Results of annual honey bee colony losses survey in Ukraine: winter 2017-2018

Decline of honey bee colonies remains a global problem. It may affect catastrophically both ecosystems and the global economy. Here we present the results of the fourth year of a research project on bee colony losses in Ukraine over winter 2017-2018, conducted in the framework of international monitoring coordinated by the non-profit honey bee research association COLOSS. Overall winter loss rate and the mortality rate over winter 2017-2018 were significantly lower compared to the previous year: overall winter loss rate – 11.3% (95 % СІ 10.0-12.6); mortality rate – 6.7% (95 % СІ 5.8-7.7); rate of colony loss due to unsolvable queen problems – 2.1% (95 % СІ 1.6-2.7) and due to natural disasters – 2.4% (95 % СІ 2.0-3.0). Likewise previous years, the highest losses were observed in small operations (with 50 or fewer colonies). The highest overall loss rate was observed in the Steppe zone, with the highest both mortality rate and losses due to natural disasters compared to the other physiographic zones of Ukraine. Minimum mortality was recorded from deciduous forests 5.6 % (95 % CI 4.4-7.2) and the Ukrainian Carpathians 5.5 % (95 % CI 4.2-7.2). Winter losses related to queen problems varied greatly with a minimum in the Forest-Steppe zone 0.71 % (95 % CI 0.3-1.5). 83.3% of beekeepers treated their colonies against Varroa. The r-rank correlation analysis identified two potential risk factors (no or only a few dead bees in or in front of the empty hive; dead workers in cells and no food present) which revealed a weak positive correlation with both mortality rate and the rate of losses due to unsolvable queen problems.

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Results of Standardized Beekeeper Survey of Honey Bee Colony Losses in Ukraine for Winter 2018-2019

Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University series "Ecology" ◽

10.26565/1992-4259-2020-23-11 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Natural Disasters ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Loss Rate ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Steppe Zone ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Research Association ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Bee Colonies

Purpose. Analysis of honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) colony losses in Ukraine for winter 2018–2019 in comparison with the previous year in different physiographic zones of Ukraine and at the operations of different sizes. Methods. Survey of Ukrainian beekeepers for winter 2018–2019 using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire (International honey bee research association COLOSS). A total of 677 valid questionnaires from five physiographic zones of Ukraine were processed. Results. The total loss rate of honey bee colonies for winter 2018–2019 in Ukraine was 11.18 %, the mortality rate was 5.95 %; the losses due to unsolvable queen problems – 3.37 %, and due to natural disasters – 1.86 %. The total losses in the forest-steppe and the mixed forest zones were 16.2 % and 15.1 %, respectively, whereas in the Ukrainian Carpathians – 7.2 %. The most common sign of dead colonies in Ukraine was the presence of a large number of dead bees in or in front of the hive (25.3 %). The loss rate in the small operations was almost 18 %, in medium – 8.38 % and in large ones – 7.6 %. 77.8 % of respondents treated their bee colonies against Varroa destructor in the period from April 2018 to April 2019. 16.4 % respondents treated their colonies without prior monitoring of mite rate. The most commonly used acaricides were the veterinary medicinal products containing flumetrin (15.1 %), amitraz in strips (11.67 %) and fumigation (9.9 %), as well as oxalic acid – spraying and sublimation (9.5 % and 8.4 %, respectively). Conclusions. The total losses of honey bee colonies for winter of 2018–2019 (11.18 %) remained stable compared to the previous year (for winter of 2017–2018: 11.30 %), the losses due to colonies death (5.95 %) and losses due to natural disasters (1.86 %) decreased slightly (for winter of 2017–2018: 6.7 % and 2.4 %, respectively), whereas losses due to unsolvable queen problems increased form 2.1 % to 3.37 %). The highest losses were observed in the forest-steppe zone and the zone of mixed forests, whereas the lowest in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The smaller beekeeping operations with at most 50 colonies suffer significantly higher losses than larger operations.

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Моніторинг втрат колоній медоносних бджіл (Apis mellifera L.) в Україні після зимівлі 2015-2016 рр.

