scholarly journals The red dwarf honey bee (Apis florea F.) faces the threat of extirpation in Northwest India

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
R. C. Sihag
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Apis Florea ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
Daucus Carota L ◽  
Tropical Environments ◽  
Prime Concern ◽  
The Status ◽  
Colony Number ◽  
Northwest India

Pollination is one of the essential ecosystem services. In recent years, a severe global pollinator decline has been the prime concern of pollination scientists and agriculturalists. The red dwarf honey bee (Apis florea F.) is an important pollinator of the semi-arid to tropical environments of several parts of Asia and Africa. The actual status of the colony numbers and foraging populations of this honey bee are not known. In this article, I examined the status of these parameters of this honey bee in Northwest India. I conducted monthly surveys and counted the total number of colonies of the red dwarf honey bee present at the main campus of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (India) (in about 9 km2) from 1984 to 2011 at an interval of three years. I also counted the number of foraging honey bees on two crops, viz. a winter-flowering crop, Raya (Brassica juncea Czern and Coss), and a summer-flowering crop, Carrot (Daucus carota L). In 27 years, the number of colonies of this honey bee in the study area declined from 221.5�14.1 in 1984 to 53.4�6.6 in 2011. The foraging populations of this honey bee too declined from 31.2�0.3 bees/m2 to 9.2�0.2 bees/m2 on Carrot and from 25�0.3 bees/m2 to 3.3�0.2 bees/ m2 on Raya. This honey bee exhibited a significant decline in its colony number every 6 years. Foraging bees declined significantly every three years. The colony and forager surveys revealed that the red dwarf honey bee (Apis florea F.) seemed to face the threat of extirpation (local extinction) in Northwest India. This decline in the colony numbers and the foraging populations seemed to have caused a pollination crisis in this region. The decline in the colony numbers and the foraging populations seemed to be caused by the poisoning of foraging bees due to the excessive and indiscriminate use of insecticides on the Cotton and/or Rice crops that come in blooms during the floral dearth period of this region. Considered the importance of this honey bee in the pollination of crops, we suggested that this honey bee must be vigorously protected and conserved.

scholarly journals Evaluating Effects of a Critical Micronutrient (24-Methylenecholesterol) on Honey Bee Physiology

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyadarshini Chakrabarti ◽  
Hannah M Lucas ◽  
Ramesh R Sagili
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
Nutritional Physiology ◽  
Dietary Sterol ◽  
Dry Diet ◽  
Dietary Sterols

Abstract Although poor nutrition is cited as one of the crucial factors in global pollinator decline, the requirements and role of several important nutrients (especially micronutrients) in honey bees are not well understood. Micronutrients, viz. phytosterols, play a physiologically vital role in insects as precursors of important molting hormones and building blocks of cellular membranes. There is a gap in comprehensive understanding of the impacts of dietary sterols on honey bee physiology. In the present study, we investigated the role of 24-methylenecholesterol—a key phytosterol—in honey bee nutritional physiology. Artificial diets with varying concentrations of 24-methylenecholesterol (0%, 0.1%. 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% dry diet weight) were formulated and fed to honey bees in a laboratory cage experiment. Survival, diet consumption, head protein content, and abdominal lipid contents were significantly higher in dietary sterol-supplemented bees. Our findings provide additional insights regarding the role of this important sterol in honey bee nutritional physiology. The insights gleaned from this study could also advance the understanding of sterol metabolism and regulation in other bee species that are dependent on pollen for sterols, and assist in formulation of a more complete artificial diet for honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

scholarly journals GENETIC DIVERSITY OF HONEY BEE POPULATIONS IN TURKEY BASED ON MICROSATELLITE MARKERS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN MIGRATORY VERSUS STATIONARY APIARIES AND ISOLATED REGIONS VERSUS REGIONS OPEN TO MIGRATORY BEEKEEPING

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mert Kükrer
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Microsatellite Markers ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
The Status ◽  
Genetic Impact ◽  
Geographic Populations ◽  
Ecological Importance

