Pesticide induced visual abnormalities in Asian honey bees (Apis cerana L.) in intensive agricultural landscapes

Abstract Background Sacbrood is an infectious disease of the honey bee caused by Scbrood virus (SBV) which belongs to the family Iflaviridae and is especially lethal for Asian honeybee Apis cerana. Chinese Sacbrood virus (CSBV) is a geographic strain of SBV. Currently, there is a lack of an effective antiviral agent for controlling CSBV infection in honey bees. Methods Here, we explored the antiviral effect of a Chinese medicinal herb Radix isatidis on CSBV infection in A. cerana by inoculating the 3rd instar larvae with purified CSBV and treating the infected bee larvae with R. isatidis extract at the same time. The growth, development, and survival of larvae between the control and treatment groups were compared. The CSBV copy number at the 4th instar, 5th instar, and 6th instar larvae was measured by the absolute quantification PCR method. Results Bioassays revealed that R. isatidis extract significantly inhibited the replication of CSBV, mitigated the impacts of CSBV on larval growth and development, reduced the mortality of CSBV-infected A. cerana larvae, and modulated the expression of immune transcripts in infected bees. Conclusion Although the mechanism underlying the inhibition of CSBV replication by the medicine plant will require further investigation, this study demonstrated the antiviral activity of R. isatidis extract and provides a potential strategy for controlling SBV infection in honey bees.

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Pesticide residues in daily bee pollen samples (April–July) from an intensive agricultural region in Southern Germany

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-020-12318-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carolin Friedle ◽

Klaus Wallner ◽

Peter Rosenkranz ◽

Dieter Martens ◽

Walter Vetter

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Pesticide Residues ◽

Hazard Quotient ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Pesticide Analysis ◽

Analysis Method ◽

Southern Germany ◽

Serial Data ◽

Fruit Growing ◽

Insight Into

AbstractInsect-pollinated plants are essential for honey bees to feed their brood. In agricultural landscapes, honey bees and other pollinators are often exposed to pesticides used for cultivation. In order to gain more insight into the fluctuation of pesticide loads, 102 daily pollen samples were collected between April and July 2018 in a fruit-growing area in Southern Germany. Samples were analyzed with respect to more than 260 pesticides using a multi-residue pesticide analysis method. Almost 90% of the analyzed pollen samples featured between one and thirteen different pesticides. In total, 29 pesticides were detected at maximum concentrations of up to 4500 ng/g pollen. Maximum residual concentrations of most pesticides were observed during April and the first half of May, as well as during the second half of June. In most cases, serial data of pesticide residuals were detected for approximately 10 subsequent days with two or three maximum values, which were several folds higher than concentrations on the days before and thereafter. The pollen hazard quotient (PHQ) was calculated to estimate the risk of the detected pesticides to honey bees and wild pollinators.

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Hypopharyngeal Gland Activity in Task-Specific Workers Under Brood and Broodless Conditions in Apis Cerana Indica (Fab.)

Journal of Apicultural Science ◽

10.2478/jas-2014-0022 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 59-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Seydur Rahman ◽

Ibamelaker Thangkhiew ◽

Sudhanya R. Hajong

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Protein Concentration ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Larval Rearing ◽

Hypopharyngeal Gland ◽

Head Weight ◽

Apis Cerana Indica ◽

Scanning Electron

Abstract The hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) is the principal organ of protein synthesis in honey bees. It is involved in larval rearing. We examined the fresh head weight, HPG acini diameter, and HPG protein content in worker bees engaged in different tasks and under brood and broodless conditions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the HPG acini diameter of worker bees was related to their task. The highest HPG volume was found in nurse bees, and the volume regressed when the task changed from guarding to foraging. The fresh head weight was positively correlated with HPG acini diameter. Although, there was no positive correlation between HPG acini diameter and protein concentration, the glandular protein concentration increased progressively in nurse bees and declined in guard and forager bees. Histochemistry revealed similar results. Despite displaying significantly larger glands, guard bee protein secretion was similar to that of the foragers. Brooding had a significant effect on HPG activity. Only worker bees from the colony with an intact brood showed elevated rates of protein synthesis; thus, it is possible that a signal was emitted by the brood, which stimulated protein synthesis in the HPG. However, the size of the HPG was similar in both brood and broodless conditions.

