Diversity and Evolution of pogo and Tc1/mariner Transposons in the Apoidea Genomes

Bees (Apoidea), the largest and most crucial radiation of pollinators, play a vital role in the ecosystem balance. Transposons are widely distributed in nature and are important drivers of species diversity. However, transposons are rarely reported in important pollinators such as bees. Here, we surveyed 37 bee genomesin Apoidea, annotated the pogo and Tc1/mariner transposons in the genome of each species, and performed a phylogenetic analysis and determined their overall distribution. The pogo and Tc1/mariner families showed high diversity and low abundance in the 37 species, and their proportion was significantly higher in solitary bees than in social bees. DD34D/mariner was found to be distributed in almost all species and was found in Apis mellifera, Apis mellifera carnica, Apis mellifera caucasia, and Apis mellifera mellifera, and Euglossa dilemma may still be active. Using horizontal transfer analysis, we found that DD29-30D/Tigger may have experienced horizontal transfer (HT) events. The current study displayed the evolution profiles (including diversity, activity, and abundance) of the pogo and Tc1/mariner transposons across 37 species of Apoidea. Our data revealed their contributions to the genomic variations across these species and facilitated in understanding of the genome evolution of this lineage.

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.

CONTINUOUS AND TERMS OF WORK PERFORMED IN ARTIFICIAL MOTHER BEES

Тадқиқотларимизда хориждан келтирилган Краина (Apis mellifera carnica Pollm) ва Карпат (Apis mellifera carpatica) асалари зотларидан Ўзбекистон табиий иқлим шароитида сунъий усулда она асалари етиштиришда олиб бориладиган ишларнинг муддатлари, она асалари етиштиришнинг календар режаси, она асалари етиштириш технологияси ва тажриба гуруҳларидаги она асалариларнинг асосий кўрсаткичлари қиёсий тажрибалар асосида илмий асосда илк бор ўрганилди.

Breeding indicators of Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica pollm) and Carpathy (Apis mellifera carpatica) honey bees

In our research, the adaptation of imported carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollm) and Carpathian (Apis mellifera carpatica) honey bees to the natural climatic conditions of Uzbekistan, the main indicators of queen bees in experimental groups, the results of two-year assessment and economic benefits were studied for the first time in Uzbekistan.

Morphological features of the Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollm) and Carpathian (Apis mellifera carpatica) breeds of honey bees

This article presents the results of a study of the Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollm) and Carpathian (Apis mellifera carpatica) breeds of honey bees and their crossbred populations in the conditions of the Tashkent province in Uzbekistan. The morphological characteristics of bees were revealed, morphometric measurements and analysis of economically useful traits were carried out. A comparative analysis of the morphological and morphometric differences of the bee breeds under study has been carried out.

Substantial Genetic Progress in the International Apis mellifera carnica Population Since the Implementation of Genetic Evaluation

The Apis mellifera carnica subspecies of the honeybee has long been praised for its gentleness and good honey yield before systematic breeding efforts began in the early 20th century. However, before the introduction of modern techniques of genetic evaluation (best linear unbiased prediction, BLUP) and a computerized data management in the mid 1990s, genetic progress was slow. Here, the results of the official breeding value estimation in BeeBreed.eu are analyzed to characterize breeding progress and inbreeding. From about the year 2000 onward, the genetic progression accelerated and resulted in a considerable gain in honey yield and desirable properties without increased inbreeding coefficients. The prognostic quality of breeding values is demonstrated by a retrospective analysis. The success of A. m. carnica breeding shows the potential of BLUP-based breeding values and serves as an example for a large-scale breeding program.

In vivo continuous three-dimensional magnetic resonance microscopy: a study of metamorphosis in Carniolan worker honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica)

ABSTRACTThree-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) is a modality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) optimized for the best resolution. Metamorphosis of the Carniolan worker honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) was studied in vivo under controlled temperature and humidity conditions from sealed larvae until the emergence of an adult. The 3D images were analyzed by volume rendering and segmentation, enabling the analysis of the body, tracheal system and gastrointestinal tract through the time course of volume changes. Fat content sensitivity enabled the analysis of flight muscles transformation during the metamorphosis by the signal histogram and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Although the transformation during metamorphosis is well known, MRM enables an alternative insight to this process, i.e. 3D in vivo, which has relatively high spatial and temporal resolutions. The developed methodology can easily be adapted for studying the metamorphosis of other insects or any other incremental biological process on a similar spatial and temporal scale.

The influence of acetamiprid and deltamethrin on the mortality and behaviour of honeybees (Apis mellifera carnica Pollman) in oilseed rape cultivations

The aim of the research was to determine the influence of acetamiprid and deltamethrin on the mortality and behaviour of honeybees of the same variety, coming from the same source and estimated to be in good condition by a professional beekeeper, but in different years and under different weather conditions. Results of research conducted in field isolators in oilseed rape fields in the years 2012–2018 showed no acetamiprid influence either on the mortality or on the behaviour of honeybees. Deltamethrin activity differed from a lack of influence through causing mortality and a weaker condition of honeybee colonies to the destruction of the colony. This demonstrates the relative safety of acetamiprid to honeybees and the high risk of deltamethrin use. The differences in the bee colonies’ reaction to deltamethrin are probably caused by the high acute toxicity of this active ingredient, genetically dependent, variable metabolic capabilities of particular bee colonies, or coexistence of a variety of different stressors—mainly pathogens.