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Apidologie
Journal Prestige (SJR): 1.22

Citation Impact (citeScore): 3
Number of Followers: 4

Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 0044-8435 - ISSN (Online) 1297-9678
Published by Springer-Verlag

[2468 journals]

Seed treatment with neonicotinoid insecticides does not affect the
foraging behavior of honey bees
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  Abstract: The widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides in the agricultural ecosystems is said to be one of the causes for the alarming bee decline observed around the world. However, the evidences against neonicotinoids are inconclusive. In this study, we assessed the impact of neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam), when applied as seed treatment and foliar sprays, on the foraging activity of honey bees. When applied as seed treatment, residues of the tested molecules in the pollen and nectar samples were present below quantifiable levels (< LOQ). At 3 days after spraying, residues of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were 0.86 and 0.96 mg/kg in the leaf samples, 0.15 and 0.23 mg/kg in the pollen samples, and 0.07 and 0.07 mg/kg in the nectar samples, respectively. Further, the foraging activity of the bees did not appear to be impacted when neonicotinoids were applied as seed treatment. Contrarily, foliar application of the neonicotinoides significantly reduced the foraging activity between 1 and 3 days after application. Nonetheless, the foraging activity was comparable to the control levels 7 days after spraying. It appears that there is little short-term impact of neonicotinoids on the foraging activity of bees, especially when applied as seed treatment.
  PubDate: 2023-05-15
Long-term monitoring of changes in the native bumblebee community after
alien species (Bombus terrestris) invasion and estimation of factors
affecting its abundance
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  Abstract: Invasive alien species can negatively affect native species communities. Bombus terrestris, an invasive species, has become dominant among bumblebee communities in many areas worldwide. In 2007, B. terrestris invaded the Notsuke Peninsula, a critical area for biodiversity conservation on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. We surveyed native bumblebee species across the peninsula from 2007 to 2019 and identified changes in the native bumblebee community using non-metric multidimensional scaling. We also surveyed B. terrestris and estimated the factors influencing its population using a zero-inflated Poisson regression model. A few years after the invasion, B. terrestris was observed across the peninsula, except at the southwestern end. However, its abundance did not increase, as in the other areas of Hokkaido. Analytical results showed a significant association between the change in the native bumblebee community and B. terrestris abundance and positive relationship of B. terrestris abundance with temperatures. As the annual temperature increased, observation of B. terrestris also increased; however, the species has not become dominant on the Notsuke Peninsula. Bombus terrestris favors a relatively warmer climate in its native areas and requires high temperatures for colony development; thus, it may not adapt well to the current cold climate of the Notsuke Peninsula. The climate could affect the population growth of B. terrestris directly through physiological traits, such as behavior, survival, and reproduction, as well as indirectly through the availability and composition of floral resources. Therefore, long-term monitoring for risks to the bumblebee community in future climate change is important for management.
  PubDate: 2023-05-04
New haplotypes of honey bees (Apis spp.) in Kerala, India—identification
by mitochondrial gene and its genetic similarity to South East Asian
haplotypes
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  Abstract: The geographic connections and biogeography of Apis spp. have been explored extensively, but the Indian bee populations have not been much examined in the Kerala region. Based on mtDNA COX I gene, 15 haplotypes were identified among the 75 sampled sequences, which include 14 new haplotypes and one previously reported haplotype from Kerala. Phylogenetic analysis of these haplotypes along with the previously reported haplotypes from the South East Asian region using the maximum likelihood method revealed the clustering of Apis spp. COX I haplotypes into three discrete groups, the “Mainland Asian” group, the “Sundaland” group, and a “Yellow Indian” group. The network analysis of haplotypes clustered the Kerala haplotypes into two major clusters. The study also presents the existence of two species of honey bees in Kerala, A. cerana and A. indica.
