Apis andreniformis associated Actinomycetes show antimicrobial activity against black rot pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris)

This study aimed to investigate cultivable actinomycetes associated with rare honey bee species in Thailand and their antagonistic activity against plant pathogenic bacteria. Actinomycetes were selectively isolated from the black dwarf honey bee (Apis andreniformis). A total of 64 actinomycete isolates were obtained with Streptomyces as the predominant genus (84.4%) followed by Micromonospora (7.8%), Nonomuraea (4.7%) and Actinomadura (3.1%). All isolates were screened for antimicrobial activity against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Pectobacterium carotovorum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. sesame. Three isolates inhibited the growth of X. campestris pv. campestris during in vitro screening. The crude extracts of two isolates (ASC3-2 and ASC5-7P) had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 128 mg L−1against X. campestris pv. campestris. For isolate ACZ2-27, its crude extract showed stronger inhibitory effect with a lower MIC value of 64 mg L−1 against X. campestris pv. campestris. These three active isolates were identified as members of the genus Streptomyces based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on the maximum likelihood algorithm showed that isolate ACZ2-27, ASC3-2 and ASC5-7P were closely related to Streptomyces misionensis NBRC 13063T (99.71%), Streptomyces cacaoi subsp. cacaoi NBRC 12748T (100%) and Streptomyces puniceus NBRC 12811T (100%), respectively. In addition, representative isolates from non-Streptomyces groups were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. High similarities were found with members of the genera Actinomadura, Micromonospora and Nonomuraea. Our study provides evidence of actinomycetes associated with the black dwarf honey bee including members of rare genera. Antimicrobial potential of these insect associated Streptomyces was also demonstrated especially the antibacterial activity against phytopathogenic bacteria.

Black Dwarf Honey Bee, Apis andreniformis Smith, 1858 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Contents: Introduction - Synonymy - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle and Biology – Economic Importance - Management - Selected References Also published on the Featured Creatures Website at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/Apis_andreniformis.htm

Amino Acid Profiling and Chemometric Relations of Black Dwarf Honey and Bee Pollen

This research reports the characterization of bee pollen of Apis andreniformis colonies on the basis of morphology, proximate composition, the amino acid, and nutritive patterns in relation with their honey. The pollen gains of the sampling colonies revealed variations in their structure, symmetry, and sculpture. The exile surfaces of the pollens showed psilate, scabrate, clavate, and echinate types of morphology. Total amino acid content of black dwarf honeybee collected pollen (150 mg/g) was found significantly higher than that of honey (15 mg/g) from the same colony. Threonine, phenylalanine, and leucine were among the highest essential amino acid types found in the analyzed pollen and honey samples. The proline content in both products was found the lowest comparing to other amino acid types. The moisture content of the honey samples were found to exceed the limit as prescribed by Codex Alimentarius Commission (<20%). The ash content of the analyzed samples was mostly within the limits (<0.6%) prescribed by international norms. The fat content of the pollens varied from 5.01 to 5.05%, and the honey showed zero fat content. The carbohydrate content in the honey samples was found to differ significantly from each other with a maximum content (73.16%), and the lowest carbohydrate content was 67.80%. The pollen and honey samples were found to have positive effect on in vitro digestibility of proteins.

A Review: Honey and Its Nutritional Composition

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.

Moving like a model: mimicry of hymenopteran flight trajectories by clearwing moths of Southeast Asian rainforests

Clearwing moths are known for their physical resemblance to hymenopterans, but the extent of their behavioural mimicry is unknown. We describe zigzag flights of sesiid bee mimics that are nearly indistinguishable from those of sympatric bees, whereas sesiid wasp mimics display faster, straighter flights more akin to those of wasps. In particular, the flight of the sesiids Heterosphecia pahangensis , Aschistophleps argentifasciata and Pyrophleps cruentata resembles both Tetragonilla collina and T. atripes stingless bees and, to a lesser extent, dwarf honeybees Apis andreniformis , whereas the sesiid Pyrophleps sp. resembles Tachysphex sp. wasps. These findings represent the first experimental evidence for behavioural mimicry in clearwing moths.