Ukrainian Journal of Ecology ◽

10.15421/2017_167 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 604-613 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. M. Fedoriak ◽

L. I. Timochko ◽

O. M. Kulmanov ◽

R. A. Volkov ◽

S. S. Rudenko

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Large Scale ◽

Loss Rate ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Winter Mortality ◽

Research Association ◽

Forest Zone ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Queen Replacement

Increasing of honey bee colony losses is considered to be a global threat to the planet's ecosystems, food security and global economy (Neumann & Carreck, 2010; van der Zee et al., 2012; van der Zee et al., 2014; Chauzat et al., 2016). A large-scale study of this phenomenon using the standard protocol is conducted by the international honey bee research association COLOSS. Ukraine has been providing the data since 2015. Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony losses in Ukraine after the winter of 2015-2016 have been analyzed according to the physiographic zones of the country. It has been established that the total loss (the sum of the dead colonies and the colonies lost due to the unsolvable queen problems) after the winter of 2015-2016 was 9.9%, which is 1.5 times lower compared to the winter of 2014-2015 (14.9%). The losses due to colonies death decreased (6.3% after the winter of 2015-2016; 13.4% after the winter of 2014-2015), while the losses due to the unsolvable queen problems increased (3.6% after the winter of 2015-2016; 1.6% after the winter of 2014-2015). The overall loss rate of 12.0% was recorded for the countries participating in the international COLOSS monitoring after the winter of 2015-2016, therefore Ukraine is considered to be the region with the comparatively low risk. Small apiaries had a significantly higher loss rate than medium and large ones. The highest loss rate was noticed in the zone of mixed forests, whereas it was the lowest in the deciduous forest zone. The majority of the respondents (44.4%) from the mixed forest zone, where the loss due to the unsolvable queen problems reached the largest scale, noted that the problems with the queens after this winter were more serious than usual, and wintering of the colonies with new queens was better, than with the old ones (83.3%). 64.4% of respondents conducted monitoring of Varroa infestation level of their colonies, and 82.5% treated the colonies against Varroa. The correlation between the use of some chemical and biotechnical methods against Varroa (lactic acid, amitraz, formic acid, hyperthermia, etc.) and losses due to both colonies death and unsolvable queen problems was revealed. It has been shown that queen replacement before winter contributes to lowering winter mortality (r = -0.18).

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Decoupling the effects of nutrition, age and behavioral caste on honey bee physiology and immunity

10.1101/667931 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Miguel Corona ◽

Belen Branchiccela ◽

Shayne Madella ◽

Yanping Chen ◽

Jay Evans

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Nutritional Stress ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Immune Genes ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Nutrition Behavior ◽

Behavioral Transition ◽

Positive Correlations

AbstractNutritional stress, and especially a dearth of pollen, is considered an important factor associated with honey bee colony losses. We used pollen-restricted colonies as a model to study the nutritional stress conditions experienced in colonies within intensively cultivated agricultural areas. This model was complemented by the establishment of an experimental design, which allowed us to uncouple the effect of nutrition, behavior and age in colonies of similar size and demography. We used this system to determine the effect of pollen restriction on workers’ behavioral development. Then, we analyzed the effect of nutritional stress, behavior and age on the expression of key physiological genes involved in the regulation of division of labor. Finally, we analyzed the effects of these variables on the expression of immune genes and the titers of honey bee viruses. Our results show that pollen restriction led to an increased number of precocious foragers and this behavioral transition was associated with important changes in the expression of nutritionally regulated physiological genes, immunity and viral titers.Vitellogenin (vg)andmajor royal jelly protein1 (mrjp1)were the most predictive markers of nutrition and behavior. The expression of immune genes was primarily affected by behavior, with higher levels in foragers. Deformed wing virus (DWV) titers were significantly affected by behavior and nutritional status, with higher titer in foragers and increased levels associated with pollen ingestion. Correlation analyses support the predominant effect of behavior on immunity and susceptibility to viral infection, revealing that both immune genes and DWV exhibited strong negative correlations with genes associated with nursing, but positive correlations with genes associated with foraging. Our results provide valuable insights into the physiological mechanisms by which nutritional stress induce precocious foraging and increased susceptibility to viral infections.

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Ukraine is Moving Forward from “Undiscovered Honey Land” to Active Participation in International Monitoring of Honey Bee Colony Losses

Bee World ◽

10.1080/0005772x.2018.1554279 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 50-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mariia M. Fedoriak ◽

Per K. Angelstam ◽

Oleksandr M. Kulmanov ◽

Lesia I. Tymochko ◽

Svitlana S. Rudenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Active Participation ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Bee Colony ◽

International Monitoring ◽

Honey Bee Colony ◽

Honey Bee Colony Losses

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Descriptive Analysis of the Varroa Non-Reproduction Trait in Honey Bee Colonies and Association with Other Traits Related to Varroa Resistance

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11080492 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 492 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sonia E. Eynard ◽

Christina Sann ◽

Benjamin Basso ◽

Anne-Laure Guirao ◽

Yves Le Conte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Empirical Bayes ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Field Studies ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Bee Health ◽

