Pollination is an indispensable ecosystem service provided by many insects, especially by wild and managed bee species. Hence, reports on large scale honey bee colony losses and on population declines of many wild bees were alarming and resulted in increased awareness of the importance of bee health and increased interest in bee pathogens. To serve this interest, this review will give a comprehensive overview on bacterial bee pathogens by covering not only the famous pathogens (Paenibacillus larvae, Melissococcus plutonius), but also the orphan pathogens which have largely been neglected by the scientific community so far (spiroplasmas) and the pathogens which were only recently discovered as being pathogenic to bees (Serratia marcescens, Lysinibacillus sphaericus).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.008 | DOI Listing |
Parasit Vectors
January 2025
Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Background: The mite Varroa destructor is the most serious pest of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) and a major factor in the global decline of colonies. Traditional control methods, such as chemical pesticides, although quick and temporarily effective, leave residues in hive products, harming bees and operators' health, while promoting pathogen resistance and spread. As a sustainable alternative, RNA interference (RNAi) technology has shown great potential for honey bee pest control in laboratory assays, but evidence of effectiveness in the field has been lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, 2215 North 2200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, United States.
As the primary pollinator for many crops, honey bees (Apis mellifera) are critically important to food production and the agricultural economy. Adult mosquito control is often suspected by the public and commercial beekeepers to harm honey bees, creating conflicts between industries. To investigate this matter, a two-year field study was conducted on vegetated wetlands in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
January 2025
Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
Bumblebees, the most important wild pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems, are declining worldwide. The global decline of bumblebees may threaten biodiversity, pollination services, and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Several factors, including pesticide usage, climate change, habitat loss, and species invasion, have been documented in the decline of bumblebee species, but recent studies have revealed the dominating role of pathogens and parasites over any of these causes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
January 2025
Laboratory of Analysis of Natural Compounds, Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
Hemolymph enables communication between organs in insects and ensures necessary coordination and homeostasis. Its composition can provide important information about the physiological state of an insect and can have diagnostic significance, which might be particularly important in the case of harmful insects subjected to biological control. Linnaeus 1758 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a global pest to honey bee colonies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
January 2025
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy.
Beekeeping is a crucial agricultural practice that significantly enhances environmental health and food production through effective pollination by honey bees. However, honey bees face numerous threats, including exotic parasites, large-scale transportation, and common agricultural practices that may increase the risk of parasite and pathogen transmission. A major threat is the mite, which feeds on honey bee fat bodies and transmits viruses, leading to significant colony losses.
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