Article
Ecology
Maxime Eeraerts, Emma Rogers, Bob Gillespie, Lincoln Best, Olivia M. Smith, Lisa W. DeVetter
Summary: This study investigated the factors influencing honey bee and wild bee visitation in highbush blueberry fields. The results showed that honey bee visitation was mainly determined by the number of honey bee hives in the surrounding landscape. Semi-natural habitat and blueberry planting area within a radius of 1000 m had different impacts on wild bee visitation. Honey bee visitation had a positive effect on blueberry seed set.
Review
Entomology
Gizem Sonmez Oskay, Gulsen Sude Uygur, Devrim Oskay, Nazli Arda
Summary: This article provides a literature summary on honey bees and their products, aiming to inform researchers, beekeepers, and other interested parties. The impact of stressors both inside and outside the hive on honey bees and their products is discussed in detail, including factors such as food shortage, diseases, pests, climate change, habitat loss, and environmental pollution.
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ge Zhang, Miranda Kersten, Amy Owen, Amanda Skidmore
Summary: The negative impacts of industrial farming on honey bee health, such as pesticide use and habitat loss, are well-known. Evaluating the suitability of urban farms for honey bee health is crucial for sustainable agriculture and apiculture in urban settings. Organic urban farms with restrictions on synthetic pesticides and conservation of natural habitat can provide an environment that mitigates these stressors. This experiment found that honey bees on organic urban farms in New Mexico were not stressed by pesticides, had diverse forage resources, and thrived with certain hive equipment. Overall, organic urban farms are important for honey bee health and food safety in desert climates, and hive equipment selection plays a role in mitigating environmental stress.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ziad Mezher, Jernej Bubnic, Roberto Condoleo, Filippo Jannoni-Sebastianini, Andrea Leto, Francesco Proscia, Giovanni Formato
Summary: The survey conducted by IZSLT and Apimondia in 2015-2017 collected information on beekeepers' perceptions on good beekeeping practices and main honey bee diseases. Results showed that Varroosis is still the biggest concern for beekeepers, but a sustainable approach to managing Varroa was detected. Technical assistance for disease management is mainly provided by associations or expert beekeepers.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinjing Xiao, Qibao He, Qiongqiong Liu, Zhiyuan Wang, Fang Yin, Yuhao Chai, Qing Yang, Xingchuan Jiang, Min Liao, Linsheng Yu, Wayne Jiang, Haiqun Cao
Summary: A 4-year monitoring survey in China's main honey producing areas revealed that a high percentage of pollen, nectar, beebread, and honey contained detectable levels of pesticides, with pyrethroids being the most influential contributor to potential hazards for honeybee colonies. The study provides insights into the extent of contamination caused by agricultural pesticide use on honeybee colonies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashley L. St Clair, Nathanael J. Beach, Adam G. Dolezal
Summary: Beekeepers often use insulation covers for beehives in winter to reduce losses, especially in cold regions, which can promote bee survival. Despite outdated data, hive covers are still considered beneficial for beekeeping and can help in forming evidence-based extension recommendations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul Siefert, Nastasya Buling, Bernd Gruenewald
Summary: The study provides a comprehensive online source of video material showcasing honey bee behaviors within comb cells, offering a new mode of observation for both the scientific community and the general public. Through long-term video recordings, the researchers reveal various worker behaviors inside the colony, such as comb remodeling, food storage, brood care, thermoregulation, and hygienic practices. This unique video method allows for an in-depth understanding of social behaviors in a fully functioning social insect colony and promotes ecological awareness in modern times.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Damayanti Buchori, Akhmad Rizali, Windra Priawandiputra, Rika Raffiudin, Dewi Sartiami, Yulia Pujiastuti, Jauharlina, Mahardika Gama Pradana, Araz Meilin, Johanna Audrey Leatemia, I. Putu Sudiarta, Rusli Rustam, Novri Nelly, Puji Lestari, Edy Syahputra, Hasriyanti, Jackson F. Watung, Itji Diana Amin Daud, Nova Hariani, Amrul Jihadi, Midzon Johannis
Summary: The research aims to study the beekeeping status and managed bee diversity in Indonesia and investigate beekeepers' perspectives on the factors and obstacles related to beekeeping. Interviews were conducted with 272 beekeepers, revealing that most of them are young and the most common species reared are Apis cerana and Tetragonula laeviceps. According to the beekeepers, climate, food sources, and pesticides are major obstacles to beekeeping.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William G. Meikle, John J. Adamczyk, Milagra Weiss, Janie Ross, Chris Werle, Eli Beren