  PubDate: 2023-05-01
Residual effect of imidacloprid and beta-cyfluthrin on Africanized Apis
mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) workers
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  Abstract: Canola has a long period of flowering in the winter season and this, associated with the lack of other flowers and the use of insecticides to control insect pests, means it may have a great impact on bee populations, such as Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). In this context, the use of insecticides with lower residuals and less harmful effects to bees is fundamental. Thus, the objective of the current work was to evaluate, in a laboratory bioassay, the residual toxicity and effect of imidacloprid, beta-cyfluthrin, and a mixture of both, when applied on canola in the field, on Africanized A. mellifera workers. Three commercial products were applied, formulated with imidacloprid, beta-cyfluthrin, and beta-cyfluthrin + imidacloprid. Each plot received one of the three treatments, in the concentration recommended by the manufacturer, at intervals between 14 and 0 days prior to conducting the bioassays. On the day of the bioassay, the bees were exposed to the plant material containing the treatments for a period of two hours, and were transferred to PVC cages, containing food and water. Mortality assessments were then performed at pre-established intervals until a 96 h post-exposure. Residuals on canola leaves of all tested products caused a significant reduction of honeybee worker longevity, which was less accentuated when the interval after treatment application increased. Safer pest management strategies are needed to ensure the preservation of bees.
  PubDate: 2023-04-17
Genome-wide SNPs show hybridization of Varroa mites from different Apis
hosts in Vietnam and Taiwan
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  Abstract: Varroa destructor, an ectoparasite of Apis cerana (the Eastern honeybee), has attained global notoriety following the decimation caused by its host shift to Apis mellifera. Previous studies indicated that Varroa mites have geographic and host-specific mitochondrial haplotypes (mitotypes) in A. mellifera colonies, suggesting that only a few genetic strains (i.e., Korean and Japanese mitotypes) can effectively infest A. mellifera. However, growing evidence indicates that native mite populations of A. cerana can hybridize with the mites imported with A. mellifera colonies. This raises the possibility for continuous host shifts of Varroa mites and the consequential hybridizations among mites from different localities, leading to erasure of host specificity among mites of different mitotypes. We compared mitochondrial sequence data with restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to test the veracity of the patterns indicated by mitochondrial data and to clarify the genetic differentiation of Varroa mites in Vietnam and Taiwan. Our mitotype analyses replicate previous studies, indicating that only a few Varroa mite mitotype lineages parasitize A. mellifera. However, our RAD-seq data reveal little evidence of the genetic isolation as suggested by the mitotype analyses, instead indicating that hybridization is likely occurring among Varroa mites from multiple different hosts and localities. This indicates that the local mite community of A. cerana might contribute to the genetic pool of mites parasitizing A. mellifera. Our findings suggest that the Varroa mite control strategies and the risk estimation of international apicultural trade should be reassessed.
  PubDate: 2023-04-03
Founder gene pool composition and genealogical structure in two
populations of Austrian Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) as
derived from pedigree analysis
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  Abstract: Pedigree analyses describing gene pool and genetic diversity frequently have been performed for multiple livestock species. In honey bees, comparable studies are not yet available, and therefore, we aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of two Austrian Apis mellifera carnica breeding populations by means of pedigree analysis. Honey bee breeding programs in Austria get administered by two breeding associations, the ACA and the ZAC!. Their respective reference populations comprised the birth years 2019 and 2020 and resulted in 2.675 breeding queens within the ACA and 1.286 queens within the ZAC! population. From the total of 1.015 ACA founder queens, 13 founders represented 50% of the gene pool; for the ZAC! population (624 founders in total), 21 founders were responsible for 50% of the segregating alleles. The genetic diversity indices like effective numbers of founders (fe), ancestors (fa), and founder genome equivalents (ng) are capable to determine unbalanced breeding practices, occurrence of genetic bottlenecks, and genetic drift in the respective population histories. The values obtained (ACA/ZAC!: fe = 71/125; fa = 30/48; ng = 18.7/21.6) demonstrated genetic loss due to unbalanced, excessive use of single breeding animals within the ACA population. The slightly lower loss in diversity within the ZAC! population can be attributed to a smaller active population number. As a consequence, both populations exhibit moderate decrease of genetic diversity, which is comparable to mammal livestock with small or limited population size.
