scholarly journals Does pollen diversity influence honey bee colony health?

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e0504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Barroso-Arévalo ◽  
Marina Vicente-Rubiano ◽  
José A. Ruiz ◽  
Antonio Bentabol ◽  
José M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Global Presence ◽  
Tenerife Island ◽  
Colony Survival

Aim of study: Colony losses of the western honey bee Apis mellifera have increased alarmingly in recent years. These losses have been attributed to nutritional deficiency, environmental conditions, viral infection and the global presence of the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor. Ensuring pollen availability may improve colony health, so the present study aimed to examine whether the diversity of pollen collected by the colony as well as landscape characteristics of apiaries influence colony health.Area of study: Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain).Material and methods: Colonies at eight apiaries were sampled in late summer to determine colony strength, presence of varroa and load of DWV. Pollen was collected during six months and analyzed. Landscape of each apiary was spatially analyzed.Main results: Pollen diversity did not correlate significantly with colony strength or the load of DWV, but it positively correlated with varroa levels. In contrast, DWV load correlated with varroa infestation, and both variables negatively correlated with colony strength. Weak colonies were located in landscapes with areas less suitable for bee nutrition.Research highlights: These results suggest that DWV and varroa infection as well as landscape characteristics influence colony survival, while pollen diversity on its own does not seem to have direct relationship. Our findings highlight the usefulness of DWV and varroa as predictors of colony losses, and they suggest the need to carefully assess honey bee apiary location in order to ensure adequate nutritional resources.

scholarly journals Reduced Postcapping Period in Honey Bees Surviving Varroa destructor by Means of Natural Selection

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Oddie ◽  
Bjørn Dahle ◽  
Peter Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Worker Brood ◽  
Colony Survival

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a key factor for colony losses in European honey bee subspecies (Apis mellifera), but it is also known that some host populations have adapted to the mite by means of natural selection. The role of a shorter host brood postcapping period in reducing mite reproductive success has been investigated in other surviving subspecies, however its role in the adaptation of European honey bee populations has not been addressed. Here, we use a common garden approach to compare the length of the worker brood postcapping period in a Norwegian surviving honey bee population with the postcapping period of a local susceptible population. The data show a significantly shorter postcapping period in the surviving population for ~10% of the brood. Since even small differences in postcapping period can significantly reduce mite reproductive success, this mechanism may well contribute to natural colony survival. It appears most likely that several mechanisms acting together produce the full mite-surviving colony phenotype.

scholarly journals Austrian COLOSS Survey of Honey Bee Colony Winter Losses 2018/19 and Analysis of Hive Management Practices

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Oberreiter ◽  
Robert Brodschneider
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Favourable Effect ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Honey Bee Colony ◽  
Colony Survival ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Loss Rates

We conducted a citizen science survey on overwinter honey bee colony losses in Austria. A total of 1534 beekeepers with 33,651 colonies reported valid loss rates. The total winter loss rate for Austria was 15.2% (95% confidence interval: 14.4–16.1%). Young queens showed a positive effect on colony survival and queen-related losses. Observed queen problems during the season increased the probability of losing colonies to unsolvable queen problems. A notable number of bees with crippled wings during the foraging season resulted in high losses and could serve as an alarm signal for beekeepers. Migratory beekeepers and large operations had lower loss rates than smaller ones. Additionally, we investigated the impact of several hive management practices. Most of them had no significant effect on winter mortality, but purchasing wax from outside the own operation was associated with higher loss rates. Colonies that reported foraging on maize and late catch crop fields or collecting melezitose exhibited higher loss rates. The most common Varroa destructor control methods were a combination of long-term formic acid treatment in summer and oxalic acid trickling in winter. Biotechnical methods in summer had a favourable effect on colony survival.

scholarly journals Haemolymph removal by the parasite Varroa destructor can trigger the proliferation of the Deformed Wing Virus in mite infested bees (Apis mellifera), contributing to enhanced pathogen virulence

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desiderato Annoscia ◽  
Sam P. Brown ◽  
Gennaro Di Prisco ◽  
Emanuele De Paoli ◽  
Simone Del Fabbro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Viral Evolution ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Viral Pathogen ◽  
Deformed Wing Virus ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Bee Health ◽  
Honey Bee Health ◽  
Mite Feeding

AbstractThe association between the Deformed Wing Virus and the parasitic mite Varroa destructor has been identified as a major cause of worldwide honey bee colony losses. The mite acts as a vector of the viral pathogen and can trigger its replication in infected bees. However, the mechanistic details underlying this tripartite interaction are still poorly defined, and, in particular, the causes of viral proliferation in mite infested bees.Here we develop and test a novel hypothesis - grounded in ecological predator-prey theory - that mite feeding destabilizes viral immune control through the removal of both viral ‘prey’ and immune ‘predators’, triggering uncontrolled viral replication. Consistent with this hypothesis, we show that experimental removal of increasing volumes of haemolymph from individual bees results in increasing viral densities. In contrast, we find no support for alternative proposed mechanisms of viral expansion via mite immune-suppression or within-host viral evolution.Overall, these results provide a new model for the mechanisms driving pathogen-parasite interactions in bees, which ultimately underpin honey bee health decline and colony losses.

scholarly journals Norwegian honey bees surviving Varroa destructor mite infestations by means of natural selection

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A.Y. Oddie ◽  
Bjørn Dahle ◽  
Peter Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Colony Survival

