a series of experiments. The size of the queen's ovary changes in the opposite direction. These adjustments are not solely determined by egg-laying rate, but by the queen's perception of the colony size. Egg size plasticity is associated with changes in ovarian proteins related to energy metabolism, protein transport, and cytoskeleton. The small GTPase Rho1 is identified as a candidate regulator of egg size.
Article
Entomology
Jose Manuel Flores, Alba Luna, Antonio Rodriguez Fernandez-Alba, Maria Dolores Hernando
Summary: Honey bees face serious threats, including the need for acaricides due to the presence of Varroa destructor and accumulation of residues from the recycling of old wax. A study suggests that using methanol extraction to clean beeswax may be a viable solution to mitigate high residue levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Biao He, Zhihao Liu, Yuedi Wang, Lanchun Cheng, Qiqian Qing, Jiaxin Duan, Jinshan Xu, Xiaoqun Dang, Zeyang Zhou, Zhi Li
Summary: Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, was found to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe2+ levels in bees, leading to higher mortality. Additionally, the upregulation of ferritin gene induced by imidacloprid exacerbates iron overload, ultimately resulting in elevated ROS activation and mortality in bees.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ilaria Negri, Giancarlo Capitani, Marco Pellecchia
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Giulia Papa, Ilaria Negri
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giulia Papa, Giancarlo Capitani, Ettore Capri, Marco Pellecchia, Ilaria Negri
Summary: Despite not being regulated, ultrafine particulate matter (UFP), specifically PM less than 0.1 μm in diameter, can have adverse health effects by causing lung inflammation, cardiopulmonary disease, and potentially affecting the nervous system. Bees, specifically worker bees, have been found to efficiently sample UFP in areas with high traffic, displaying contamination of nanosized Fe-oxides/hydroxides and baryte near the Autostrada A1 in Northern Italy, highlighting the potential ubiquity of exposure and environmental impact of these particles.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Desiderato Annoscia, Gennaro Di Prisco, Andrea Becchimanzi, Emilio Caprio, Davide Frizzera, Alberto Linguadoca, Francesco Nazzi, Francesco Pennacchio
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Raffaele Romano, Alessandra Aiello, Lucia De Luca, Rosario Sica, Emilio Caprio, Fabiana Pizzolongo, Giuseppe Blaiotta
Summary: This study found that adding different parts of Cannabis sativa L. during mead fermentation can increase the polyphenol and cannabidiol content in mead, while also imparting freshness and hemp aroma characteristics to the drink.
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Erkan Topal, Leonora Adamchuk, Ilaria Negri, Mustafa Kosoglu, Giulia Papa, Maria Sorina Darjan, Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan, Rodica Margaoan
Summary: Honey has a long history of use for various purposes, with bees playing a significant role in human culture and society. The importance of bees and their products is growing, leading to the emergence of new products and activities in the beekeeping industry.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giulia Papa, Giancarlo Capitani, Marco Pellecchia, Ilaria Negri
Summary: Global demand for bee pollen as a dietary supplement is rising, but contamination from environmental pollutants is a concern. Current data on bee pollen contamination mainly focus on pesticides and heavy metals, with little research on potential pollution from airborne particulate matter.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Francesca Grisafi, Giulia Papa, Mario Barbato, Sergio Tombesi, Ilaria Negri
Summary: Microclimatic factors such as humidity and temperature significantly influence the water loss of the invasive agricultural pest Halyomorpha halys. Transpiration is influenced by feeding regime and sex, with hydration being the first nutritional need of individuals exiting diapause. Population density does not affect water loss in diapausing individuals, indicating that microclimate plays a crucial role in the distribution and activity of H. halys.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexandra-Antonia Cucu, Gabriela-Maria Baci, Stefan Dezsi, Mircea-Emil Nap, Florin Ioan Beteg, Victorita Bonta, Otilia Bobis, Emilio Caprio, Daniel Severus Dezmirean
Summary: Japanese knotweed, known for its negative ecological impact, contains valuable bioactive compounds with potential benefits for human health. Research on its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects suggests high therapeutic potential for enhancing health. Future directions may include utilizing the plant for beekeeping to produce honey rich in bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties.
Article
Biology
Giulia Papa, Roberto Maier, Alessandra Durazzo, Massimo Lucarini, Ioannis K. Karabagias, Manuela Plutino, Elisa Bianchetto, Rita Aromolo, Giuseppe Pignatti, Andrea Ambrogio, Marco Pellecchia, Ilaria Negri
Summary: This article explores the provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by the honey bee Apis mellifera. Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and enhancing crop yield in agro-ecosystems. They also serve as bioindicators of pollutants and have cultural significance. The symbolic value of honey bees strengthens the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manuela Plutino, Elisa Bianchetto, Alessandra Durazzo, Massimo Lucarini, Luigi Lucini, Ilaria Negri
Summary: Ecosystems play a crucial role in providing essential services for human activities and well-being, including regulation services, pollination, and human health. Pollution, especially airborne particulate matter, poses significant risks to both ecosystems and human health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Manuela Martano, Rita Massa, Brunella Restucci, Emilio Caprio, Raffaele Griffo, Karen Power, Paola Maiolino
Summary: The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) is a destructive pest of palms and action plans are recommended to combat its spread due to environmental pollution and resistance to chemicals. This study investigated the effects of 2.45 GHz radiation on the reproductive organs of adult RPWs, which showed degeneration and necrosis of germinal cells with increasing irradiation time and temperature. Additionally, increased temperature resulted in decreased survival time. Microwave radiation could be a useful tool in controlling the reproductive capacity of this insect.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Pellecchia, Giulia Papa, Mario Barbato, Giancarlo Capitani, Ilaria Negri
Summary: Urban areas pose challenges to scientists studying airborne particulate matter, as standard air quality stations can only detect certain sizes of particles. Honey bees can collect spatiotemporal data on airborne particles up to 10 μm in size, providing a valuable alternative for studying fine particulate matter in urban areas. Analysis of bees' collection in Milan revealed contamination from natural dust and particles with heavy metal content, likely originating from non-exhaust pollution such as vehicular braking systems and tires.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giulia Papa, Karen Power, Bartolo Forestieri, Giancarlo Capitani, Paola Maiolino, Ilaria Negri
Summary: Most heavy metals in urban environments come from road traffic, especially from tyre and brake wear particles (non-exhaust emission sources). These pollutants contaminate the soil, where certain organisms, such as springtails, ants, and earthworms, play vital roles in the ecosystem. This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of oral exposure to particles emitted from brake pads and cast-iron brake discs in a soil-dwelling springtail species called Orthonychiurus folsomi under laboratory conditions. The results showed that chronic exposure to brake wear particles can have sub-lethal effects at both low and high concentrations, causing histological alterations.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giancarlo Capitani, Giulia Papa, Marco Pellecchia, Ilaria Negri
Summary: This study used honey bees as sensors to detect PM10 and PM2.5 in a highly polluted area of the Po Valley, northern Italy, revealing that residents are exposed to specific metal-bearing particles and mineral phases. Analysis of PM10 and PM2.5 detected on bees indicated associations with traffic, agricultural activities, and combustion processes, with contributions from the A1 Milano-Bologna highway, local wheat and alfalfa cultivation, and the Parma incineration plant. Variations in PM exposure levels throughout the year were also observed based on recurrent local activities.