A study on spermatozoa viability over time in honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) queen spermathecae

2004 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Lodesani ◽  
Donatella Balduzzi ◽  
Andrea Galli
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Apis Mellifera Ligustica ◽  
Over Time

scholarly journals Microbial Profile of the Ventriculum of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola, 1806) Fed with Veterinary Drugs, Dietary Supplements and Non-Protein Amino Acids

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Cilia ◽  
Filippo Fratini ◽  
Elena Tafi ◽  
Barbara Turchi ◽  
Simone Mancini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Veterinary Drugs ◽  
Apis Mellifera Ligustica ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Microbial Profile ◽  
Protein Amino Acids ◽  
Staphylococcus Spp

The effects of veterinary drugs, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids on the European honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola, 1806) ventriculum microbial profile were investigated. Total viable aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci, Escherichia coli, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., aerobic bacterial endospores and Enterococcus spp. were determined using a culture-based method. Two veterinary drugs (Varromed® and Api-Bioxal®), two commercial dietary supplements (ApiHerb® and ApiGo®) and two non-protein amino acids (GABA and beta-alanine) were administered for one week to honey bee foragers reared in laboratory cages. After one week, E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. were significantly affected by the veterinary drugs (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids induced significant changes in Staphylococcus spp., E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results of this investigation showed that the administration of the veterinary drugs, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids tested, affected the ventriculum microbiological profile of Apis mellifera ligustica.

scholarly journals Survey of the Health Status of Some Honey Bee Queens in Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Porporato ◽  
Giacomo Grillone ◽  
Augusto Patetta ◽  
Aulo Manino ◽  
Daniela Laurino
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Reproductive System ◽  
Apis Mellifera Ligustica ◽  
Honey Production ◽  
The Status ◽  
Honey Bee Queens ◽  
Tissue Alterations ◽  
Breeding Techniques

AbstractWhile observing: non-acceptance, frequent replacements, and reduced performance in honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) queens, we were induced to analyse a certain number of queens to detect the causes. For this purpose, 99 newly mated queens were bought from 20 Italian queen breeders. In addition, 109 older or at-the-end-of-their-career queens, that showed poor productivity, were collected from honey production hives throughout Italy. All the queens were dissected to check the status of their reproductive system and/or the presence of various anomalies and diseases.Anatomical and functional anomalies, pertaining to ovaries and spermatheca, also in association with tissue alterations and microorganisms like Nosema spp. and protozoa, were common in both newly mated and older queens, but they were more prevalent in the latter. Observed differences permitted us to highlight the causes of the reduced performance of the queens and of the colonies they originated from. The obtained information could prove useful when it comes to improving queen breeding techniques.

scholarly journals Honey Bee Queen Replacement: An Analysis of Changes in the Preferences of Polish Beekeepers through Decades

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Bieńkowska ◽  
Aleksandra Łoś ◽  
Paweł Węgrzynowicz
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
Colony Management ◽  
Queen Replacement ◽  
Honey Bee Queen ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Over Time

We conducted a survey on honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen management. Data were collected every year from 1980 to 2018. In total, 2964 questionnaires were collected from all over Poland. We examined the trends by decade timeslot, apiary size, and geographical location. Regardless of the decade and the size of the apiary, on average, above 90% of Polish beekeepers replace old queens with new ones in their colonies. In general, during the observed period, beekeepers replaced almost 52% of their queens, 21% of which were purchased. In the last decade, there was an upward trend in the percentage of beekeepers replacing queens throughout the country. The involvement of purchased queens in colony management is associated with the size of the apiary, and it significantly grows with the number of colonies in the apiary. The percentage of purchased queens went up in all the voivodeships over time. Research and education in this area are needed in order to track the trends and further improve Polish beekeepers’ practices.

scholarly journals Winter weight loss of different subspecies of honey bee Apis mellifera colonies (Linnaeus, 1758) in southwestern Sweden

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258398
Author(s):  
Niclas Norrström ◽  
Mats Niklasson ◽  
Sonja Leidenberger
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Resource Consumption ◽  
Change Over Time ◽  
Weight Losses ◽  
Over Time

Honey bees are currently facing mounting pressures that have resulted in population declines in many parts of the world. In northern climates winter is a bottleneck for honey bees and a thorough understanding of the colonies’ ability to withstand the winter is needed in order to protect the bees from further decline. In this study the influence of weather variables on colony weight loss was studied over one winter (2019–2020) in two apiaries (32 colonies in total) in southwestern Sweden with weather stations recording wind and temperature at 5-min intervals. Three subspecies of honey bees and one hybrid were studied: the native Apis mellifera mellifera, the Italian A. m. ligustica, the Carniolan A. m. carnica and the hybrid Buckfast. Additionally, we recorded Varroa mite infestation. To analyze factors involved in resource consumption, three modelling approaches using weather and weight data were developed: the first links daily consumption rates with environmental variables, the second modelled the cumulative weight change over time, and the third estimated weight change over time taking light intensity and temperature into account. Weight losses were in general low (0.039 ± 0.013kg/day and colony) and comparable to southern locations, likely due to an exceptionally warm winter (average temperature 3.5°C). Weight losses differed only marginally between subspecies with indications that A. m. mellifera was having a more conservative resource consumption, but more studies are needed to confirm this. We did not find any effect of Varroa mite numbers on weight loss. Increased light intensity and temperature both triggered the resource consumption in honey bees. The temperature effect on resource consumption is in accordance with the metabolic theory of ecology. The consequences of these findings on honey bee survival under predicted climate changes, is still an open question that needs further analysis.

Changes of Western honey bee Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806) ventriculus microbial profile related to their in-hive tasks

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 198-202
Author(s):  
Giovanni Cilia ◽  
Filippo Fratini ◽  
Elena Tafi ◽  
Simone Mancini ◽  
Barbara Turchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Apis Mellifera Ligustica ◽  
Microbial Profile

scholarly journals Nosema ceranae (Microspora: Nosematidae): A Sweet Surprise? Investigating the Viability and Infectivity of N. ceranae Spores Maintained in Honey and on Beeswax

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (5) ◽  
pp. 2069-2078
Author(s):  
Courtney I MacInnis ◽  
B Andrew Keddie ◽  
Stephen F Pernal
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Nosema Apis ◽  
Current Management ◽  
Modes Of Transmission ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
Nosema Disease ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Nosema disease is a prominent malady among adult honey bees [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)], caused by the microsporidian parasites, Nosema apis Zander (Microspora: Nosematidae) and N. ceranae Fries et al. 1996. The biology of N. apis is well understood, as this parasite was first described over a century ago. As N. ceranae is an emerging parasite of the honey bee, we do not yet understand how long spores of this parasite survive in honey bee colonies, or all the potential modes of transmission among bees. We investigated the viability and infectivity of N. ceranae spores in honey and on beeswax over time after exposure to 33, 20, −12, and −20°C. Spores in honey maintained viability at freezing temperatures for up to 1 yr and remained viable considerably longer than those on beeswax. Based on this evidence, honey may act as an important reservoir for infective spores to initiate or perpetuate N. ceranae infections in honey bee colonies. This work provides information that may help enhance current management recommendations for apiculturalists.

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