Identification, characterization and evaluation of honeybee floras in Kafa, Sheka and Benchi Maji Zones of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia

The study was aimed with identifying and characterizing honeybee floras and their flowering seasons in south western parts of the country. Relevant data were collected through conducting questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, field observations and lab analysis of pollen and honey samples. In addition, seasonal performance of colonies in terms of brood area, adult population, pollen and nectar stores were evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-ver.20 and MsExcels. Accordingly, a total of 200floral species categorized under 77families identified. Of which, 26(13%) grouped under 16 families characterized as major bee floras. Seasons, January to February, July to August were considered as Dearth periods; March, September to October were brooding seasons, April, November to December were major nectar flow seasons. March to April and November to December were major honey flow seasons being the first for high land and mid land areas and the later for lowland areas whose major botanical origin was Schefflera abyssinica and Guizetia scabra respectively. However, in some areas with better forest covers, Manilkara butij become a major honey source plant. Whereas, January, June to July, March (in low lands) were considered as minor/mini harvesting seasons whose major botanical origin was Vernonia species, Croton macrostachyus and Combritum species respectively. It was noted that there was a significant correlation among brood area, adult population, pollen store and nectar stores at p<0.01.

A brief review of Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallowtree) in the southern United States, emphasizing pollinator impacts and classical biological control

Throughout history a great many plant species have been purposefully transported to new areas around the globe. Horticulture, the promise of new sources of plant material for industry, forage, food, and stabilization of soil are only a few of the motives for the early transcontinental exchange of plants. Many introductions have been beneficial or benign, however, some plants introduced into new areas are now considered invasive and detrimentally impact the environment. Chinese tallowtree [Triadica sebifera (L.) Small] (Euphorbiaceae) is an excellent example of the best intentions leading to unanticipated negative effects many decades later. Native to eastern Asia and now naturalized and widespread in many tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas in the world, Chinese tallowtree has proven to be one of the worst woody invasive plants. It is known for shading out native vegetation, capable of dominating areas following disturbance or even invading previously diverse undisturbed habitats. It is prevalent in the southern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast. Investigations into classical biological control of Chinese tallowtree have yielded at least two promising candidates but have raised objections among beekeepers and beekeeping organizations who prize the quality honey produced from an abundant spring nectar flow. In this review we discuss Chinese tallowtree’s invasive characteristics, detrimental effects, potential use as a biomass crop, and demonstrated or potential direct and indirect effects on native and non-native pollinators. We review the current state of identification and screening of biological control agents. Four research questions are presented which are designed to fill gaps in our knowledge of Chinese tallowtree and pollinators. We conclude that classical biological control efforts to reduce Chinese tallowtree populations are justified and, if successful, will likely improve habitat for native plants and native and exotic pollinators in restored areas.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE METHOD TO IDENTIFY HONEY ADULTERATION

The new methods for identification of honey adulteration is presented in the article. The method differs in reliability, speed and ease of application. There have been described the methods for evaluation of honey naturalness implemented in laboratories of veterinary and sanitary examination with their shortcomings. The method to identify honey adulteration has been developed, using the honey of different botanical origin (acacia, sunflower, rapeseed, fruticous, espartes, nectar flow, alpine, buckwheat, polyfloral). In total we used 72 samples of honey and conducted 162 laboratory researches. The diastatic number of honey was defined in accordance with All-Union Standard 19792-2001. The composition of artificial honey included sugar syrup and artificially inverted sugar

Bee honey color variation throughout the year in Hejotitán, Jalisco, México.

Bee honey is a highly valued food whose international marketing is controlled by quality standards that are based on its physicochemical properties. One of them is color, which does not reflect a high or low quality, but rather the preferences of certain consumer markets. Color in honey is mostly determined by its floral sources that constantly change throughout the year. This study was intended to record color variations of the honey collected by Apis mellifera. For this purpose, honey was sampled from three selected hives, in an apiary in the town of Huejotitan, state of Jalisco, in western Mexico, on a monthly basis for a year. Color was measured according to the Pfund scale. Humidity was also measured since fermentation due to excessive moisture could spoil the samples. Two additional samples were collected, as well, from the bulk of honey at the time of the harvests, directly from the extractor: one from the spring harvest in May 2012, and the other from the fall harvest in December 2012. A total of 23 samples were obtained from December 2011 to December 2012. Color ranged from 0 mm Pfund (water white) to 85 mm Pfund (light amber) and humidity from 17% to 24%. It was discovered that the samples collected during the peak of the nectar flow, October - November, were contrastingly whiter than the rest. Although requiring more work, since consumers prefer clearer honeys, it is concluded that honey harvested at intervals during the high flow in the hives, with careful consideration of the moisture and making sure to keep honeys from different hives, apiaries and producers separate, a wider variety of honeys would be obtained, with different shades of color and different properties, better targeting the more specialized and demanding markets of today.