The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is a globally significant species of apparent economic and ecological importance. Recent reports from Spain, Italy and Greece point to an intense admixture of honey bee populations signified by a loss of population structure. This is mostly attributed to migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens or colonies with commercial ones that are usually from non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These two practices are also heavily carried out in parts of Turkey where almost three-quarters of the 6 million colonies are transferred seasonally from one region to other.Past research using microsatellite and RAPD markers, mtDNA, allozymes and geometric morphometry revealed the presence of five different subspecies of honey bees (meda, syriaca,caucasica, anatoliaca and an ecotype from Carniolan subspecies group) inTurkey. Here, we carried out an analysis of population structure of Turkish honeybees sampled from six different regions (n = 250) during the period 2010-2012. A total of 29 microsatellite markers were used in four multiplex reactions. The results show that population structure is preserved in general although there are signs of gene flow between the clusters.Overall FST between stationary colonies was calculated as 0,067. For migratory colonies the value was 0,015 and for all the 250 samples the value was 0,047. Four different clusters corresponding to geographical distributions of four subspecies were revealed in structure analysis. The differentiation between the clusters was also apparent in PCA and FCA as well as phylogenetic trees constructed based on genetic distances.The genetic impact of migratory beekeeping was demonstrated for the first time based on a comparison of assignment probabilities of individuals from migratory and stationary colonies to their geographic populations. Another comparison between regions that are either open to migratory beekeeping or closed let us to evaluate the status of isolated regions and showed the importance of establishing such regions. The effects of queen and colony trade were revealed by the presence of introgression from the highly commercial Caucasian bees. Our findings confirm the previously observed high levels geographically structured genetic diversity in honey bees of Turkey and emphasize the need to develop policies to maintain this diversity.

scholarly journals Honey Bee Diversity is Swayed by Migratory Beekeeping and Trade Despite Conservation Practices: Genetic Evidences for the Impact of Anthropogenic Factors on Population Structure

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mert Kükrer ◽  
Meral Kence ◽  
Aykut Kence
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
The Status ◽  
Bee Diversity ◽  
The Impact

Intense admixture of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations is mostly attributed to migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens and colonies with non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These two practices are also heavily carried out in Anatolia and Thrace where 5 subspecies reside naturally.Here, we carried out an analysis of population structure of honey bees sampled from six different regions (n = 250) in order to test the genetic impacts of migratory beekeeping, queen and colony trade and conservation efficacy of isolated regions. A total of 30 microsatellite markers were used in four multiplex reactions.Direct genetic impact of migratory beekeeping was demonstrated first time based on a comparison of assignment of individuals to their geographically native populations where migratory colonies showed less fidelity. We found genetic evidence for them acting as a hybrid zone mobile in space and time, becoming vectors of otherwise local gene combinations.The effects of honey bee trade were revealed by the presence of very high introgression levels from the highly commercial Caucasian bees naturally limited to a narrow range. We also measured the direction and magnitude of this gene flow connected with bee trade.Comparison between regions that are either open to migratory beekeeping or not let us evaluate the status of isolated regions as centers of limited gene flow and showed the importance of establishing such regions.Despite signs of gene flow, our findings confirm high levels of geographically structured genetic diversity of four subspecies of honey bees in Turkey and emphasize the need to develop policies to maintain this diversity.Our overall results might potentially bear a wider interest to the community since they constitute an important attempt to quantify the effects of anthropogenic impacts on established patterns of honey bee diversity. Our measurable and justified findings on migratory beekeeping, queen and colony replacements as well as conservation implications will hopefully be of use for the decision makers and other stakeholders.

scholarly journals Wild pollinator activities negatively related to honey bee colony densities in urban context

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Ropars ◽  
Isabelle Dajoz ◽  
Colin Fontaine ◽  
Audrey Muratet ◽  
Benoît Geslin
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Pesticide Exposure ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Pollinator Visitation ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Honey Bee Colony

