Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) on honey bee queen development and mating success

Mobile Phone ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Adult Development ◽

Mating Success ◽

Colony Development ◽

List Type ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Honey Bee Queen ◽

ABSTRACTMobile phones can be found almost everywhere across the globe, upholding a direct point-to-point connection between the device and the broadcast tower. The emission of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) puts the surrounding environment inevitably into contact with this pollutant. We have therefore exposed honey bee queen larvae to the radiation of a common mobile phone device (GSM) during all stages of their pre-adult development including pupation. After 14 days of exposure, hatching of adult queens was assessed and mating success after further 11 days, respectively. Moreover, full colonies were established of five of the untreated and four of the treated queens to contrast population dynamics. We found that mobile phone radiation had significantly reduced the hatching ratio but not the mating success. If treated queens were successfully mated, colony development was not adversely affected. We provide evidence that RF-EMF only acts detrimental within the sensitivity of pupal development, once succeeded this point, no further impairment has manifested in adulthood. Our results are discussed against the background of long-lasting consequences for colony performance and the possible implication on periodic colony losses.HIGHLIGHTSChronic RF-EMF exposure significantly reduced hatching of honey bee queensMortalities occurred during pupation, not at the larval stagesMating success was not adversely affected by the irradiationAfter the exposure, surviving queens were able to establish intact coloniesGRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Introduction of Varroa destructor has not altered honey bee queen mating success in the Hawaiian archipelago

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80525-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lauren M. Rusert ◽

Jeffrey S. Pettis ◽

David R. Tarpy

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Mating Success ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Hawaiian Islands ◽

Mating Frequency ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Varroa Mites ◽

Queen Bees ◽

Honey Bee Queen ◽

Honey Bee Queens

AbstractBeekeepers struggle to minimize the mortality of their colonies as a consequence of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor in order to maintain a sustainable managed pollinator population. However, little is known about how varroa mites might diminish local populations of honey bee males (drones) that might affect the mating success of queens. As one of the world’s last localities invaded by varroa mites, the Hawaiian Islands offer a unique opportunity to examine this question by comparing queens mated on mite-infested and mite-free islands. We raised queen bees on four Hawaiian Islands (Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i) and subsequently collected their offspring to determine queen mating frequency and insemination success. No significant difference for mating success was found between the islands with and without varroa mites, and relatively high levels of polyandry was detected overall. We also found a significant association between the number of sperm stored in the queens’ spermathecae and the number of managed colonies within the localities of the queens mated. Our findings suggest that varroa mites, as they currently occur in Hawai‘i, may not significantly reduce mating success of honey bee queens, which provides insight for both the reproductive biology of honey bees as well as the apiculture industry in Hawai‘i.

51. Sub-Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation Exposures in an Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

10.3320/1.2765162 ◽

1999 ◽

Author(s):

M. Noll

Keyword(s):

Analytical Chemistry ◽

Chemistry Laboratory ◽

Production and transmission of honey bee queen (Apis mellifera L.) mandibular gland pheromone

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology ◽

10.1007/bf00165956 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 321-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 84

Author(s):

Ken Naumann ◽

Mark L. Winston ◽

Keith N. Slessor ◽

Glenn D. Prestwich ◽

Francis X. Webster

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Mandibular Gland ◽

Honey Bee Queen

2015 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications (ICEAA) ◽

Personal exposition to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation in Albacete (Spain)

10.1109/iceaa.2015.7297347 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

A. Najera ◽

J. Gonzalez-Rubio ◽

E. Arribas

Keyword(s):

Queen substances from the abdomen of the honey bee queen

Journal of Comparative Physiology A ◽

10.1007/bf00297717 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 210-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

H. H. W. Velthuis

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bee Queen

1800MHz Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation: Does it affect heat shock genes expression levels in the rat brain?

Medicine Science | International Medical Journal ◽

10.5455/medscience.2020.06.112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 929

Author(s):

Badel Arslan ◽

Nurcan Aras ◽

Gul Yas ◽

Aysegul Cetinkaya

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Rat Brain ◽

Heat Shock Genes ◽

Expression Levels ◽

Genes Expression ◽

Modulation of the honey bee queen microbiota: Effects of early social contact

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0200527 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. e0200527 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. Elijah Powell ◽

Daren Eiri ◽

Nancy A. Moran ◽

Juliana Rangel

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Social Contact ◽

Honey Bee Queen

Hippocampal Oxidative Stress Induced by Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation and the Neuroprotective Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Rats: A Randomized Control Trial

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2021-0213 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Mina Rasouli Mojez ◽

Abbas Ali Gaeini ◽

Siroos Choobineh ◽

Mohsen Sheykhlouvand

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Superoxide Dismutase ◽

Glutathione Peroxidase ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Electromagnetic Waves ◽

Control Group ◽

And Control ◽

Background: The present study determined whether 4 weeks of moderate aerobic exercise improves antioxidant capacity on the brain of rats against oxidative stress caused by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones. Methods: Responses of malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, as well as the number of hippocampal dead cells, were examined. Male Wistar rats (10–12 wk old) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (N = 8): (1) moderate aerobic exercise (EXE) (2 × 15–30 min at 1215 m/min speed with 5 min of active recovery between sets), (2) exposure to 900/1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic waves 3 hours per day (RAD), (3) EXE + RAD, and (4) exposure to an experimental phone without battery. Results: Following the exposure, the number of the hippocampal dead cells was significantly higher in group RAD compared with groups EXE, EXE + RAD, and control group. Malondialdehyde concentration in group RAD was significantly higher than that of groups EXE, EXE + RAD, and control group. Also, the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in groups EXE, EXE + RAD, and control group was significantly higher compared with those of the exposure group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that moderate aerobic exercise enhances hippocampal antioxidant capacity against oxidative challenge in the form of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves.