Article
Food Science & Technology
Mira Stankovic, Milos Prokopijevic, Branko Sikoparija, Nebojsa Nedic, Filip Andric, Natalija Polovic, Maja Natic, Ksenija Radotic
Summary: This study aimed to find a promising marker for honey bee colony infestation level using fluorescence spectroscopy and biochemical analyses. The results indicate that the catalase activity in honey and the PFC1 spectral component may be reliable markers for the V. destructor infestation level of the colonies.
Article
Entomology
Matthieu Guichard, Benoit Droz, Evert W. Brascamp, Adrien von Virag, Markus Neuditschko, Benjamin Dainat
Summary: Selection of honey bee traits related to resistance against Varroa destructor requires easily measurable field traits. Two new evaluation protocols, 'Recapping' and 'Solidness', were introduced to assess potential colony resistance traits. However, both traits showed low repeatability, with 'Recapping' having low heritability and a negative correlation with hygienic behavior. Further research is needed to confirm results due to the small number of evaluated colonies.
Article
Entomology
Evan C. Palmer-Young, Rosemary Malfi, Yujun Zhou, Bryanna Joyce, Hannah Whitehead, Jennifer Van Wyk, Kathy Baylis, Kyle Grubbs, Dawn L. Boncristiani, Jay D. Evans, Rebecca E. Irwin, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: Landscapes can play a role in parasite control in wild and agricultural animals. Honey bees are threatened by parasites and the viruses they carry, and current control methods often harm bees. This study found that landscapes with sunflower crops and pollen supplementation can reduce Varroa mite infestation in honey bees. This suggests the potential for using sunflower plantings or pollen supplements to counteract honey bee losses globally.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Michael Light, Dave Shutler, Nicoletta Faraone, G. Christopher Cutler, N. Kirk Hillier
Summary: To locate honey bee hosts, parasitic Varroa destructor mites rely on tactile and chemosensory cues. Altering these cues in the honey bee colony environment may help manage Varroa destructor mite populations. Through experiments, we found that chemical compounds detected in honey bee colonies or extracted from honey bees and mites affected Varroa destructor's locomotion behavior. The mites appear to use multiple cues to navigate within a colony environment.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robyn M. Underwood, Brooke L. Lawrence, Nash E. Turley, Lizzette D. Cambron-Kopco, Parry M. Kietzman, Brenna E. Traver, Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe
Summary: Honey bee colony management is essential for mitigating stressors, and variations in beekeeper practices result in different management systems. A longitudinal study experimentally tested three representative management systems (conventional, organic, and chemical-free) and found that conventional and organic systems had equivalent survival rates, but were 2.8 times greater than chemical-free systems. Honey production was also higher in conventional and organic systems. Significant differences were found in pathogen levels and gene expression. The study highlights the importance of beekeeping practices in colony survival and productivity, and suggests organic management as a sustainable approach.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christina Kast, Verena Kilchenmann
Summary: The study evaluated the toxicity of coumaphos to worker bee larvae in beeswax and found that concentrations of coumaphos below 20 mg/kg were non-lethal to the larvae.
Article
Entomology
Stephen O. Onayemi, Brandon K. Hopkins, Walter S. Sheppard
Summary: Indoor storage of honey bees during winter can reduce labor, feeding costs, theft, and woodenware degradation, but national surveys show high losses. This study found that high CO2 concentration can increase mite mortality during indoor storage, potentially improving honey bee health.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Arrigo Moro, Tjeerd Blacquiere, Delphine Panziera, Vincent Dietemann, Peter Neumann
Summary: The study reveals that honeybee colonies can resist infestations of parasitic mites through unknown means and shows adaptive changes in the reproduction of co-evolved mites associated with different hosts. However, host behavior traits and mite reproductive strategies may vary over time.
Article
Entomology
Diego Masaquiza, Junior Vargas, Nelson Ortiz, Rodrigo Salazar, Lino Curbelo, Anisley Perez, Amilcar Arenal
Summary: This study analyzed the relationship among hygienic behavior, Varroa destructor infestation, and honey production in the central highlands of Ecuador. The results showed that colonies at higher altitudes exhibited higher hygienic behavior, reducing the impact of Varroa infestation and promoting honey production.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
B. T. Nganso, K. Mani, N. Eliash, A. Rafaeli, V Soroker
Summary: The study focused on putative odorant carrier proteins in Varroa destructor and found that silencing of Vd40090 disrupted host selection, acceptance and feeding, as well as impaired gene expression related to reproduction in brood cells, leading to reduced reproduction and survival.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zheguang Lin, Zhongxu Zhu, Mingliang Zhuang, Zhi Wang, Yi Zhang, Fuchao Gao, Qingsheng Niu, Ting Ji
Summary: This study used the Dongbei bee as an example to investigate the effects of local domestication on animal population genetic analyses. The results showed strong domestication pressure in this population, and genetic divergence between the Dongbei bee and its ancestral subspecies occurred at the lineage level.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Yamandu Mendoza, Estela Santos, Sabrina Clavijo-Baquett, Ciro Invernizzi
Summary: Research on the relationship between bees and Varroa destructor mites in Uruguay found that bees in the eastern region have resistance to mites, able to survive without acaricides, and this resistance is maintained in other regions as well.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Wenfeng Li, Yi Zhang, Hui Peng, Ruonan Zhang, Zhengwei Wang, Zachary Y. Huang, Yan Ping Chen, Richou Han
Summary: This study revealed that Varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite, shows a preference for invading the larvae of the European honey bee Apis mellifera compared to the Asian honey bee Apis cerana. The differences in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of the larvae from the two host species, particularly the higher amounts of methyl-alkanes in A. mellifera larvae and higher amounts of alkenes in A. cerana larvae, may contribute to this preference. Understanding the host preference of Varroa destructor can aid in the development of effective mite control strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Cameron J. Jack, Kaylin Kleckner, Fabien Demares, Leslie C. Rault, Troy D. Anderson, Paul R. Carlier, Jeffrey R. Bloomquist, James D. Ellis
Summary: Amitraz showed the highest toxicity to Varroa, while carbamate 2 was nearly as active and more selective due to lower bee toxicity. Carbamate 1 was less toxic to bees than Amitraz, but also less toxic to the mites. Matrine and FlyNap (R) were relatively ineffective against Varroa and moderately toxic to bees.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jing Gao, Shilong Ma, Xinling Wang, Yang Yang, Qihua Luo, Xing Wang, Feng Liu, Qiang Wang, Zhongmin Fu, Qingyun Diao, Pingli Dai
Summary: The study demonstrates that Tropilaelaps mercedesae poses a serious threat to European honey bees, causing negative impacts such as affecting honey bees' olfactory learning, flight ability, homing ability, and gene expression. Infestation by T. mercedesae leads to changes in immune systems, carbohydrate mechanisms, and cell adhesion genes in honey bees.