A novel method for undisturbed long-term observation of honey bee (Apis mellifera) behavior – illustrated by hygienic behavior towards varroa infestation

AbstractSince 2016, Apis cerana sacbrood virus (AcSBV) has been recorded in Taiwan. It is epizootic in Apis cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and causing serious loss of A. cerana. Herein, we performed a long-term survey of AcSBV prevalence in the populations of A. cerana in Northern Taiwan from January 2017 to July 2018. The surveillance of AcSBV prevalence in A. mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) populations was starting and further confirmed by sequencing since April 2017; thus, these data were also included in this survey. In our survey, the average prevalence rates of AcSBV were 72 and 53% in A. cerana and A. mellifera, respectively, in 2017, which decreased to 45 and 27% in 2018. For the spatial analysis of AcSBV in two honey bee populations, Hsinchu showed the highest prevalence, followed by New Taipei, Yilan, Taipei, and Keelung, suggesting that AcSBV might have come from the southern part of Taiwan. Interestingly, the AcSBV prevalence rates from A. cerana and A. mellifera cocultured apiaries gradually synchronized. The result of phylogenetic analysis and comparison of the annual AcSBV prevalence in A. cerana-only, A. mellifera-only, and A. cerana/A. mellifera cocultured sample sites indicate cross-infection between A. cerana and A. mellifera; however, AcSBV may lose the advantage of virulence in A. mellifera. The evidence suggested that the transmission of AcSBV might occur among these two honey bee species in the field. Therefore, A. mellifera may serve as a guard species to monitor AcSBV in A. cerana, but the cross-infection still needs to be surveyed.

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Assessing hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera unicolor (Hymenoptera: Apidae), the endemic honey bee from Madagascar

Genetics and Molecular Research ◽

10.4238/2015.june.1.5 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 5879-5889 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

H. Rasolofoarivao ◽

H. Delatte ◽

L.H. Raveloson Ravaomanarivo ◽

B. Reynaud ◽

J. Clémencet

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Hygienic Behavior

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Perspectives on hygienic behavior in Apis mellifera and other social insects

Apidologie ◽

10.1007/s13592-020-00784-z ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marla Spivak ◽

Robert G. Danka

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Social Insects ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Future Research ◽

Hygienic Behavior ◽

Bee Health ◽

Honey Bee Health ◽

Behavioral Mechanisms ◽

The Relationship

AbstractHygienic behavior in honey bees, Apis mellifera, has been studied for over 80 years with the aim of understanding mechanisms of pathogen and parasite resistance and colony health. This review emphasizes the underlying behavioral mechanisms of hygienic behavior in honey bees and when known, in other social insects. We explore the relationship between honey bee hygienic behavior toward diseased brood and Varroa-parasitized brood (Varroa-sensitive hygiene, VSH); the timing of hygienic removal of diseased, Varroa-infested, and virus-infected brood relative to risk of transmission that can affect colony fitness; and the methods, utility, and odorants associated with different assays used to select colonies for resistance to diseases and Varroa. We also provide avenues for future research that would benefit honey bee health and survivorship.

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Comparison of Hygienic Behavior of Exotic Honey Bee Apis mellifera L. and Indigenous Honey Bee Apis cerana of Pakistan

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v67i1.4503 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 74

Author(s):

Muhammad Shakeel ◽

Hussain Ali ◽

Sajjad Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Exotic Species ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Climatic Condition ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Hygienic Behavior ◽

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ◽

Equal Strength ◽

Significant Difference

Indigenous and exotic honey bee species were evaluated for their hygienic behavior in the climatic condition of Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Colonies of equal strength from indigenous (Apis cerana) and exotic (Apis mellifera) species were selected for the study. The same colonies were tested in two seasons. Sealed brood were killed with different methods i.e pin killed and freeze killed. The uncapping of cells and brood removal was recorded at different intervals. Significant differences were recorded between hygienic behavior of both species of honey bees. Apis cerana showed significantly superior hygienic behavior than Apis mellifera in both seasons. At different intervals in both species significant differences were recorded. A significant difference was recorded after 12 and 24 hours between the species in both seasons. No significant differences were recorded after 48hours in both species. From the study it is concluded that indigenous honey bee species has superior hygienic behavior than exotic species.

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Long-term storage of Ascosphaera aggregata and Ascosphaera apis, pathogens of the leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata) and the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology ◽

10.1016/j.jip.2009.03.004 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 101 (2) ◽

pp. 157-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A.B. Jensen ◽

R.R. James ◽

J. Eilenberg

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Megachile Rotundata ◽

Ascosphaera Apis ◽

Long Term Storage ◽

Term Storage

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Individual-Level Comparisons of Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Hygienic Behavior Towards Brood Infested with Varroa destructor (Parasitiformes: Varroidae) or Tropilaelaps mercedesae (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11080510 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 510

Author(s):

Monica Shrestha ◽

Jakob Wegener ◽

Ishan Gautam ◽

Madhusudan Singh ◽

Christoph Schwekendiek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Selective Removal ◽

Hygienic Behavior ◽

Individual Level ◽

Tropilaelaps Mercedesae

The mites Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman and Tropilaelaps mercedesae Anderson and Morgan are both serious threats to the Apis mellifera beekeeping industry. A trait frequently used in selection programs for V. destructor resistance is hygienic behavior, the selective removal of diseased/damaged brood. Here, we measured the level of association of the expression of hygienic behavior against both mites in A. mellifera, by observing whether the same individual bees would carry out the opening and removal of brood infested by the two parasites. The groups of bees showing these behaviors on cells artificially infested by either parasite showed a large overlap, making it appear likely that the two traits are at least closely coupled. Therefore, breeding for V. destructor resistance based on hygienic behavior could prepare A. mellifera populations for dealing with Tropilaelaps sp. mites, and vice versa. Using the same bioassay, we also compared the hygienic behavior of A. mellifera towards T. mercedesae to that of the Asiatic honey bee, Apis cerana. A. cerana workers eliminated a greater proportion of infested cells, which may in part explain the resistance of this bee to Tropilaelaps and the observation that Tropilaelaps reproduction on brood of this species is extremely rare.

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