  PubDate: 2023-04-03
Current status of the small hive beetle Aethina tumida in Latin America
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  Abstract: The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, is a parasitic pest and scavenger of social bees native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is a generalist species which can also reproduce in association with nests of stingless bees, fruits, and even rotten meat. Although in its native range, it usually does not cause severe damage to strong colonies and nests; it has invaded new areas worldwide, causing significant economic losses to social bees in some locations. Here, we present an overview of the current situation of SHB invasion into Latin America by describing its distribution, its impact on beekeeping and the commercialization of bee products, and its potential risk to native bees. In addition, we discuss the strategies carried out in different countries to manage or prevent its entrance and spread. Our findings highlight the need for further research efforts aimed at filling gaps in our understanding of the dynamics of SHB invasions in Latin America, their sources, and trajectories. By contrasting the experiences in countries in which preemptive and preventive measures were taken with countries in which they were not, we conclude that taking such measures has a positive impact on managing SHB invasions. Late notifications of SHB presence in some countries made it difficult to identify SHB dispersal routes and enabling factors. Interactions of SHB with different honey bee and native bee populations remain under-studied, and research on these interactions will determine the severity of SHB as a pest in the region. Latin America offers a dynamic and diverse environment for studying SHB and its interaction with bees.
  PubDate: 2023-03-31
A scientific note on the transmission of chalkbrood via field collected
pollen
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  PubDate: 2023-03-28
Comparative cytogenetic analysis reveals chromosomal variability in five
stingless bees of the genus Trigona (Apidae, Apinae, Meliponini)
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  Abstract: The stingless bee genus Trigona includes 32 species, exclusive to the New World, which are grouped into two clades (A and B) according to phylogenetic molecular data. Cytogenetic studies have been performed in only seven Trigona taxa, and molecular cytogenetic data are available for only one species. These studies have been important for the chromosomal characterization of the species; however, discussions focusing on the karyotype evolution of Trigona in a phylogenetic context are lacking. In this study, we characterized the karyotype, through classical and molecular cytogenetics, of five Trigona species: T. pallens and T. williana, from clade A, and T. hypogea, T. aff. fuscipennis, and T. truculenta, from clade B, in order to provide insights into the karyotype evolution in Trigona and investigate whether the analyzed cytogenetic markers may have a phylogenetic signal. All five Trigona species have 2n = 34 chromosomes. Variations in the karyotype formula were observed in T. truculenta and T. hypogea compared with the other three species. Although heterochromatin distribution was restricted to one of the arms in most of the chromosomes of the five species, C-banding experiments highlighted a lower degree of heterochromatin compaction in T. pallens and T. williana. The microsatellite (GA)15 was exclusively located in the euchromatic regions of the chromosomes in all five species. The number of pairs bearing rDNA genes varied among the species studied, and this cytogenetic trait seems to reflect the phylogeny, separating the species into two clades. This study showed interspecific variations to a greater or lesser degree among Trigona species, highlighting the intense chromosomal evolutionary dynamics in the genus.
  PubDate: 2023-03-28
Correction to: Minus-C subfamily has diverged from Classic odorant-binding
proteins in honeybees
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  PubDate: 2023-03-22
Immediate and long-term effects of induced brood interruptions on the
reproductive success of Varroa destructor
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  Abstract: The parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) spends the dispersal phase of its life cycle on adult honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). The meaning of this phase for both bees and mites is still not well understood. This especially applies to prolonged dispersal phases as a result of brood interruptions. Hence, it is highly important to unravel this phase for understanding the underlying biological mechanisms and implementing this knowledge in beekeeping practice and research efforts. We investigated the effects of brood interruptions on honeybee colonies and the mites naturally infesting them. Reproduction parameters, brood infestation and recapping frequency were monitored over 60 days after brood interruptions of varying durations. Our results show that recapping frequency and mite non-reproduction increased during the interruption of egg laying. The duration of interruption and the time elapsed afterwards additionally affected the occurrence of reproductive failure. Hence, the reproduction of mites was affected by brood breaks immediately and in the long run.
