The research aimed to evaluate the effect of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae on Africanized Apis mellifera L. 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae). The application methods of entomopathogens suspensions were: 1) sprayed on eucalyptus leaves; 2) sprayed directly onto workers honey bees; and 3) incorporated in a candy paste. Sterilized distilled water that was offered to bees was used as a control

The present work aimed to evaluate the biochemical, physicochemical and melissopalynological characteristics of two honey types obtained from the same production period (a light one and a dark one) and to apply them in the fermentative process of mead by three yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Montrachet, Saccharomyces bayanus Premier Blanc and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Safbrew T-58), incubated at 30 °C

The European dark honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) is today a rare subspecies across the former range of northern Europe where it has largely been replaced by hybrid bees such as the popular “Buckfast,” involving, but not limited to, the Italian subspecies (Apis mellifera ligustica). Here, we report the presence of native dark bees in advertisements since the later half of the 19th century and

Propolis is a resinous product collected by honey bees from plant-derived materials, with high content of polyphenols associated to various bioactivities. In this study, a powerful separation and identification method of polyphenol compounds from Chinese propolis samples were investigated using off-line two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography (2D-RPLC/RPLC) in combination with Q-TOF-MS

In the field of agriculture, neonicotinoids are used for seed dressing as well as for spraying. They are systemic in nature and are highly efficient in controlling sucking insect pests. But nowadays, the reduction in the count of pollinators is a major concern and this new class of insecticides is being criticized for being the main cause of this destruction. Neonicotinoids affect the nicotinic acetylcholine

This study compared the nutraceutical potential of Apis mellifera and Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides honeys from the semiarid region of Bahia, Brazil, using microbiological, melissopalynological, and physicochemical techniques. Total phenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant activity were also determined. All samples had good microbiological quality and safety with an absence of coliforms, Escherichia

Bee pollen is a favorable microhabitat for many microorganisms and its dissemination via commercialization must be of important consideration. Here the data presented describe the characterization of bacteria and fungi community structure in seven commercial bee pollen samples from Europe, Mexico, and Chile, obtained from a commercial supplier, which were determined by amplicon-rRNA and ITS analysis

An aggregation of the oil-collecting bee Epicharis (Triepicharis) analis Lepeletier was studied at the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The nesting area occupied 609 m2 of mostly sandy flat soil. The nest architecture was relatively simple, with a main tunnel of approximately 45 cm in depth with two to five lateral tunnels ending in a single brood cell. The entrance remained open, but not

The high infection of adult honey bees with Nosema spores is known as nosemosis and can destroy bee colonies. In a previous study, we have reported the anti-nosemosis effect of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Artemisia dubia, Aster scaber, and A. dubia + A. scaber. In the current study, we isolated five phenolic compounds [chlorogenic acid, 3,4-dicaffaeoylquinic acid(3,4-DCQA), 3,5-dicaffaeoylquinic

The socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on society have yet to be truly revealed; there is no doubt that the pandemic has severely affected the daily lives of most of humanity. It is to be expected that the research activities of scientists could be impacted to varying degrees, but no data exist on how COVID-19 has affected research specifically. Here, we show that the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Propolis has been used in ethnobotany and traditional practices and is currently considered a source of phytotherapeutics. The aim of this study was to develop an antibiotic and antioxidant hydrogel containing Argentine propolis extract and evaluate its stability for one year in different conditions. A fingerprint by HPLC-DAD of propolis extract showed the presence of caffeic, coumaric, ferulic and

This article presents managed honey bee colony loss rates over winter 2018/19 resulting from using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire in 35 countries (31 in Europe). In total, 28,629 beekeepers supplying valid loss data wintered 738,233 colonies, and reported 29,912 (4.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0–4.1%) colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 79,146 (10.7%, 95% CI 10.5–10.9%) dead colonies

Most Varroa induced colony losses occur during the autumn or winter season as a consequence of an elevated Varroa infestation level and an insufficient health status of the adult bees. Even with an initial low Varroa infestation in early spring, critical mite and virus infection levels can be reached before winter if colonies continuously rear brood throughout the whole season. To overcome this challenge

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from the aromatic plants Artemisia annua, Artemisia verlotiorum, Cinnamomum verum, and Citrus reticulata were investigated as repellents against the honey bees parasitic mite Varroa destructor. In laboratory tests, all EOs except C. reticulata exerted significant repellent activity against the mite after 24 h exposure. C. verumwas the most effective EO against V. destructor

