Publications by authors named "F Sgolastra"

Bees are crucial for food security and biodiversity. However, managed bees are increasingly considered drivers of wild bee declines, leading to stakeholder conflicts and restrictive policies. We propose avenues to reconcile wild and managed bee proponents and point out knowledge gaps that hinder the development of evidence-based policies.

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Fungicides may interact synergistically with insecticides. However, our understanding of the impacts of sublethal insecticide-fungicide combinations on solitary bees is mostly restricted to laboratory studies, providing no information about potential consequences on behavior and reproductive success. We analyzed the effects of a fungicide application, alone and in combination with sublethal levels of an insecticide, on the nesting behavior and reproductive output of the solitary bee Osmia cornuta.

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Pollinators are essential for crop productivity. Yet, in agricultural areas, they may be threatened by pesticide exposure. Current pesticide risk assessments predominantly focus on honey bees, with a lack of standardized protocols for solitary bees.

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Article Synopsis
  • Bees face numerous threats, including pathogens like Nosema ceranae, pesticides such as flupyradifurone, and environmental microplastics, which can harm their health.
  • A study found that the combination of microplastics and flupyradifurone notably decreased honey bee survival rates and increased Nosema ceranae growth, particularly when both stressors were present.
  • Histological examinations indicated that exposure to these stressors caused structural changes in bee midguts, highlighting the detrimental impact of combined biotic (like pathogens) and abiotic (like pollutants) factors on bee health.
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Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is a Apis mellifera viral infectious disease, exhibiting dark and hairless abdomen in workers with tremors and ataxita. Clinical signs are also typically linked to adverse weather conditions and overcrowding in the hive. The disease occurs in spring but recently it has been observed cases increase and seasonality loss of the disease incidence.

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