  PubDate: 2023-03-22
The botanical origin of cerumen and propolis of Indian stingless bees
(Tetragonula iridipennis Smith): pollen spectrum does not accurately
indicate latex and resin sources
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  Abstract: Stingless bees collect plant latex and resin to produce cerumen and propolis. Cerumen is primarily used for nest construction, such as brood cells, storage pots, and involucrum. Propolis is mainly used as a sealing material and for predator and pathogen defense. Knowledge about the botanical origin of these materials is vital for sustainable bee management. We performed (i) direct observation method by field surveys and (ii) indirect assumption method via pollen analysis of corbicular and in-hive stored latex/resin, cerumen, and propolis of Tetragonula iridipennis. By the direct observation method, we identified 25 plant species as latex/resin sources of the stingless bees; frequently encountered were Artocarpus heterophyllus, Calotropis gigantea, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Mangifera indica, Tabernaemontana divaricata, and Vachellia nilotica. From pollen analyses, we found diverse pollen types, including pollens of polleniferous plants. Comparatively higher pollen content was found in cerumen and propolis samples than in the in-hive stored latex/resin and corbicular latex/resin loads. But all the pollen types do not indicate actual latex/resin sources for the bee species. These pollen types came from the foraging environment and additionally during the transport of latex/resin within the hive and the processing of latex/resin into cerumen and propolis. Therefore, we can conclude that the pollen content of corbicular and in-hive stored latex/resin, cerumen, and propolis is not truly inferring its botanical origin; it requires alternative techniques like the direct observation method or chemical profiling.
  PubDate: 2023-03-09
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-023-00994-1
Disparate continental scale patterns in floral host breadth of Australian
colletid bees (Colletidae: Hymenoptera)
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  Abstract: Plant-bee networks are rarely, if ever, studied quantitatively at continental scales, yet these have the potential to inform how biota and ecosystems are assembled beyond narrower regional biomes. The short-tongued bee family Colletidae comprises the major component of bee diversity in Australia, with three key subfamilies: the Neopasiphaeinae, Hylaeinae, and Euryglossinae. We use museum data (> 27,000 records) to record binary interactions between these bees (from each of these subfamilies, resolved to subgenera) and plants (resolved to genera). The resulting networks were analysed using bipartite graphs and associated indices of network structure. The three bee subfamilies showed markedly different network structures with their floral hosts. Euryglossinae had strong interactions with Myrtaceae and an otherwise relatively narrow host breadth, Neopasiphaeinae had little signal of host specialisation above genera and a very broad host breadth, and Hylaeinae appeared intermediate in network structure. Furthermore, Euryglossinae is more speciose within Australia (404 species, or ~ 25% of described Australian bee fauna) than Hylaeinae and Neopasiphaeinae, but these differences do not correspond to the stem ages of the three subfamilies, suggesting that time-since-origin does not explain bee species diversity or floral host breadth. Patterns of host breadth persist after rarefaction analyses that correct for differing numbers of observation records. We suggest that visitation networks could be influenced by evolutionary constraints to expansion of floral host breadth, but it is also possible that many bee-plant interactions are shaped by bees exploiting floral traits that are driven by non-bee fauna operating at large biogeographical scales.
