Since the discovery that honey bee viruses play a role in colony decline, researchers have made major breakthroughs in understanding viral pathology and infection processes in honey bees. Work on virus transmission patterns and virus vectors, such as the mite , has prompted intense efforts to manage honey bee health. However, little is known about the occurrence of honey bee viruses in bee predators, such as vespids. In this study, we characterized the occurrence of 11 honey bee viruses in five vespid species and one wasp from four provinces in China and two vespid species from four locations in France. The results showed that all the species from China carried certain honey bee viruses, notably (AmFV), (DWV), and (IAPV); furthermore, in some vespid colonies, more than three different viruses were identified. In France, DWV was the most common virus; (SBV) and (BQCV) were observed in one and two samples, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of IAPV and BQCV sequences indicated that most of the IAPV sequences belonged to a single group, while the BQCV sequences belonged to several groups. Additionally, our study is the first to detect (LSV) in a hornet from China. Our findings can guide further research into the origin and transmission of honey bee viruses in Vespidae, a taxon of ecological, and potentially epidemiological, relevance.
Sociedad Latinoamericana de Investigación en Abejas (SoLatInA), Montevideo, Uruguay; Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales (CICA), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address:
Stingless bees (tribe Meliponini), comprising over 600 known species within the largest group of eusocial bees, play a critical role in ecosystem functioning through their pollination services. They contribute to the reproduction of numerous plant species, including many economically important crops such as cacao, coffee, and various fruits. Beyond their ecological significance, stingless bees hold cultural and economic importance for many native and rural communities, where they are managed for their honey, pollen, and propolis for nutritional and health purposes.
Stingless bee honey is a natural product consisting of sugars, organic acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Due to its healing properties, honey is often used in phytotherapy and for homemade syrups. The search for natural therapeutic alternatives has been an increasing trend in recent years, mainly due to the side effects of artificial drugs and increasing antibiotic resistance.
AbstractChanging climates are driving population declines in diverse animals worldwide. Winter conditions may play an important role in these declines but are often overlooked. Animals must not only survive winter but also preserve body condition, a key determinant of growing season success.
Varroa species, commonly known as the honey bee mites, poses a significant challenge to the worldwide beekeeping industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of haplotype variation on morphology of Varroa destructor. Forty-one apiaries across Bingol province (Türkiye) and its districts were visited using random sampling to examine 2440 honey bee colonies.
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. Electronic address:
Health and population status of bees is negatively affected by anthropogenic stressors, many of which co-occur in agricultural settings. While pollinator habitat (often involving plantings of native forbs) holds promise to benefit both managed and wild bees, important issues remain unresolved. These include whether conventional, broad-spectrum insecticide use negates these benefits and how non-native, managed honey bees affect wild bees in these areas.
