scholarly journals Viruses that affect Apis mellifera and their occurrence in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Domitila Brzoskowski Chagas ◽  
Francielle Liz Monteiro ◽  
Silvia de Oliveira Hübner ◽  
Marcelo de Lima ◽  
Geferson Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Native Bees

ABSTRACT: Bees are very important insects for agriculture, fulfilling an important role in pollination and renewal of the ecosystem. However, in several countries significant losses of colonies and population decline of honeybees and native bees have been reported in recent years. Most researchers reported that premature losses are linked to several factors, including viruses that have a great impact on the colonies. This article reports the identification of new viruses, some transmission routes, the association of these parasites with the symptoms of the diseases that affect the health of honeybees, as well as viruses that have been described in Brazil.

scholarly journals Declínio populacional das abelhas polinizadoras de culturas agrícolas

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. O. Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
North America ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Crop Pollination ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The World ◽  
Large Decline

<p>As abelhas são os principais polinizadores na natureza, sendo de fundamental importância na condução de muitas culturas agrícolas ao redor do mundo, promovendo várias melhorias na cadeia produtiva da agricultura. A polinização realizada por abelhas contribui para a melhoria da qualidade e/ou a quantidade de frutos e sementes produzidos. Entretanto, apesar de toda importância, as abelhas encontram-se em processo de desaparecimento em várias partes do mundo, principalmente na Europa e em alguns países da América do Norte. Pesquisas recentes estão mostrando um grande declínio das abelhas nativas e abelhas melíferas (<em>Apis mellifera</em>), principalmente como consequência das alterações ambientais, que provocam severos efeitos negativos na disponibilidade de alimentos disponíveis para as abelhas. Assim essa revisão tem como objetivo, reforçar a importância das abelhas da polinização agrícola e alertar sobre a atual situação e o declínio populacional de diferentes grupos desses importantes polinizadores.</p><p align="center"><strong>Population decline of crop bee pollinators</strong><strong></strong></p><p>Bees are the main pollinators in nature, being of fundamental importance of many agricultural crops around the world, causing improvements in the productivity of these crops. The pollination by bees contributes to improving the quality and / or quantity of produced fruits and seeds. However, despite all importance, the bees are in the process of disappearing in several parts of the world, mainly in Europe and in some countries in North America. Recent surveys are showing a large decline in native bees and honeybees (<em>Apis mellifera</em>), mainly as a result of environmental changes, that cause severe negative effects on the availability of food for the bees. So, this review aims to reinforce the importance of bees in crop pollination, and warn about the current situation and the population decline of different groups of these important pollinators.</p>

scholarly journals Broad Geographic and Host Distribution of Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus in South American Native Bees

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-332
Author(s):  
Silvina Quintana ◽  
Gregorio Fernandez de Landa ◽  
Pablo Revainera ◽  
Facundo Meroi ◽  
Leonardo Porrini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
N Gene ◽  
South American ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Native Bee ◽  
Bee Health ◽  
First Time

AbstractApis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) is a large double stranded DNA virus of honey bees and its prevalence and relationship with other parasites is poorly known. Samples consisted of fifty-one adult bees belonging to eight native species collected using entomological nets in six provinces of Argentina, from 2009 to 2018. Total genomic DNA was extracted from individual bees and a 551 bp fragment of the Bro-N gene of AmFV was amplified by qPCR. In the present work we have reported for the first time both the presence and the wide geographic distribution of AmFV in Argentinian species of native bees. This is the first report of the presence of this virus associated with Xylocopa atamisquensis, X. augusti, X. frontalis, X. spendidula, Bombus pauloensis and Peponapis fervens. Detecting pathogens that could threaten native bee health is of outmost importance to generate both conservation and management strategies.

scholarly journals Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Health in Stationary and Migratory Apiaries

Sociobiology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lubiane Guimarães Cestaro ◽  
Maria Luisa Teles Marques Florêncio Alves ◽  
Dejair Message ◽  
Marcos Vinícius Gualberdo Barbosa Silva ◽  
Érica Weinstein Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Determining Factor ◽  
Type Of Management

The practice of migratory beekeeping is based on moving honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies between different locations to intensify agricultural production through improved pollination services. However, due to stress caused by exposure of bee hives to different environments, migratory beekeeping activities can lead colonies to greater susceptibility of these insects to pathogens and pests, thus leading to population decline and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health profile of apiaries that adopt two types of management (stationary and migratory), located in the central-eastern region of São Paulo state, Brazil, during two sampling periods, one in spring (October 2010), and one in autumn (May 2011). We collected 474 samples of honeycomb from the brood area, combs containing capped brood, adult bees that covered the brood area, and foraging bees, to evaluate the presence and prevalence of Paenibacillus larvae, Varroa destructor, Nosema apis and N. ceranae. Seasonality was identified as a determining factor in the health condition of Africanized A. mellifera colonies, causing a stronger effect on health than the type of management employed (stationary vs migratory beekeeping). The infection rates of N. ceranae were higher during the autumn in relation to the spring (387 ± 554 spores per bee in the spring and 1,167 ± 1,202 spores per bee in the autumn in stationary apiaries and 361 ± 687 spores per bee in the spring and 1,082 ± 1,277 spores per bee in the autumn in migratory apiaries). The same pattern was found for infestation rates of V. destructor (2.83 ± 1.97 in the spring and 9.48 ± 6.15 in the autumn in stationary apiaries and 3.25 ± 2.32 in the spring and 6.34 ± 6.58 in the autumn in migratory apiaries). These results demonstrate that the seasonality affects the health of A. mellifera colonies, but it does not depend on the type of management adopted (stationary or migratory).