AbstractAs pollinator decline is increasingly reported in natural and agricultural environments, cities are perceived as shelters for pollinators because of low pesticide exposure and high floral diversity throughout the year. This has led to the development of environmental policies supporting pollinators in urban areas. However, policies are often restricted to the promotion of honey bee colony installations, which resulted in a strong increase in apiary numbers in cities. Recently, competition for floral resources between wild pollinators and honey bees has been highlighted in semi-natural contexts, but whether urban beekeeping could impact wild pollinators remains unknown. Here, we show that in the city of Paris (France), wild pollinator visitation rates is negatively correlated to honey bee colony densities present in the surrounding (500m – slope = −0.614; p = 0.001 – and 1000m – slope = −0.489; p = 0.005). More particularly, large solitary bees and beetles were significantly affected at 500m (respectively slope = −0.425, p = 0.007 and slope = - 0.671, p = 0.002) and bumblebees were significantly affected at 1000m (slope = - 0.451, p = 0.012). Further, lower interaction evenness in plant-pollinator networks was observed with honey bee colony densities within 1000 meter buffers (slope = −0.487, p = 0.008). Finally, honey bees tended to focus their foraging activity on managed rather than spontaneous plant species (student t-test, p = 0.001) whereas wild pollinators equally visited managed and spontaneous species. We advocate responsible practices mitigating the introduction of high density of hives in urban environments. Future studies are needed to deepen our knowledge about the potential negative interactions between wild and domesticated pollinators.

scholarly journals Scanning electron microscopic studies on tongue of open-nesting honey bees Apis dorsata F. and Apis florea F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 324-327
Author(s):  
Neelima R. Kumar ◽  
Kalpna Nayyar ◽  
Ruchi Sharma ◽  
Anudeep Anudeep
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Apis Florea ◽  
Apis Dorsata ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Native Flora ◽  
Scanning Electron

Taste stimuli play vital role in the life of honey bees. Sensory structures observed on tongue of the honey bees with the help of Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have become an important tool in analyzing honey bee biodiversity which offers an advanced diagnostic tool to study honey bee biogeography and determine adaptive variations to native flora. Tongue of honey bees present a high geographic variability in regard to the floral resources visited by the bees. The present study has determined to determine differences in the tongue ofopen-nesting bees by scanning electron microscopy of Apis dorsata and Apis florea. The two bees showed distinct morphological variations with respect to the lapping and sucking apparatus. It was observed that the ridges on the proximal region exhibited rough surface on A.dorsata whereas spinous in case of A.florea. Moreover, the arrangement of hair in the middle part of the tongue also differed in the two species. The shape of flabellum differed in the two species reason being the influence of native flora. It was observed that the shape of flabellum was oval in A.dorsata whereas in A.florea it was triangular. These differences indicated for the role of native flora and honey bee biodiversity.

scholarly journals Gut Bacterial Inhabitants of Open Nested Honey Bee, Apis Florea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.N. Ganeshprasad ◽  
Kunal Jani ◽  
Yogesh S. Shouche ◽  
A H Sneharani
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Apis Florea ◽  
Culturable Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Environment And Health ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
Dominant Bacteria

Abstract Honey bees are complex social system, which are highly dynamic having close interactions with their surrounding environment. Gut microbiota of honey bees has a major role in interaction behavior with its environment and health. Apis florea is the primitive among all the honey bees and are indigenous to Indian subcontinent. The study reports the identification and analysis of bacteria in the gut of wild species of honey bee, Apis florea, by culture-based and culture-independent methods. Cultured bacteria were identified and characterized by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing. A comprehensive analysis and identification of non-culturable bacteria were performed by 16S rRNA amplicon next generation sequencing. The sequence analysis approach classified gut bacteria into 5 bacterial phyla, 8 families and 10 genera in major. The dominant bacterial taxa identified in Apis florea belonged to Prevotellaceae (52.1%), Enterobacteriaceae (42.7%) and Halobacteriaceae (1.3%). The dominant bacteria belonged to genera of Prevotella, Escherichia-Shigella, Natronomonas, Methylobacterium, Pantoea, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus and Nitrobacter belonging to phyla Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Euryarchaeota, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Many of these bacteria identified herewith are not reported for their occurrence in others species of Apis genus making this study of highly relevance with respect to bee microbiome.

scholarly journals Ultramorphology of antennal sensilla of open-nesting honey bees Apis florea F. and Apis dorsata F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 315-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelima R. Kumar ◽  
Kalpna Nayyar ◽  
Ruchi Sharma ◽  
Anudeep Anudeep
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Ultrastructural Study ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Air Pressure ◽  
Apis Florea ◽  
Antennal Sensilla ◽  
Apis Dorsata ◽  
Pheromone Perception

