Nutritional Composition of Honey Bee Drones of Two Subspecies Relative to Their Pupal Developmental Stages

We examined the contents of nutritional importance, i.e., amino acids, fatty acids and minerals of different developmental stages of drones of two honey bee subspecies, namely Apis mellifera carnica and A. m. mellifera. The results revealed that, in general, individual amino acid amounts and therefore the total protein increased along with the developmental stages of the drones. No statistically significant differences were found between the same developmental stages of the two subspecies. The reverse, i.e., a decrease with developmental stage occurred in relation to the fatty acid composition. Most of the minerals were higher at advanced developmental stages. Overall, the high protein content (31.4–43.4%), small amount of fat (9.5–11.5%) and abundance of minerals such asiron and zinc, make drones a suitable nutritional resource. Even though nutrient content, especially protein, was higher in the pupae than the prepupae, we propose prepupae also as a commercial product based on their higher biomass production. Provided standard production protocols maintaining hygiene and safety will be adhered to, we propose that drone honey bees can be utilized as human food or animal feed.

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Development of iron granules in honey bee oenocytes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100113603 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 744-745

Author(s):

Deborah A. Kuterbach

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Osmium Tetroxide ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Iron Particles ◽

Sodium Cacodylate ◽

Ultrastructural Examination ◽

Brood Comb ◽

Cacodylate Buffer ◽

Rich Material

Foraging honey bees are believed to use the earth's magnetic field, among other cues, in order to home. It has been reported that the abdomen of the honey bee contains magnetite and iron particles have been localized within abdominal oenocytes. Light microscopic investigations reveal that morphologically detectable iron granules are present only in adult animals older than six days after eclosion (emergence from the comb). This is a report of an ultrastructural examination of the oenocytes during the development of the worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) with particular emphasis on the time of appearance, number, and size of iron granules within the cells.Specimens of the different developmental stages were removed from brood comb, fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 5mM sodium cacodylate buffer pH 7.3, washed, and post-fixed with 1% osmium tetroxide. In order to preserve the lipid-rich material, rapid dehydration was accomplished by three changes of 50% acetone and two changes of 100% acetone before embedding in Polybed 812 epoxy resin.

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Detection of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) and Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus (AmFV) in Honey Bees in Mexico

Journal of Apicultural Science ◽

10.2478/jas-2018-0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 141-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mayra C. García-Anaya ◽

Alejandro Romo-Chacón ◽

Alma I. Sáenz-Mendoza ◽

Gerardo Pérez-Ordoñez ◽

Carlos H. Acosta-Muñiz

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Viral Diseases ◽

Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus ◽

Colony Loss ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Bee Colonies ◽

Paralysis Virus

Abstract The recent alarming loss of honey bee colonies around the world is believed to be related to the presence of viruses. The aim of this study was to detect two major viral diseases, Apis mellifera Filamentous virus (AmFV) and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) using Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction RT-PCR, in honey bees in Mexico. Adult and larvae honey bee samples were collected from asymptomatic colonies of six major beekeeping regions in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Both viruses were detected in both developmental stages of honey bees, IAPV at a higher prevalence (23.5%) as compared to AmFV, only in 0.9% of samples. However, this is the first report on AmFV infection in Mexican apiaries. Further studies are required to understand the AmFV and IAPV impact on colony loss in Mexico and to develop strategies for enhancing the control of viral diseases.

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Hydroxymethylfurfural Affects Caged Honey Bees (Apis mellifera carnica)

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12010018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aleš Gregorc ◽

Snežana Jurišić ◽

Blair Sampson

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽

Cellular Level ◽

High Concentration ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽

Wide Range ◽

Bee Health

A high concentration of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (e.g., 15 mg HMF per kg honey) indicates quality deterioration for a wide range of foods. In honey bee colonies, HMF in stored honey can negatively affect bee health and survival. Therefore, in the laboratory, we experimentally determined the effects of HMF on the longevity and midgut integrity of worker Apis mellifera carnica by feeding bees standard diets containing five concentrations of HMF (100, 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm). Simultaneously, we also examined HMF’s effect on Nosema ceranae spore counts within infected honey bees. We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of the honey bee midgut to determine possible changes at the cellular level. No correlation was established between HMF concentration and N. ceranae spore counts. Negative effects of HMF on bees were not observed in the first 15 days of exposure. However, after 15 to 30 days of exposure, HMF caused midgut cells to die and an increased mortality of honey bee workers across treatment groups.