  PubDate: 2023-02-28
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-023-00996-z
Flower choice by the stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria is not
influenced by colour-similarity to a higher-reward flower in the same
patch
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  Abstract: Floral choice by bees is influenced by the bees’ previous experience with flowers. For example, bees may learn to associate particular flower colours with rewards and prefer flowers of that colour in a given patch. In this study, we assessed whether floral choice by the stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria was influenced by colour similarity to a high-quality neighbour flower, while it contained nectar, and then when it was empty of nectar. We trained T. carbonaria to visit highly rewarding artificial flowers (50% (v/v) honey solution) within a patch that also contained two types of less-rewarding artificial flowers (20% (v/v) honey solution): one of the same colour (though different pattern) as the high-quality flower and one a different colour (and pattern) to the other two flowers. Colonies were tested with blue and yellow colour sets, where either the blue flower was most rewarding and the yellow the least, or vice versa. We then compared preferences between the two equal-quality flowers in the patch under two conditions: (i) when nectar was available from the high-quality flower, and (ii) when the nectar was removed from the high-quality flower. We found that, when available, high-quality flowers were always visited more than low-quality flowers. Under this condition, adjacent lower-quality flowers in the patch received similar levels of visitation, regardless of their colour. When the reward was removed from the high-quality flower (simulating an emptied flower), foragers quickly switched to using the remaining two equal-quality flowers in the patch, but again showed no preference for the similar-coloured flower. Our results indicate that T. carbonaria are adaptable foragers capable of quickly learning and responding to floral reward changes in their foraging environment. At least under our experimental conditions, we found no evidence that T. carbonaria floral choice is influenced by colour similarity to a high-quality resource in the same foraging location.
  PubDate: 2023-02-23
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-023-00997-y
Sublethal exposure to imidacloprid in commercial Apis mellifera colonies
in early spring: performance of honey bees and insecticide transference
between in-hive products
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  Abstract: Honey bees have an important role in ecosystems as pollinators. However, in recent years, bee populations have declined, with habitat destruction, pesticide use, and climate change contributing to the decline. One of the most important risk factors is the use of neurotoxic pesticides, such as neonicotinoids. The aim of this work was to study the effects of imidacloprid in commercial Apis mellifera L. colonies artificially fed with syrups spiked with this insecticide and its possible transfer among in-hive products such as honey and larvae. For this purpose, 30 colonies were placed in the same apiary; once a week for 7 weeks in early spring, each colony was fed with 0.5 L of syrup with the following doses of imidacloprid: 0, 15, 30, 120, and 240 µg kg−1. The colony strength was evaluated by monitoring: the number of adult bees and brood combs, queenlessness, unhealthy colonies (by detection of Nosema spp. spores and European foulbrood), as well as pollen and honey storage. Worker bees, larvae, honey, and beeswax were sampled to evaluate imidacloprid transfer within the hive. Trends in the persistence of the compound showed that up to 60% of the parent (not metabolized) was stored in honey, and the absence of residues in the larvae suggests that they were not exposed. Another result showed a certain impact in the honey reserves and honey yield with a reduction of this resource in the colonies exposed to imidacloprid.
  PubDate: 2023-02-23
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-023-00993-2
Varroa resistance in Apis cerana: a review
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  Abstract: Varroa is a major world-wide pest to Western honey bees (Apis mellifera), causing huge ongoing losses of colonies every year. Conversely, the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) is less vulnerable to the mite having existed alongside it over a long evolutionary period. Research conducted during the 1980s and 1990s, shortly after Varroa had spread across the globe, concluded that the Eastern honey bee was less vulnerable because it displayed higher levels of grooming behaviour, brood removal behaviour and mite infertility than its Western counterpart. However, this review on these Varroa resistance traits in A. cerana indicates that there is surprisingly little evidence for these conclusions. This review explores this evidence and discusses the potential flaws in the studies and the gaps that still remain in our knowledge of Varroa resistance traits in A. cerana.
  PubDate: 2023-02-22
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-022-00977-8
Dynamics of honey bee colony death and its implications for Varroa
destructor mite transmission using observation hives
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  Abstract: Organisms live within cycles of birth, growth, and reproduction, but life cycles also include decline and death. Here, we focus on the process of colony decline and death in “hopelessly queenless” honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera). In addition, we tracked the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, to understand how mite populations change during colony decline, and the implications of colony decline on mite transmission. To address these knowledge gaps, we established four hopelessly queenless colonies in observation hives and tracked their bee and mite populations until death. Hopelessly queenless colonies persisted for 2–3 months (86 ± 19 days), with a long-tailed survival distribution (50% of bees dead by day 25; 95% by day 74). In two of the four colonies, the mites outlived the bees by up to 48 h; in one colony the bees outlived the mites by 13 days; in one colony the bees and mites died simultaneously. Though we did not observe robbing in our study, colonies with fewer than 200 bees still harbored mites that could have infested robber bees. All colonies attempted to rear worker-laid drones, though survival rates for the drones were low (3.0 ± 2.1% of worker-laid drone brood were estimated to reach adulthood). Colonies did, however, maintain adult drones until colony death, despite the experiment running from September through December (past the date of typical drone eviction). This work shows that declining colonies are a viable mechanism for horizontal mite transfer in both managed and wild colonies, with potential implications for the evolution of mite virulence.