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Behavioral responses of honey bees, Apis cerana and Apis mellifera, to Vespa mandarinia marking and alarm pheromones

Journal of Apicultural Research ◽

10.1080/00218839.2018.1494917 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 141-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Beverly McClenaghan ◽

Marcel Schlaf ◽

Megan Geddes ◽

Joshua Mazza ◽

Grace Pitman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Behavioral Responses ◽

Alarm Pheromones

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Honey bees as bioindicators of changing global agricultural landscapes

Current Opinion in Insect Science ◽

10.1016/j.cois.2019.08.012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 132-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tyler P Quigley ◽

Gro V Amdam ◽

Gyan H Harwood

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Agricultural Landscapes

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Discovery of Aphid Lethal Paralysis Virus in Vespa velutina and Apis cerana in China

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects10060157 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 157 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dahe Yang ◽

Hongxia Zhao ◽

Junming Shi ◽

Xiang Xu ◽

Yanyan Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Viral Reservoir ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Vespa Velutina ◽

Pollinator Abundance ◽

The Usa ◽

Paralysis Virus

Honey bees are essential to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. However, despite no single factor being blamed for losses of honey bee colonies in Europe and the USA, viruses have been considered as a major driver. Moreover, a virus vector can enhance the titer and virulence of virus such as Varroa destructor can change the virulence of the deformed wing virus. Here, we report molecular evidence for aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV) infecting Vespa velutina, which is an important predator of honey bees, especially of Apis cerana. Viral replication and phylogenetic analysis indicated that ALPV can not only replicate in V. velutina and A. cerana, but ALPV from A. cerana (ALPV-Ac) was also significantly associated with that of V. velutina (ALPV-Vv), though distinct from those of Apis mellifera (ALPV-Am). The host state posterior probability displayed that V. velutina is the main viral reservoir between V. velutina and A. cerana. Our results show ALPV had expanded host diversity resulting in potential impacts on the health of pollinators, even on the pollination ecosystem. We suggest further studies should investigate potential risks and impacts on pollinator populations of hornets. These results should have an impact conservation efforts focused on sustaining native pollinator abundance and diversity, and therefore, the crucial ecosystem services that they provide.

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Population Growth and Insecticide Residues of Honey Bees in Tropical Agricultural Landscapes

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12010001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Damayanti Buchori ◽

Akhmad Rizali ◽

Windra Priawandiputra ◽

Dewi Sartiami ◽

Midzon Johannis

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Population Growth ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Agricultural Intensification ◽

Stingless Bees ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Stingless Bee ◽

Home Garden

Global decline of pollinators, especially bees, has been documented in many countries. Several causes such as land-use change and agricultural intensification are reported to be the main drivers of the decline. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of land use on honey bee and stingless bee populations. Research was conducted in Bogor and Malang to compare between two different geographical areas. Managed bees such as honey bees (Apis cerana and A. mellifera) and stingless bees (Tetragonula laeviceps) were investigated to examine the effect of agricultural intensification. Field experiments were conducted by placing beehives in selected habitats (i.e., beekeeper gardens, forests areas, and agriculture areas). Population growth and neonicotinoid residue analysis of bees in different hive locations were measured to study the effect of habitat type. Population growth of bees represents the forager abundance and colony weight. Based on the analysis, we found that habitat type affected forager abundance and colony weight of honey bees (p < 0.05), although the patterns were different between species, region, as well as season. Forests could support the stingless bee colony better than agriculture and home garden habitats. Insecticide (neonicotinoid) was barely recorded in both honey bees and stingless bees.

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SEM Investigation of Pollen Taxa in Honeys from Autochtone Apis cerana in Godavari, Lalitpur District, Nepal

Journal of Natural History Museum ◽

10.3126/jnhm.v26i0.14130 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 29-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Khum Narayan Paudayal ◽

Ishan Gautam

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Species Level ◽

Palynological Assemblage ◽

Wide Range ◽

Multifloral Honey ◽

Plant Sources ◽

Sem Investigation ◽

Scanning Electron

Pollen analysis of 8 multifloral honey samples collected from 4 locations of Godavari, Lalitpur district, Nepal was performed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In this investigation, a wide range of foraging plant sources for Apis cerana honey bees was identified which demonstrates the adequate potential for expanding and sustaining beekeeping in this area. The palynological assemblage of a total of 44 species of pollen flora representing 28 families was identified to the generic and some up to species level. Some of the pollen grains identified to only families, belong to Acanthaceae, Apiaceae, Araliaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Lamiaceae, Loranthaceae, Meliaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae and Pteridaceae. The pollen assemblages in honeys were mostly belonging to angiosperms while the gymnosperm pollen was completely absent. One pteridophyte spore belonging to family Pteridaceae recovered. In this paper the morphology of the pollen grains based on SEM observation are described and the importance of the systematic documentation of various bee flora are discussed.J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 26, 2012: 29-67

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