The aim of this study was to develop mixtures of bee bread and pollen with linseed oil, sea buckthorn oil, royal jelly, and algae Spirulina (Spirulina platesnis) and to determine the impact of vegetable oils on invertase and glucose oxidase activity, free acidity and the influence of storage conditions on enzyme activity in the tested products. The influence of storage conditions and duration was determined

Small hive beetles (SHB, Aethina tumida Murray, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) are parasites of social bee colonies endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and have become an invasive species. Even though the global spread of SHB seems inevitable, the origin of novel introductions and their impact on new host populations need to be investigated to foster mitigation. Here, we report a case of SHBs from China and use

Being part of the Wallacea region, Sulawesi has many endemic fauna, including five species of stingless bees. However, their morphology, nest structure, and molecular characteristics have not been documented fully. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the morphology, nest structure, and molecular characteristics of stingless bees in South and West Sulawesi. Samples were collected from seven sampling

The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical properties, bioactive substance content, and microbiological quality of sixty different honey samples collected from twelve different regions of Bayburt, Turkey. The samples were analyzed for their sugar, moisture, total phenolic, total flavonoid contents, and water activity, conductivity, pH values and colour, antiradical activity, and DSC

Honey bees have a sting which allows them to inject venomous substances into the body of an opponent or attacker. As the sting originates from a modified ovipositor, it only occurs in the female insect, and this is a defining feature of the bee species that belong to a subclade of the Hymenoptera called Aculeata. There is considerable interest in bee venom research, primarily because of an important

Pollen collected by stingless bee is stored and packed in honey pots following the addition of various enzymes and nectar, or honey which contains microorganisms to undergo lactic acid fermentation to produce bee bread. Naturally fermented foods are known to contain probiotic bacteria. Thus, the aim of this study was to isolate probiotic bacteria from bee bread and characterize the probiotic potential

The socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on society have yet to be truly revealed; there is no doubt that the pandemic has severely affected the daily lives of most of humanity. It is to be expected that the research activities of scientists could be impacted to varying degrees, but no data exist on how COVID-19 has affected research specifically. Here, we show that the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

This article presents managed honey bee colony loss rates over winter 2018/19 resulting from using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire in 35 countries (31 in Europe). In total, 28,629 beekeepers supplying valid loss data wintered 738,233 colonies, and reported 29,912 (4.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0–4.1%) colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 79,146 (10.7%, 95% CI 10.5–10.9%) dead colonies

Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811 is of economic importance for local beekeepers, besides its relevance in the pollination of native plant species of the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Currently, data on the use of floral resources by Meliponini colonies are scarce, particularly in urban environments. We evaluated the botanical origin, the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of pollen

Honey bees have been an important area of research and study going back at least to the days of Aristotle in the third century B.C. The amount and breadth of this research have been steadily increasing over time, especially during the modern age with the growing importance of honey bees to our society in agriculture, economics, food, medicine, and even computing technology. Even for those familiar

Propolis is a honey bee product containing resin derived from plants. It has been shown that propolis protects beehives against infections and enhances their immunity. The honey bee favorite source of resin for propolis production in southeast Brazil is Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae), a species not adapted to grow inside forests. Colonies of Africanized honey bees were placed in a clearing

(2020). Editorial. Journal of Apicultural Research: Vol. 59, No. 4, pp. 331-331.

Pesticides are considered as the most important factors of pollinators’ decline. Imidacloprid (IMD), belonging to Neonicotinoids class, is widely used as a powerful insecticide but generating important negative effects on honey bees. The current study investigated the direct effect of IMD on bee spermatozoa. The experimental design consisted of in vitro co-incubation of bee gametes with three different

Beeswax samples of different origins were evaluated for their authenticity by infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) method was used for the genuineness assessment and the melting process was examined using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. Eight suspicious beeswax samples delivered by local beekeepers were examined. As reference

This work aimed to compare the measurements, developmental length, and weight of eggs laid by colony queens naturally mated halfqueens and laying workers of the Egyptian honey bee Apis mellifera lamarckii. The dry weight of workers emerged from the queen and halfqueen eggs were also compared. The eggs of laying workers were significantly shorter, slimmer, and lighter than the eggs of the other two

A cohort of 183 worker honey bees was used to estimate the effect of the own vs. a foreign colony odor on their olfactory and thermal preferences and metabolic rate. Bees showed a marked preference toward their colony odor and a distinct aversion to the foreign colony odor. Both the preference and aversion were limited to night hours. In contrast, the metabolic rate of bees was affected by the odors

(2020). Correction. Journal of Apicultural Research: Vol. 59, No. 4, pp. 730-730.