Summary: The study results show that clothianidin has varying effects on honey bees, with different concentrations leading to differences in adult bee mass, hive weight losses, and dry weights of newly-emerged adult bees. However, the impact on brood production and hive temperature was not significant.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Silvie Dostalkova, Dalibor Kodrik, Michael Simone-Finstrom, Marek Petrivalsky, Jiri Danihlik
Summary: Habitat loss, climate change, and global agriculture have a significant impact on the reduced abundance and diversity of floral resources, leading to malnutrition and colony losses in honey bees. In order to address the inadequate natural sources for beekeeping, supplementing honey bee colonies with food supplements, such as Chlorella, can maintain colony health during periods of dearth without negatively affecting digestion or oxidative balance.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gail MacInnis, Etienne Normandin, Carly D. Ziter
Summary: The spatial heterogeneity of urban landscapes and low agrochemical use support a diversity of wild pollinators in cities. However, urban beekeeping practices may negatively impact native bee communities through competition for resources and pathogen transmission. In Montreal, Canada, there has been a significant increase in beekeeping, which has led to a decrease in pollen availability and wild bee species richness. Small bee species are particularly vulnerable to the abundance of honey bees in urban areas. Further research and evidence-based regulations are necessary to balance the presence of managed honey bees and wild bee diversity in cities.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Clare C. Rittschof, Erin R. Haramoto, Douglass W. Potter, Amanda S. Denny, James W. Harrison
Summary: Lack of adequate floral resources in agricultural landscapes during the late-winter/early-spring period can lead to a decline in bee populations and honey bee colony loss. This study in central Kentucky found that blooming winter annual plants, especially on croplands, play a critical role in honey bee colony growth during this critical pre-swarm period. Colonies on sites with fewer winter annual plants showed reduced growth and signs of nutritional stress in individual worker bees. Proximity to crop fields also had a positive impact on colony growth.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Oliver D. Visick, Francis L. W. Ratnieks
Summary: The density of wild honey bee colonies varies globally, with lower densities in Europe and higher densities in other regions such as Northern America, Oceania, Latin America, and Africa. In most regions, wild colony densities exceed those of managed colonies. This study highlights the need for more surveys on wild colonies, particularly in Asia and South America, to assess their density at smaller spatial scales.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jun Chen, Jordy O. Rodriguez Rincon, Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, Jennifer Fewell, Jon Harrison, Yun Kang
Summary: Honeybees play a crucial role in ecosystem stability, diversity, and crop production. Parasitism and seasonality can negatively impact honeybee colonies, leading to decreased population size, destabilized dynamics, and potential collapse. The interaction between climate change and parasites can have complicated effects on honeybee survival.
JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Parzival Borlinghaus, Richard Odemer, Frederic Tausch, Katharina Schmidt, Oliver Grothe
Summary: This study introduces a novel protocol for validating bee counters, providing regulators with data on daily bee losses to drive the development of pesticide risk assessment guidelines. The developed protocol makes innovations in this field measurable and creates a foundation for benchmarking different types of bee counting systems.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Roberto Cagliero, Francesco Bellini, Francesco Marcatto, Silvia Novelli, Alessandro Monteleone, Giampiero Mazzocchi
Summary: The EU is in the process of defining the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy, requiring each member state to design a National Strategic Plan. In Italy, the success of this planning process relies on stakeholders generating options for regional authorities. The study proposes a decision-making technique based on the cumulative voting approach.
Article
Agronomy
Alessandro Corsi, Vito Frontuto, Silvia Novelli
Summary: The evolution of farm size and land use is crucial for agriculture efficiency and profitability, with the number of farms largely influenced by the presence of successors to ageing farmers and operators' age, while farmed area changes are mainly driven by natural land conditions.