Antioxidant Activity as Biomarker of Honey Variety

Honey variety is commonly defined by beekeepers based on nectar flow availability and the only laboratory method to provide verification is the melissopalynological analysis. Therefore, a quick and simple method for accurate assessment of honey variety is still being researched. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of honey as an indicator of variety through the use of multivariate statistical analysis. Materials for the study consisted of 90 samples of varietal Polish honeys (rape-12, tilia-10, goldenrod-11, dandelion-5, buckwheat-6, multifloral-17, nectar-honeydew-8 and coniferous honeydew-16 and leafy honeydew-5) obtained directly from apiaries. Honeys were investigated in aspect of antioxidant capacity by photochemiluminescence (PCL) methods using standard ACW and ACL kits. As the reference FRAP and DPPH methods were used. The total phenolics content (TPC) was determined through the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The strongest antioxidant activity was found for buckwheat, while the weakest was found for rape honeys regardless of the used method. Results of the used methods were positively correlated (r = 0.42 to 0.94). Analysis conducted by PCL method confirmed that the minor fraction of honey antioxidants exhibits hydrophobic properties. Clear separation of honey varieties using PCA and Clustering method indicate that antioxidant activity can be a useful parameter for determining the botanical origin of honey.

Phenology of Migration and Decline in Colony Numbers and Crop Hosts of Giant Honeybee (Apis dorsata F.) in Semiarid Environment of Northwest India

The colonies of the giant honeybee (Apis dorsata) immigrate in the semiarid environment of Northwest India in October-November with the onset of flowering on pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)/toria (Brassica campestris var. toria), stay here during the rich pollen and nectar flow period from December to mid-May, and emigrate in late May/early June when floral dearth is witnessed. This honeybee was free from any conspicuous viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases and also did not have any serious predators and enemies. However, about 20 percent of the old colonies were infested with Tropilaelaps clareae and 100 percent of the old colonies with Galleria mellonella; none of the swarm colonies had these pests. While the migration schedule of this honeybee remained similar year after year, the number of colonies immigrating in this region declined markedly over the years; the number in 2012 was even less than half of that recorded in 1984. During its stay in this region, this honeybee acted as an important pollinator of more than 30 crop plants of this region. The causes of seasonal migration and decline in the number of colonies of this honeybee and its importance in crop pollination have been discussed.

Сравнительная характеристика противоварроатозной эффективности растительных акарицидов в различные периоды года

Проведено аналіз противарроатозноп ефективності рослинних акарицидів (порошок трави полину гіркого, порошок листя евкаліпта, дим кореня хріну) при оброб-ці бджолиних сімей перед головним медозбором (літо) і перед формуванням зимового клубу (осінь). Акарицидні обробки з використанням рослинних препаратів на ос-нові трави полину гіркого, листя евкаліпта й кореня хріну низькоефективні за осінньоп обробки проти вар-роатозноп інвазії. Порошок трави полину гіркого –ефективний екологічно чистий засіб для боротьби з варроатозом перед головним медозбором. Порошок листя евкаліпта має 55,94±10,21 % ефективність за обробки бджолиних сімей перед головним медозбором. Корінь хріну низькоефективний для боротьби з варроа-тозною інвазією. The analysis of antivarroatosic efficiency of herbal acaricides (powder of wormwood bitter grass, powder of eucalyptus leaves, smoke of horse-radish root) is conducted in the processing of bee families before the main nectar flow (summer) and before forming of winter club (autumn). Acaricidal processing with the use of vegetable preparations on the basis of wormwood bitter grass, eucalyptus leaves and horse-radish root is low effective at autumn treatment against a varroa invasion. Powder of wormwood bitter grass is an effective environmentally clean mean for a fight with varroatosis before the main сollection of honey. Powder of eucalyptus leaves possesses 55,94±10,21 % by efficiency in the processing of bee families before main сollection of honey. Horse-radish root is low effective for a fight against a varroatosis invasion.