Mead or honey wine is an alcoholic beverage traditionally produced by the fermentation of a mixture of honey and water. Mead fermentation faces several problems that include sluggish and stuck fermentations, mainly caused by nutrient disequilibrium. In this context, the present study aimed at optimizing the mead fermentation process based on three nutritional factors: nitrogen, minerals, and vitamins

Temporal polyethism is based on physiological differences related to the honey bee activities into the colony, suggesting a different requirement of antioxidant activity in each honey bee development stage. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), the catalase and the glutathione S transferase (GST) activities were investigated in ventriculus, thorax and wings of pupae with dark brown eyes newly emerged, nurse

The ectoparasitic mite Tropilaelaps clareae is an important honey bee pest in Asia. No survey on its presence on Apis cerana colonies have been performed in Himachal Pradesh state of India. In the present investigation, we observed the presence of T. clareae in brood of A. cerana colonies during the period of one year. T. clareae was found during the brooding period in spring and autumn, albeit generally

Quercus frainetto honeydew honey production is characteristic of the geographical region of Požega valley, Croatia. This honeydew honey is produced in a specific way, from sweet fruit sap formed at the place where green acorns were discarded, without the mediation of plant sucking insects. The aim of this study was to determine physicochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity, multielement profile

The dwarf honey bee (Apis florea Fabricius) is one of the most important pollinator species of tropical and arid regions of Iran and other countries. Considering the importance of dwarf honey bee as an important pollinator in Iran, the current study was carried out to the model spatial distribution of dwarf honey bee and to assess the effect of environmental factors on this species. A potential distribution

This study assessed the effects of different protein levels on the development of the mandibular gland (MG) in six-day-old worker bees (Apis mellifera) during the dearth period. Twenty colonies were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets containing 0%, 23%, 25%, or 27% crude protein (CP), with five replicates each. The experimental diets were composed of feed meal and honey sirup. Each

It is generally known that beeswax is falsified, and adulterated waxes are increasingly appearing in markets. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy techniques were used to assess changes in the composition of n-alkanes, fatty acids, monoesters, methyl esters, hydroxy esters, and carboxylic acids caused by the adulteration of beeswax by paraffin

Information on plants providing provisions (nectar and/or pollen) and nesting material for Megachile bees is fundamental for their conservation and habitat management to obtain optimal pollination services. Considering insufficient work reporting on these aspects in north India, studies were carried out to investigate the interactions between the plant species and the Megachile bees, through observing

In this study the effects of inorganic iron (Fe) supplementation on the morphology of mandibular glands in Apis mellifera were investigated. We randomly assigned 12 beehives to four treatment groups (with three hives in each group), as follows: Fe0 (no Fe supplementation), and Fe25, Fe50, and Fe100 (supplemented with 25, 50, and 100 ppm Fe, respectively). Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (containing 33

Propolis has attracted commercial interest as a good source of flavonoids and terpenes. This study applied a two-step sequential extraction process, consisting of a super/subcritical extraction step and an ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UAEE) step to raw propolis. The yields of propolis extracts and the extraction rates of flavonoids and terpenes have been used to evaluate the different extraction

The objective of the present study is to use discriminant analysis to distinguish three types of floral honey from each other and from sugar-feeding honey by parameters that can be determined easily in routine honey control. The characterization of three types of floral (citrus, clover, cotton) and sugar-feeding honey was carried out based on their quality parameters [pH, glucose, fructose, sucrose

In beekeeping, the knowledge of nutrition must be improved to maximize its genetic potential to enhance productivity, especially in times of food shortages. This study aimed at studying the influence of protein supplements on the development of Melipona rufiventris bee colonies. About 15 colonies of M. rufiventris were used. They were divided into three treatments with five replicates in a 3 × 3 factorial

This study estimates the diversity, abundance and floral associations of native wild bees present in a nature reserve in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The study included monthly sampling from September to April for two consecutive seasons (2011–2013). Bees were collected using entomological nets and pan traps along transects in the reserve area. A total of 1102 specimens belonging to 87 wild bee species/morphospecies