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Comparative transcriptomics indicates endogenous differences in detoxification capacity after formic acid treatment between honey bees and varroa mites

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-79057-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Antonia Genath ◽

Soroush Sharbati ◽

Benjamin Buer ◽

Ralf Nauen ◽

Ralf Einspanier

Keyword(s):

Formic Acid ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Mode Of Action ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Cellular Respiration ◽

Current View ◽

Cellular Effects ◽

Varroa Mites ◽

Formyltetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase

AbstractFormic acid (FA) has been used for decades to control Varroa destructor, one of the most important parasites of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. The rather unselective molecular mode of action of FA and its possible effects on honeybees have long been a concern of beekeepers, as it has undesirable side effects that affect the health of bee colonies. This study focuses on short-term transcriptomic changes as analysed by RNAseq in both larval and adult honey bees and in mites after FA treatment under applied conditions. Our study aims to identify those genes in honey bees and varroa mites differentially expressed upon a typical FA hive exposure scenario. Five detoxification-related genes were identified with significantly enhanced and one gene with significantly decreased expression under FA exposure. Regulated genes in our test setting included members of various cytochrome P450 subfamilies, a flavin-dependent monooxygenase and a cytosolic 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH), known to be involved in formate metabolism in mammals. We were able to detect differences in the regulation of detoxification-associated genes between mites and honey bees as well as between the two different developmental stages of the honey bee. Additionally, we detected repressed regulation of Varroa genes involved in cellular respiration, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction and supporting the current view on the mode of action of FA—inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. This study shows distinct cellular effects induced by FA on the global transcriptome of both host and parasite in comparison. Our expression data might help to identify possible differences in the affected metabolic pathways and thus make a first contribution to elucidate the mode of detoxification of FA.

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A Review: Honey and Its Nutritional Composition

Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry ◽

10.9734/ajrb/2020/v7i330142 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 34-43

Author(s):

Sabia Hasam ◽

Deana Qarizada ◽

Muzhda Azizi

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Health Effect ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Nutritional Composition ◽

Africanized Honey Bee ◽

Apis Andreniformis ◽

The World ◽

Apis Nigrocincta

Honey is one of the historical natural products produced by honey bees. Humans used it as medicine and protection against some infectious diseases, a honey quale is dependent in its classification of the honey bee. The most famous accomplished honey bees in the world are Africanized honey bee (Apis mellıfera .l), Western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera), Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana), Philippine honey bee (Apis nigrocincta), Koschevnikovs honey bee (A. koschevnikovi), Giant Honeybees (Apis dorsata), Dwarf Honeybees (Apis andreniformis). This study collected the health effect, quality and usage of honey in several industries; also argue about the nutritious value of honey that the most important parts are protein, carbohydrates, vitamin, and minerals. Honey is not only a nutrient it also plays a major role in many other products, uses of honey in cosmetics as a protective and softener of skin, it is used up to 22% in paste masks and mud packs (which are considered rinse-off formulations). Uses of honey in Ayurveda for prevention of irritation, cough, healthy teeth, gums, and boons. Production of honey has been compared in 2013 to 2018, in 2013 the world production of honey was 1,664 thousand tones with an increase of 1/3 in just two decades. China, where manufacturing amounted to 466.3 thousand tons, i.e. approximately 29% of the global volume of output, these are showing that China was the biggest producer of honey in the world but it gets a decrease in 2018 as well as Brazil, America, Russia, Ethiopia, and Iran. And it increases in Turkey, Argentine, India, Mexico, and Poland.

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Natural diversity of honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut bacteriome in various climatic and seasonal states

10.1101/2021.01.27.428438 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Márton Papp ◽

László Békési ◽

Róbert Farkas ◽

László Makrai ◽

Gergely Maróti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Health State ◽

Ecological Economic ◽

Repeated Sampling ◽

Natural Diversity

ABSTRACTAs pollinators and producers of numerous human consumed products, honey bees have great ecological, economic and health importance. The composition of their bacteriota, for which the available knowledge is limited, is essential for their body’s functioning. Based on our survey, we performed a metagenomic analysis of samples collected by repeated sampling. We used geolocations that represent the climatic types of the study area over two nutritionally extreme periods (March and May) of the collection season. In bacteriome composition, significant (p=0.002) difference was found between the samples from March and May. The samples’ bacteriome from March showed a significant (p=0.02) composition difference between cooler and the warmer regions. However, there were no significant bacteriome composition differences among the climatic classes of samples taken in May. Based on our results, one may conclude that the composition of healthy core bacteriome in honey bees varies depending on the climatic and seasonal conditions. This is likely due to climatic factors and vegetation states determining the availability and nutrient content of flowering plants. The results of our study prove that in order to gain a thorough understanding of a microbiome’s natural diversity, we need to obtain the necessary information from extreme ranges within the host’s health state.