Article
Forestry
Chiara Ferracini, Cristina Pogolotti, Paolo Mancardi, Michela Miglio, Simona Bonelli, Francesca Barbero
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Leonardo Viliani, Simona Bonelli, Monica Vercelli, David B. Roy, Federico Riva
Summary: The widespread decline in insects poses a threat to ecosystem functioning and services. However, lack of data hinders the assessment of population and biodiversity trends for many insect groups, making effective conservation actions difficult. Therefore, implementing cost-effective and accurate monitoring programs targeting different insect groups across a larger geographical range has become a key priority for conservation efforts.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Dimitrios N. N. Avtzis, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Dinka Matosevic, Chiara Ferracini, Massimo Faccoli
Summary: The arrival, establishment, and dispersal of non-native natural enemies are crucial for a successful biological control program. The genetic diversity of the introduced population also plays an important role in the establishment of non-native species. The Chinese parasitoid wasp Torymus sinensis has been released in Europe to control the Asian chestnut gall wasp and reduce damage to sweet chestnut trees. It has been found that the genetic diversity of T. sinensis populations in Europe has not been negatively affected, which increases the possibility of effectively controlling the Asian chestnut gall wasp.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Chiara Ferracini, Valerio Saitta, Gabriele Rondoni, Ivan Rollet
Summary: This study conducted investigations in NW Italy over a five-year period and found that environmental variables and biological parameters affect the population dynamics of the pine processionary moth. The collected data will be valuable for developing predictive risk models and implementing timely and cost-effective countermeasures, given its environmental and sanitary importance.
Article
Entomology
Chiara Ferracini, Cristina Pogolotti, Simone Giacosa, Eleonora Vittoria Fontana, Luca Rolle, Alberto Alma
Summary: This study investigated the diapause of the biocontrol agent Torymus sinensis and its impact on gall wasp emergence. The results showed a negative correlation between the number of T. sinensis emerging and the toughness of the galls.
Correction
Environmental Studies
Silvia Novelli, Francesca Moino, Patrizia Borsotto
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Stefano Bruzzese, Simone Blanc, Silvia Novelli, Filippo Brun
Summary: Efficient natural resource management is important in reducing negative impacts and conflicts, and several strategies can be used to conserve and enhance natural resources. This study applied multicriteria decision analysis to evaluate the chestnut forest resource and identified factors that can improve its value. The results highlight the importance of civil society in guiding management choices and enhancing ecosystem services.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chiara Ferracini, Cristina Pogolotti, Monica Vercelli, Eleonora Vittoria Fontana, Valerio Saitta, Serena Gallizia, Ivan Rollet
Summary: Investigations were conducted on the egg parasitoid complex of the pine processionary moth in NW Italy to determine the species composition, seasonal emergence, and parasitism rate. Altitude and summer temperatures were found to influence the egg batches parameters and parasitism rate. The findings highlight the importance of further research on the regulating effect of parasitoids in reducing the population of the pine processionary moth.
BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Monica Vercelli, Luca Croce, Teresina Mancuso
Summary: This study analyzes various biotechniques and methods used by Italian beekeepers and compares the net incomes of the farms. The results indicate that the adoption of biotechniques, particularly total brood removal, leads to higher net income for the farms.
Article
Environmental Studies
Silvia Novelli, Francesca Moino, Patrizia Borsotto
Summary: This study aimed to identify and prioritize the external benefits provided by irrigation in extensive grazing farms in an Italian alpine region. Findings showed that stakeholders prioritize hydro-geological and land maintenance, traditional agricultural landscape conservation, biodiversity conservation, and leisure recreational activities provision as the main benefits of irrigation.
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Tobias Leidemer, Orou Berme Herve Gonroudobou, Ha Trang Nguyen, Chiara Ferracini, Benjamin Burkhard, Yago Diez, Maximo Larry Lopez Caceres
Summary: The aim of this study is to develop a standardized methodology for automatically detecting the degree of damage on single fir trees caused by bark beetle attacks using a GIS-based model. The approach classifies the damage based on the observed degree of tree canopy defoliation in high-resolution RGB orthophotos. The results show that out of 1376 trees in a 4-hectare area, 277 were healthy, 948 were infested, and 151 were dead, with an average precision of 62%.