Honey Bee Health ◽

Varroa Resistance ◽

Resistance Traits

In the current context of worldwide honey bee colony losses, among which the varroa mite plays a major role, the hope to improve honey bee health lies in part in the breeding of varroa resistant colonies. To do so, methods used to evaluate varroa resistance need better understanding. Repeatability and correlations between traits such as mite non-reproduction (MNR), varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH), and hygienic behavior are poorly known, due to practical limitations and to their underlying complexity. We investigate (i) the variability, (ii) the repeatability of the MNR score, and (iii) its correlation with other resistance traits. To reduce the inherent variability of MNR scores, we propose to apply an empirical Bayes correction. In the short-term (ten days), MNR had a modest repeatability of 0.4, whereas in the long-term (a month), it had a low repeatability of 0.2, similar to other resistance traits. Within our dataset, there was no correlation between MNR and VSH. Although MNR is amongst the most popular varroa resistance estimates in field studies, its underlying complex mechanism is not fully understood. Its lack of correlation with better described resistance traits and low repeatability suggest that MNR needs to be interpreted cautiously, especially when used for selection.

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Diversity and Global Distribution of Viruses of the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11040239 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 239 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Alexis Beaurepaire ◽

Niels Piot ◽

Vincent Doublet ◽

Karina Antunez ◽

Ewan Campbell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Colony Losses ◽

New Host ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Queen Cell

In the past centuries, viruses have benefited from globalization to spread across the globe, infecting new host species and populations. A growing number of viruses have been documented in the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Several of these contribute significantly to honey bee colony losses. This review synthetizes the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of honey-bee-infecting viruses, including recent data from high-throughput sequencing (HTS). After presenting the diversity of viruses and their corresponding symptoms, we surveyed the scientific literature for the prevalence of these pathogens across the globe. The geographical distribution shows that the most prevalent viruses (deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus, black queen cell virus and acute paralysis complex) are also the most widely distributed. We discuss the ecological drivers that influence the distribution of these pathogens in worldwide honey bee populations. Besides the natural transmission routes and the resulting temporal dynamics, global trade contributes to their dissemination. As recent evidence shows that these viruses are often multihost pathogens, their spread is a risk for both the beekeeping industry and the pollination services provided by managed and wild pollinators.

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A survey of managed honey bee colony losses in the Republic of South Africa–2009 to 2011

Journal of Apicultural Research ◽

10.3896/ibra.1.53.1.03 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 35-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Christian W W Pirk ◽

Hannelie Human ◽

Robin M Crewe ◽

Dennis vanEngelsdorp

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Honey Bee Colony ◽

The Republic ◽

Honey Bee Colony Losses

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Correlations between land covers and honey bee colony losses in a country with industrialized and rural regions

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.128 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 532 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Antoine Clermont ◽

Michael Eickermann ◽

François Kraus ◽

Lucien Hoffmann ◽

Marco Beyer

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Rural Regions ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Honey Bee Colony ◽

Land Covers ◽

Honey Bee Colony Losses

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A mutualistic symbiosis between a parasitic mite and a pathogenic virus undermines honey bee immunity and health

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1523515113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 113 (12) ◽

pp. 3203-3208 ◽

Cited By ~ 101

Author(s):

Gennaro Di Prisco ◽

Desiderato Annoscia ◽

Marina Margiotta ◽

Rosalba Ferrara ◽

Paola Varricchio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Viral Pathogen ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Mutualistic Symbiosis ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Parasitic Mite ◽

Honey Bee Colony ◽

Honey Bee Colony Losses

Honey bee colony losses are triggered by interacting stress factors consistently associated with high loads of parasites and/or pathogens. A wealth of biotic and abiotic stressors are involved in the induction of this complex multifactorial syndrome, with the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated deformed wing virus (DWV) apparently playing key roles. The mechanistic basis underpinning this association and the evolutionary implications remain largely obscure. Here we narrow this research gap by demonstrating that DWV, vectored by the Varroa mite, adversely affects humoral and cellular immune responses by interfering with NF-κB signaling. This immunosuppressive effect of the viral pathogen enhances reproduction of the parasitic mite. Our experimental data uncover an unrecognized mutualistic symbiosis between Varroa and DWV, which perpetuates a loop of reciprocal stimulation with escalating negative effects on honey bee immunity and health. These results largely account for the remarkable importance of this mite–virus interaction in the induction of honey bee colony losses. The discovery of this mutualistic association and the elucidation of the underlying regulatory mechanisms sets the stage for a more insightful analysis of how synergistic stress factors contribute to colony collapse, and for the development of new strategies to alleviate this problem.

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