Variation morphogeometrics of Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Brazil

The morphometrics of the honey bee Apis mellifera L., 1758 has been widely studied mainly because this species has great ecological importance, high adaptation capacity, wide distribution and capacity to effectively adapt to different regions. The current study aimed to investigate the morphometric variations of wings and pollen baskets of honey bees Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier, 1836 from the five regions in Brazil. We used geometric morphometrics to identify the existence of patterns of variations of shape and size in Africanized honey bees in Brazil 16 years after the classic study with this species, allowing a temporal and spatial comparative analysis using new technological resources to assess morphometrical data. Samples were collected in 14 locations in Brazil, covering the five geographical regions of the country. The shape analysis and multivariate analyses of the wing allowed to observe that there is a geographical pattern among the population of Apis mellifera in Brazil. The geographical variations may be attributed to the large territorial extension of the country in addition to the differences between the bioregions.

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DEVELOPMENT OF AN ETHANOL MODEL USING SOCIAL INSECTS: IV. INFLUENCE OF ETHANOL ON THE AGGRESSION OF AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES (APIS MELLIFERA L.)

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.94.3.1107-1115 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 94 (3) ◽

pp. 1107

Author(s):

CHARLES I. ABRAMSON

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Social Insects ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Africanized Honey Bees

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Thermoregulation in colonies of africanized and hybrids with Caucasian, Italian and Carniolan Apis mellifera honey bees

Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology ◽

10.1590/s1516-89131999000400007 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de Toledo ◽

Regina Helena Nogueira-Couto

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Tropical Region ◽

Internal Temperature ◽

Africanized Honey Bees ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

One Year ◽

Brood Nest

This experiment was carried out to study the internal temperature regulation of a colony of Africanized honey bees (AFR), compared with hybrid Caucasian (CAU), Italian (ITA), and Carniolan (CAR) bees, during the period of one year and different size hives located in a sub-tropical region. The instant internal temperature, 33.7 ± 1.5° C for the AFR, 33.5 ± 1.4° C for the CAU, 33.7 ± 1.5° C for the ITA and 33.8 ± 1.4° C for the CAR, did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). The maximum temperature (36.1 ± 2.3° C) was statistically different (P<0.05) from the minimum (27.6 ± 5.3° C). There was no difference (P>0.05) in the mean internal temperature, between the nucleus (31.7 ± 6.3° C) and the brood nest (32.1 ± 5.3° C) measured between two and four o'clock in the afternoon.

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Polymorphism of the СоІІ gene of honey bees in the western regions of Ukraine

Biolohichni systemy ◽

10.31861/biosystems2020.02.174 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 174-179

Author(s):

Oleksandr Cherevatov ◽

Nadiia Roshka

Keyword(s):

Molecular Markers ◽

Apis Mellifera ◽

Cytochrome Oxidase ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Molecular Taxonomy ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Coii Gene ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase

Due to active human intervention in natural genetic and population processes, survival and distribution areas of honey bees have been negatively affected. Preservation of the gene pool of aboriginal bees that are well adapted to local environmental conditions is an urgent problem that cannot be solved without the use of molecular methods to monitor the genetic composition of local populations. This type of research requires the use of state-of-the-art approaches based on application of molecular markers. In the molecular taxonomy of insects, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase genes are widely used to identify closely related forms. The peculiarity of mtDNA is that it is maternally inherited, and the mitochondrial molecular markers are not separated by recombination. The СоІІ gene encoding the second subunit of cytochrome oxidase is widely used to descriminate the subspecies of honey bee. Therefore, to assess the distribution of different subspecies / breeds of Apis mellifera in Ukraine, the 5′-region of the СоІІ gene was sequenced and compared for bees from different geographical regions. In the CoII gene, base substitutions were found, which makes it possible to distinguish between honey bees of the Carpathian and Ukrainian steppe breeds, which are widespread in Ukraine. It has been revealed that the distribution of these breeds does not always correspond to the official zoning. The widespread practice in Ukraine of transporting the genetic material of Apis mellifera from different regions leads to uncontrolled hybridization and poses a threat to the preservation of aboriginal breeds of honey bees.

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Varroa jacobsoni infestation of adult Africanized and Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera) in mixed colonies in Brazil

Genetics and Molecular Biology ◽

10.1590/s1415-47571999000300006 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 321-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Geraldo Moretto ◽

Leonidas João de Mello Jr.

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Varroa Jacobsoni ◽

Africanized Honey Bees ◽

African Honey Bees ◽

Africanized Bees ◽

Bee Colonies ◽

Different Levels

Different levels of infestation with the mite Varroa jacobsoni have been observed in the various Apis mellifera races. In general, bees of European races are more susceptible to the mite than African honey bees and their hybrids. In Brazil honey bee colonies are not treated against the mite, though apparently both climate and bee race influence the mite infestation. Six mixed colonies were made with Italian and Africanized honey bees. The percentage infestation by this parasite was found to be significantly lower in adult Africanized (1.69 ± 0.44) than Italian bees (2.79 ± 0.65). This ratio was similar to that found in Mexico, even though the Africanized bees tested there had not been in contact with varroa, compared to more than 20 years of the coexistence in Brazil. However, mean mite infestation in Brazil on both kinds of bees was only about a third of that found in Mexico.

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Africanized honey bees more efficiently convert protein diets into hemolymph protein than do Carniolan bees (Apis mellifera carnica)

Genetics and Molecular Research ◽

10.4238/vol8-4gmr628 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 1245-1249 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

F.A. Cappelari ◽

A.P. Turcatto ◽

M.M. Morais ◽

D. De Jong

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Africanized Honey Bees ◽

Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽

Hemolymph Protein ◽

Protein Diets

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Development of an Ethanol Model Using Social Insects: IV. Influence of Ethanol on the Aggression of Africanized Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L.)

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.94.3c.1107-1115 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 94 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1107-1115 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Charles I. Abramson ◽

Aaron J. Place ◽

Italo S. Aquino ◽

Andrea Fernandez

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Social Insects ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Sucrose Solution ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Ethanol Consumption ◽

Ethanol Solution ◽

Control Groups ◽

Africanized Honey Bees ◽

Unique Aspect

Experiments were designed to determine whether ethanol influenced aggression in honey bees. Two experiments are reported. In Exp. 1, harnessed honey bees were fed a 1%, 5%, 10%, or 20% ethanol solution. Two control groups received either a sucrose solution only or no pretreatment, respectively. The dependent variable was the number of sting extensions over 10 min. Analysis showed that aggression in harnessed bees was not influenced by prior ethanol consumption. Because there was some suspicion that the extension of the sting apparatus may be hindered by harnessing, and the authors wanted to use a design that increased ecological validity, Exp. 2 was conducted with free-flying bees. Sucrose or 20% ethanol solutions were placed in front of beehives, and the number of stings on a leather patch dangled in front of the hive served as the dependent variable. The experiment was terminated after 5 hr. because bees exposed to ethanol became dangerously aggressive. A unique aspect of the study was that Africanized honey bees were used.

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