scholarly journals Bee Visitation on Flowers in Maine, United States, Reveals the Relative Attractiveness of Plants Through Space and Time: Part I

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-737
Author(s):  
Alison C Dibble ◽  
Francis A Drummond ◽  
Lois Berg Stack
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Borago Officinalis ◽  
Melilotus Officinalis ◽  
Species Analysis ◽  
The Family ◽  
Relative Attractiveness ◽  
Plant Taxon ◽  
Time Part

Abstract Bee reservoirs can be effective in agricultural and habitat restoration projects, but the relative attractiveness of plants is not fully understood. To improve plant selection with better knowledge of spatial, temporal, and competition aspects, we tested up to 90 plant subjects from 2012 to 2015 at four sites in Maine. We recognized Apis mellifera L., Bombus ternarius Say, 1837, ‘Most Bombus’ (except B. ternarius), ‘Halictidae’ and ‘Other Bees’ (collectively the so-called ‘bee groups’) on open flowers in three 1-min periods per site and day, with numerous repeated observations per plant taxon. In 14,311 observations, we recorded 17,792 bees in 61 species. Most-visited plants included Asclepias tuberosa, Borago officinalis, Clethra alnifolia cv. Hummingbird (especially by A. mellifera), Melilotus officinalis, Origanum vulgare, Rosa palustris (especially before 1400 hours), Spiraea alba var. latifolia, and taxa in the family Asteraceae. Early-flowering shrubs were visited, especially by ‘Other Bees’. Bee groups each ranked plants uniquely, with some overlap, and differed in most-visited of six plant taxa that we had included in all 4 yr and sites. For ‘All Bees’ among 84 plant taxa, the most-visited plants were M. officinalis (June), A. tuberosa (July), and C. alnifolia (August). Indicator Species Analysis revealed low bee fidelity to host plants for all but a few plant taxa. Apis mellifera differed from native bees in plants it visited intensively, with some overlap (e.g., A. tuberosa), and was associated with increased visitation on seven plant taxa by ‘Most Bombus’ and B. ternarius.

Honeybee pollination of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) cv. Manor

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Goodman ◽  
G. Hepworth ◽  
P. Kaczynski ◽  
B. McKee ◽  
S. Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Pieris Rapae ◽  
Fagopyrum Esculentum ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Fagopyrum Esculentum Moench ◽  
Insect Visitors ◽  
Coccinella Transversalis

The role of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the pollination of buckwheat cv. Manor was studied in a commercial planting at Smeaton, Victoria. Honeybees comprised 80% of all insect visitors to this crop. Other insects included ladybirds (Coccinella transversalis and C. undecimpunctata), hoverflies (Meangyna viridiceps), drone flies (Eristalis sp.), blowflies (Calliphoridae), cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae), small bush flies and native bees. The activity of honeybees and other insects increased seed production from 91.5 g/plot (plots closed to insects) to 180.4 g/plot (plots open to insects).

Honeybee pollination of Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Satsuma) in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Langridge ◽  
RD Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Wind Pollination ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Prunus Salicina ◽  
Valley Area ◽  
Insect Visitors

The pollination requirements of Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Satsuma) were examined in an orchard in the Goulburn Valley area of Victoria. Trees which were accessible to honeybees (Apis mellifera) had a higher percentage pollination rate (3.2 times) greater weight of fruit (2.6 times) and more fruit (3.3 times) than did the trees that were enclosed to exclude bees and large insects. Honeybees comprised 88.5% of all insect visitors to the flowers. The behaviour patterns of other insects were such that they would effect little or no pollination. Pollen gathering bees are considered the main pollinators of this species because of their activity early in flowering. No native bees (Trigona spp.) were seen to visit the flowers. While parthenocarpy and wind pollination may produce some fruit on Satsuma, the presence of an adequate population of honeybees is necessary to set a satisfactory crop.

Floral resource use and interactions between Apis mellifera and native bees in cucurbit crops in Yucatán, México

2005 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Angel Pinkus-Rendon ◽  
Víctor Parra-Tabla ◽  
Virginia Meléndez-Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Native Bee ◽  
Floral Resource

AbstractDespite the importance of native pollinators in agricultural systems, little is known about the potential competitive interactions among them or the way they exploit crops' floral resources. This study determines the temporal use of floral resources by, and interspecific interactions between, native bees and Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in experimental plots of squash, Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne ex Lam.) Duchesne ex Poir. (Cucurbitaceae), and watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) (Cucurbitaceae). General and specific niche overlap analyses were done to determine whether temporally differential use of floral resources occurred. Direct displacement interactions at the floral level were quantified. The species with the greatest abundances were Peponapis limitaris Cockerell (Apidae), Partamona bilineata Say (Apidae), and A. mellifera. Overall, the niche overlap analyses in both crops suggested that floral resources are not used simultaneously by different bee species. Winner events during aggressive encounters suggested a hierarchy among bee species, with A. mellifera being one of the species with more winner encounters in both crops. It is suggested that those deciding whether or not to introduce A. mellifera into crops should consider whether the abundance of native bee species is sufficient to ensure efficient fruit production.

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