It has been reported that stingless bees of the genus Trigona are regular visitors to the Jatropha curcas bioenergetic plant, physic nut. These bees use their mandibular system to extract cellulose and resin from the stem, materials necessary for the construction of nests. The objective of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of begomovirus (BV) in populations of Trigonas visitors of J. curcas

This is the first assay that describes the isolation and identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) from stored honey of the honey bee Apis mellifera meda. Honey samples were collected from stored honey of A. m. meda at the apiary of the Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, and were stored one year at room temperature, before LAB were isolated from stored honey using selective media. The isolates

Honey as a delicious food; it is especially chosen for old, sick and pregnant people. The quality of honey is the most predetermining issue in price determination. It is also a centre of attention that consumers value in marketing. The present review was focused on parameters for honey quality: moisture contents, reducing sugars (glucose and fructose), sucrose, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase

Anthropogenic activities are accelerating the loss of pollinators and the services they provide. Studies have suggested that forests near agricultural farms could serve as pollinator reservoirs. To explore this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between distance to the forest and the number of floral visitors in seven agricultural farms in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in southern India. We used

(2020). Genetic structure of the Africanized Apis mellifera L. in a river valley in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Journal of Apicultural Research: Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 1017-1026.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is both a commonly used method and a promising tool for investigating the foraging activities of bees. To prevent loss of electronic tags from individual bees, they must be immobilized long enough for adhesives to dry, but because narcosis can negatively affect bee health and behaviors, a very brief narcosis period is recommended. The present study assessed the

(2020). Purification and characteristics of individual major royal jelly protein 1–3. Journal of Apicultural Research: Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 1049-1060.

This study seeks to evaluate the effects of Iranian green propolis (IGP) and Leishmania heat shock protein (HSP) 70 as adjuvants, each combined with Leishmania glycoprotein (Gp) 63 as an antigen, on the immune responses in Balb/c mice, in order to develop a new vaccine formulation against Leishmania parasites. Forty-four Balb/c mice were divided into six groups, each inoculated subcutaneously with

Greater wax moths (GWM, Galleria mellonella L.) are important pests of Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. The larval moths feed on wax combs, cast honey bee larval skins, pollen, and some honey, leaving behind a destroyed comb containing moth silk and frass. We used standard protocols to determine how GWM larva consumption of wax comb impacts various food utilization and larval growth

Honey is a natural product which is highly consumed due to its health benefits. Monofloral honeys which are produced mainly from the nectar of single plant species are known as high quality products and they have higher market price. Тhe development and improvement of novel techniques for honey botanical identification is widely discussed. Honey botanical identification is a subject to melissopalynological

Nutrition is important in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony decline. While the honey bee is incapable of converting dietary plant sterols to cholesterol, the sterol 24-methylenecholesterol has been previously shown to be selectively transferred from worker honey bees to developing brood in both laboratory and field studies. The importance of 24-methylenecholesterol to honey bee development and nutrition

The distribution of the honey bee lineages in North Lebanon and Akkar governorates was analyzed using the mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) test through the amplification of the COI-COII region by polymerase chain reaction followed by DraI enzyme restriction analysis. A total of 95 samples were collected from 32 different locations, in addition to two reference samples. MtDNA analysis showed that 72% of the

There are viral, fungal, bacterial and trypanosomal pathogens that negatively impact the individual and superorganismal health of the western honey bee. One fungal pathogen, Ascosphaera apis, affects larvae and is the etiological agent of the disease chalkbrood. A previous genome analysis of A. apis revealed that its genome encodes for RNA interference genes, similar to other fungi and eukaryotes.

Honey bee venom (HBV) is composed of an intricate mixture of polypeptides, enzymes, amines, lipids, and amino acids. The principal enzyme present in HBV is Phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The present investigation includes retrieval of amino acid sequence information, sequence analysis and physicochemical characterization of PLA2 protein sequences of three honey bee species viz., Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata

The purpose of this study was to compare the qualitative and quantitative changes of sperm viability of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera siciliana stored at a steady room temperature of 23 °C after manual collection. The characteristics of semen were evaluated within 3–4 h after its collection. The semen volume produced by each drone of A. m. siciliana averaged 0.92 ± 0.03 μL; the sperm

(2020). Influence of winter feeding on colony development and the antioxidant system of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Journal of Apicultural Research: Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 752-763.