Antenna of honey bees is geniculate and has been known to possess a wide variety of sensilla. The sensilla are sensitive to odor, temperature, humidity, air pressure and gustatory stimuli. In the present investigation, ultrastructural study on the antenna of the two open-nesting worker honey bees- Apis florea F. - the dwarf honey bee and A. dorsata F. - the giant honey showed considerable amount of variation in the types and distribution pattern of sensilla in the two species. The antennal form as well as the sensilla arrangement has been suggested to be adapted to the pheromone perception need of regarding a particular species.

scholarly journals Honey Bee Diversity is Swayed by Migratory Beekeeping and Trade Despite Conservation Practices: Genetic Evidences for the Impact of Anthropogenic Factors on Population Structure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mert Kükrer ◽  
Meral Kence ◽  
Aykut Kence
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
The Status ◽  
Bee Diversity ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntense admixture of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations is mostly attributed to migratory beekeeping practices and replacement of queens and colonies with non-native races or hybrids of different subspecies. These two practices are also heavily carried out in Anatolia and Thrace where 5 subspecies reside naturally.Here, we carried out an analysis of population structure of honey bees sampled from six different regions (n = 250) in order to test the genetic impacts of migratory beekeeping, queen and colony trade and conservation efficacy of isolated regions. A total of 30 microsatellite markers were used in four multiplex reactions.Direct genetic impact of migratory beekeeping was demonstrated first time based on a comparison of assignment of individuals to their geographically native populations where migratory colonies showed less fidelity. We found genetic evidence for them acting as a hybrid zone mobile in space and time, becoming vectors of otherwise local gene combinations.The effects of honey bee trade were revealed by the presence of very high introgression levels from the highly commercial Caucasian bees naturally limited to a narrow range. We also measured the direction and magnitude of this gene flow connected with bee trade.Comparison between regions that are either open to migratory beekeeping or not let us evaluate the status of isolated regions as centers of limited gene flow and showed the importance of establishing such regions.Despite signs of gene flow, our findings confirm high levels of geographically structured genetic diversity of four subspecies of honey bees in Turkey and emphasize the need to develop policies to maintain this diversity.Our overall results might potentially bear a wider interest to the community since they constitute an important attempt to quantify the effects of anthropogenic impacts on established patterns of honey bee diversity. Our measurable and justified findings on migratory beekeeping, queen and colony replacements as well as conservation implications will hopefully be of use for the decision makers and other stakeholders.

Survey of feral honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies for Nosema apis in Western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Manning ◽  
Kate Lancaster ◽  
April Rutkay ◽  
Linda Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Nosema Apis ◽  
The South ◽  
South West ◽  
Feral Populations ◽  
Significant Difference

The parasite, Nosema apis, was found to be widespread among feral populations of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the south-west of Western Australia. The location, month of collection and whether the feral colony was enclosed in an object or exposed to the environment, all affected the presence and severity of infection. There was no significant difference in the probability of infection between managed and feral bees. However, when infected by N. apis, managed bees appeared to have a greater severity of the infection.

scholarly journals The Honey Bee: An Active Biosampler of Environmental Pollution and a Possible Warning Biomarker for Human Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6481
Author(s):  
Marianna Martinello ◽  
Chiara Manzinello ◽  
Nicoletta Dainese ◽  
Ilenia Giuliato ◽  
Albino Gallina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
Tandem Mass Spectrometric ◽  
Active Substances

Member states of the European Union are required to ensure the initiation of monitoring programs to verify honey bee exposure to pesticides, where and as appropriate. Based on 620 samples of dead honey bees—42 of pollen, 183 of honey and 32 of vegetables—we highlighted the presence, as analyzed by liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection, of many active substances, mainly tau-fluvalinate, piperonyl butoxide, chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, permethrin and imidacloprid. Among the active substances found in analyzed matrices linked to honey bee killing incidents, 38 belong to hazard classes I and II, as methiocarb, methomyl, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and permethrin, thus representing a potential risk for human health. We have shown that, at different times between 2015 and 2020, during implementation of the Italian national guidelines for managing reports of bee colony mortality or depopulation associated with pesticide use, pesticide pollution events occurred that could raise concern for human health. Competent authorities could, as part of a One Health approach, exploit the information provided by existing reporting programs on honey bees and their products, in view of the close correlation to human health, animal health and ecosystem health.

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