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The Two Prevalent Genotypes of an Emerging Infectious Disease, Deformed Wing Virus, Cause Equally Low Pupal Mortality and Equally High Wing Deformities in Host Honey Bees

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v11020114 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 114 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Anja Tehel ◽

Quynh Vu ◽

Diane Bigot ◽

Andreas Gogol-Döring ◽

Peter Koch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Emerging Infectious Disease ◽

Viral Titer ◽

Viral Genotype ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Pupal Mortality ◽

Bee Colonies

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is an emerging infectious disease of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) that is considered a major cause of elevated losses of honey bee colonies. DWV comprises two widespread genotypes: the originally described genotype A, and genotype B. In adult honey bees, DWV-B has been shown to be more virulent than DWV-A. However, their comparative effects on earlier host developmental stages are unknown. Here, we experimentally inoculated honey bee pupae and tested for the relative impact of DWV-A versus DWV-B on mortality and wing deformities in eclosing adults. DWV-A and DWV-B caused similar, and only slightly elevated, pupal mortality (mean 18% greater mortality than control). Both genotypes caused similarly high wing deformities in eclosing adults (mean 60% greater wing deformities than control). Viral titer was high in all of the experimentally inoculated eclosing adults, and was independent of wing deformities, suggesting that the phenotype ‘deformed wings’ is not directly related to viral titer or viral genotype. These viral traits favor the emergence of both genotypes of DWV by not limiting the reproduction of its vector, the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite, in infected pupae, and thereby facilitating the spread of DWV in honey bees infested by the mite.

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Honey bees and their brood: a potentially valuable resource of food, worthy of greater appreciation and scientific attention

Journal of Ecology and Environment ◽

10.1186/s41610-021-00212-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sampat Ghosh ◽

Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow ◽

Chuleui Jung

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Functional Properties ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Nutrient Composition ◽

Food Ingredient ◽

Drone Brood ◽

Scientific Attention ◽

Honey Bee Workers ◽

Available Information

AbstractDespite the consumption of bee brood in several parts of the world, particularly in the tropical areas, the practice has received comparatively little attention. We have reviewed all the available information on the nutrient composition and functional properties of different developmental stages of honey bee workers belonging to different species and subspecies. Noticing the competent nutrient composition of, in particular, honey bee brood, pupae, and prepupae, we suggest that they could be a potential source of human nutrition as well as animal feed. Moreover, drone brood is an ideal candidate for use as a food or as food ingredient. However, to analyze the functional properties of different honey bee species remains a task for further analysis.

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Expression and Activity of Lysozyme in Apis Mellifera Carnica Brood Infested with Varroa Destructor

Journal of Apicultural Science ◽

10.1515/jas-2017-0014 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 253-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ewa A. Zaobidna ◽

Krystyna Żółtowska ◽

Elżbieta Łopieńska-Biernat

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Lysozyme Activity ◽

Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽

Relative Expression ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

And Gender

Abstract Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite that attacks the honey bee, and previous studies have suggested that parasitosis caused by this mite is accompanied by immunosuppresion in the host. In this study, the effect of mite infestation on the expression of the lysozyme-1 (lys-1) gene and lysozyme activity in Apis mellifera carnica was determined. The experiment was carried out on the five developmental stages of honey bee workers and drones. Developmental and gender-related differences in gene expression and lysozyme activity were observed in a Varroa destructor-infested brood. The relative expression of the lys-1 gene increased in a infested worker brood and decreased in a drone brood except for P3 pupae. In the final stage of development, the lys-1 gene expression was significantly lower in infested newly emerged workers and drones. Changes in the relative expression of the lys-1 gene in infested individuals was poorly manifested at the level of enzyme activity, whereas at the two final stages of development (P5 and I) there was a positive correlation between relative lys-1 expression and lysozyme activity in infested bees of both genders (r=0.988, r=0.999, respectively). The results of this study indicate that V. destructor influences the lysozyme-linked immune response in bees.

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