Background Managed, feral and wild populations of European honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera, are currently facing severe colony losses globally. There is consensus that the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, that switched hosts from the Eastern honey bee Apis cerana to the Western honey bee A. mellifera, is a key factor driving these losses. For >20 years, breeding efforts have not produced European honey bee colonies that can survive infestations without the need for mite control. However, at least three populations of European honey bees have developed this ability by means of natural selection and have been surviving for >10 years without mite treatments. Reduced mite reproductive success has been suggested as a key factor explaining this natural survival. Here, we report a managed A. mellifera population in Norway, that has been naturally surviving consistent V. destructor infestations for >17 years. Methods Surviving colonies and local susceptible controls were evaluated for mite infestation levels, mite reproductive success and two potential mechanisms explaining colony survival: grooming of adult worker bees and Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH): adult workers specifically detecting and removing mite-infested brood. Results Mite infestation levels were significantly lower in surviving colonies and mite reproductive success was reduced by 30% when compared to the controls. No significant differences were found between surviving and control colonies for either grooming or VSH. Discussion Our data confirm that reduced mite reproductive success seems to be a key factor for natural survival of infested A. mellifera colonies. However, neither grooming nor VSH seem to explain colony survival. Instead, other behaviors of the adult bees seem to be sufficient to hinder mite reproductive success, because brood for this experiment was taken from susceptible donor colonies only. To mitigate the global impact of V. destructor, we suggest learning more from nature, i.e., identifying the obviously efficient mechanisms favored by natural selection.

Effects of honey bee virus prevalence, Varroa destructor load and queen condition on honey bee colony survival over the winter in Belgium

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bach Kim Nguyen ◽  
Magali Ribière ◽  
Dennis vanEngelsdorp ◽  
Chantal Snoeck ◽  
Claude Saegerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Virus Prevalence ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Honey Bee Colony ◽  
Colony Survival ◽  
Bee Virus

scholarly journals Norwegian honey bees surviving Varroa destructor miteinfestations by means of natural selection

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa AY Oddie ◽  
Bjørn Dahle ◽  
Peter Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Colony Survival

Background: Managed, feral and wild populations of European honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera, are currently facing severe colony losses globally. There is consensus that the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor, that switched hosts from the Eastern honey bee Apis cerana to the Western honey bee A. mellifera, is a key factor driving these losses. For >20 years, breeding efforts have not achieved that European honey bee colonies survive infestations without the need for mite control. However, at least three populations of European honey bees have developed this by means of natural selection and have been surviving for >10 years without mite treatments. Reduced mite reproductive success has been suggested as a key factor explaining this natural survival. Here, we report a managed A. mellifera population in Norway, that has been naturally surviving consistent V. destructor infestations for >17 years. Methods: Surviving colonies and local susceptible controls were evaluated for mite infestation levels, mite reproductive success and twopotential mechanisms explaining colony survival: grooming of adult worker bees and Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH): adult workers specifically detecting and removing mite-infested brood. Results: Mite infestation levels were significantly lower in surviving colonies and mite reproductive success was reduced by ~30% compared to the controls. No significant differences were found between surviving and control colonies for either grooming or VSH. Discussion: Our data confirm that reduced mite reproductive success seems to be a key factor for natural survival of infested A. mellifera colonies. However, neither grooming nor VSH seem to explain colony survival. Instead, other behaviors of the adult bees seem to be sufficient to hinder mite reproductive success, because brood for this experiment was taken from susceptible donor colonies only. To mitigate the global impact of V. destructor, we suggest learning more from nature, i.e. identifying the obviously efficient mechanisms favored by natural selection.

scholarly journals Norwegian honey bees surviving Varroa destructor miteinfestations by means of natural selection

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa AY Oddie ◽  
Bjørn Dahle ◽  
Peter Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Colony Survival

Background: Managed, feral and wild populations of European honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera, are currently facing severe colony losses globally. There is consensus that the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor, that switched hosts from the Eastern honey bee Apis cerana to the Western honey bee A. mellifera, is a key factor driving these losses. For >20 years, breeding efforts have not achieved that European honey bee colonies survive infestations without the need for mite control. However, at least three populations of European honey bees have developed this by means of natural selection and have been surviving for >10 years without mite treatments. Reduced mite reproductive success has been suggested as a key factor explaining this natural survival. Here, we report a managed A. mellifera population in Norway, that has been naturally surviving consistent V. destructor infestations for >17 years. Methods: Surviving colonies and local susceptible controls were evaluated for mite infestation levels, mite reproductive success and twopotential mechanisms explaining colony survival: grooming of adult worker bees and Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH): adult workers specifically detecting and removing mite-infested brood. Results: Mite infestation levels were significantly lower in surviving colonies and mite reproductive success was reduced by ~30% compared to the controls. No significant differences were found between surviving and control colonies for either grooming or VSH. Discussion: Our data confirm that reduced mite reproductive success seems to be a key factor for natural survival of infested A. mellifera colonies. However, neither grooming nor VSH seem to explain colony survival. Instead, other behaviors of the adult bees seem to be sufficient to hinder mite reproductive success, because brood for this experiment was taken from susceptible donor colonies only. To mitigate the global impact of V. destructor, we suggest learning more from nature, i.e. identifying the obviously efficient mechanisms favored by natural selection.

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

2019 ◽  
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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