  PubDate: 2023-02-13
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-023-00991-4
Minus-C subfamily has diverged from Classic odorant-binding proteins in
honeybees
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  Abstract: Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in insects bind to volatile chemical cues that are important in regulating insect behavior. It is hypothesized that OBPs bind with specificity to certain volatiles and may help in transport and delivery to odorant receptors (ORs), and may help in buffering the olfactory response and aid the insect in various behaviors. Honeybees are eusocial insects that perceive olfactory cues and strongly rely on them to perform complex olfactory behaviors. Here, we have identified and annotated odorant-binding proteins and few chemosensory proteins from the genome of the dwarf honey bee, Apis florea, using an exhaustive homology-based bioinformatic pipeline and analyzed the evolutionary relationships between the OBP subfamilies. Our study confirms that the Minus-C subfamily in honey bees has diverged from the Classic subfamily of odorant-binding proteins.
  PubDate: 2023-02-13
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-022-00988-5
New insights into the unusual nesting biology of the bee Trichocolletes
orientalis (Hymenoptera: Colletidae, Neopasiphaeinae), particularly its
larval ‘oil bath’
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  Abstract: Trichocolletes orientalis is an Australian solitary, ground-nesting bee, reported to have some unusual aspects to its nesting biology. Prime among these, and a focus for the present study, is the production of copious amounts of oil by post-feeding pre-defaecating larvae. To better understand the mechanism of oil production, we examined the bee’s floral resources and larval provisions and compared the fatty acid profiles of the provision and larval oil exudate using gas chromatography. The study population was monolectic on the legume Hardenbergia comptoniana. Unusually for Neopasiphaeinae, larval provisions were liquid but contained no obvious free oil. Differences in the fatty acid composition of the provision and larval oil lead us to conclude that larvae must secrete the oil. Fully fed larvae prevented from curling produced a yellowish, non-oily liquid from the anus. The Malpighian tubules are implicated in the production of this liquid and perhaps the oil (which has not been reported for any other bee species). While likely preventing water loss from resting larvae, the oil contains some fatty acids with known antimicrobial and antifungal properties and might protect the larvae from pathogens. Additionally, we provide a complete life cycle calendar for the bee.
  PubDate: 2023-01-31
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-022-00981-y
Decoding the dance parameters of eastern honeybee, Apis cerana
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  Abstract: Bees dance to deliver food vectors that contain information regarding distance gauging and spatial orientation. The eastern honey bee, Apis cerana, also transmits this vector information through waggle dance. Although many reports have published on this topic, changes in dance parameters of A. cerana that occur at different distances are unclear. Herein, we filmed the bees’ foraging dance at different distances until the bees stopped collecting food, analyzed these videos frame by frame, and set a feeder in four cardinal directions to record the changes in bees’ dance with the azimuth of the sun. The duration and number of waggle runs of the dancers significantly correlated with the distance from hive to feeder. The dance parameter exhibited a linear model with distance. As the sun’s azimuth changed, the angle of the waggle run changed counterclockwise. We elucidate how to combine distance and direction to calibrate the spatial distribution of the resource location advertised by dance. Finally, we discuss the dance and navigation of long-distance collection and provide a basis for further understanding of the foraging ecological strategies of eastern honeybee.
  PubDate: 2023-01-31
  DOI: 10.1007/s13592-023-00990-5