Several factors, including environmental degradation, air pollution, intense urbanization, excessive agriculture, and climate change, endanger the well-being of animals and plants. One of the major issues with an increasingly negative impact is agricultural contamination with pesticides and antibiotics. Seed coatings with neonicotinoid insecticides used as a protective layer against pests are shown to exceed the permissible limits in most cases. Neonicotinoid compounds bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, therefore affecting the honey bees' brain. Heavy metals in higher concentrations are lethal for honey bees, and the residue in bee products might pose a threat to human health. Highly effective acaricides used to treat Varroa destructor infestations in honey bee colonies have negative effects on honey bee reproduction, olfaction, and honey production. Furthermore, amitraz and fluvalinate are mostly found in the highest amounts and lead to decreased honey production and reduced colony reproduction, along with decreased learning ability and memory. However, scientific studies have shown that honey bees act as a reliable bio-indicator of environmental pollution. In response to the growing demand for bee products, the effects of adulteration and improper storage conditions have gotten worse and represent a new risk factor. In light of the shifting global economy, it is important to analyze consumer expectations and adjust manufacturing accordingly. By ensuring the manufacture of high-quality, traceable products devoid of drug residues, consumers will be better protected from subsequent health problems. This review's objectives are based on the necessity of identifying the risks associated with honey bees and bee products.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33754-4 | DOI Listing |
J Agric Food Chem
January 2025
Plant Protection Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China.
Microplastics (MPs) and pesticides are identified as two environmental pollutants. In the present study, we showed evidence of toxic effects on honey bees from chronic oral exposure to food containing difenoconazole alone (Dif) and in a binary mixture with polystyrene (PS)-MPs (Dif + PS). We observed a disrupted gut microbial community structure in bees after difenoconazole exposure, and the gut microbiota structure richness increased at the phylum and genus levels in Dif + PS group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Psychol
January 2025
Sorbonne University, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Paris Seine, Neurosciences Paris Seine, Paris, France.
Transitive inference, the ability to establish hierarchical relationships between stimuli, is typically tested by training with premise pairs (e.g., A + B-, B + C-, C + D-, D + E-), which establishes a stimulus hierarchy (A > B > C > D > E).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 N2E5, Ireland.
The western honey bee Apis mellifera is the world's most important managed pollinator. However, globally honey bees have been facing increasing colony losses due to a combination of stress factors. Foremost among these is the invasive mite Varroa destructor, which is the pathogen most commonly linked to colony losses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Environ Manage
January 2025
Nectar Technologies Inc., 6250 Rue Hutchison #302, Montréal, QC, Canada. Electronic address:
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) play an important role in our agricultural systems. In recent years, beekeepers have reported high colony mortality rates in several parts of the world. Inadequate foraging landscapes are often cited as a major factor deterring honey bee colony health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Insect Biochem Physiol
January 2025
Molecular Physiology and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies are an ideal host to the invasive beetle Aethina tumida, providing a nutrient rich environment that is protected from the elements and facilitates beetle reproduction. Although various management techniques and chemical treatments for A. tumida have been developed, understanding the efficacy of these treatments and techniques is limited.
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