| effects of bacillus thuringiensis strains virulent to varroa destructor on larvae and adults of apis mellifera. | the sublethal effects of two strains of bacillus thuringiensis, which were virulent in vitro to varroa destructor, were measured on apis mellifera. the effects of five concentrations of total protein (1, 5, 25, 50 and 100μg/ml) from the ea3 and ea26.1 strains on larval and adult honey bees were evaluated for two and seven days under laboratory conditions. based on the concentrations evaluated, total protein from the two strains did not affect the development of larvae, the syrup consumption, loc ... | 2017 | 28388479 |
| biophysical characterization of the varroa destructor nav1 sodium channel and its affinity for τ-fluvalinate insecticide. | the decline of the western honeybee (apis mellifera) has been reported to be due to parasitism by varroa destructor mites and to colony collapse disorder in which these mites may be involved. in-hive chemicals such as τ-fluvalinate are being used to control vdestructor populations. this approach may lead to the chronic exposure of bees to this liposoluble chemical, which tends to accumulate in hives. we cloned a variant of the v. destructor sodium channel (vdnav1) and studied its biophysical cha ... | 2017 | 28356346 |
| population growth of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in colonies of russian and unselected honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) stocks as related to numbers of foragers with mites. | varroa (varroa destructor anderson and trueman) is an external parasite of honey bees (apis mellifera l.) and a leading cause of colony losses worldwide. varroa populations can be controlled with miticides, but mite-resistant stocks such as the russian honey bee (rhb) also are available. russian honey bee and other mite-resistant stocks limit varroa population growth by affecting factors that contribute to mite reproduction. however, mite population growth is not entirely due to reproduction. nu ... | 2017 | 28334279 |
| ecology, life history, and management of tropilaelaps mites. | parasitic mites are the major threat to the western honey bee, apis mellifera l. for much of the world, varroa destructor anderson & trueman single-handedly inflicts unsurmountable problems to a. mellifera beekeeping. however, a. mellifera in asia is also faced with another genus of destructive parasitic mite, tropilaelaps. the life history of these two parasitic mites is very similar, and both have the same food requirements (i.e., hemolymph of developing brood). hence, parasitism by tropilaela ... | 2017 | 28334185 |
| seasonal cycle of inbreeding and recombination of the parasitic mite varroa destructor in honeybee colonies and its implications for the selection of acaricide resistance. | varroa destructor is the most devastating parasite of the western honeybee, apis mellifera. in the light of the arm race opposing the host and its parasite, the population dynamics and genetic diversity of these organisms are key parameters. however, the life cycle of v. destructor is characterized by extreme inbreeding due to full sibling mating in the host brood cells. we here present an equation reflecting the evolution of inbreeding in such a clonal system, and compare our predictions with e ... | 2017 | 28216419 |
| performance of honey bee colonies under a long-lasting dietary exposure to sublethal concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid. | substantial honey bee colony losses have occurred periodically in the last decades. the drivers for these losses are not fully understood. the influence of pests and pathogens are beyond dispute, but in addition, chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of pesticides has been suggested to affect the performance of honey bee colonies. this study aims to elucidate the potential effects of a chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations (one realistic worst-case concentration) of the neonicotino ... | 2017 | 28168846 |
| differential gene expression associated with honey bee grooming behavior in response to varroa mites. | honey bee (apis mellifera) grooming behavior is an important mechanism of resistance against the parasitic mite varroa destructor. this research was conducted to study associations between grooming behavior and the expression of selected immune, neural, detoxification, developmental and health-related genes. individual bees tested in a laboratory assay for various levels of grooming behavior in response to v. destructor were also analyzed for gene expression. intense groomers (ig) were most effi ... | 2017 | 28154949 |
| environment or beekeeping management: what explains better the prevalence of honey bee colonies with high levels of varroa destructor? | varroa destructor is one of the major threats to honey bee colonies. the mite abundance in the colonies is affected by environmental conditions as well as by beekeeping management. the aim of this study was to recognize the main drivers associated with autumn v. destructor infestation in honey bee colonies when different regions from argentina are compared. a total of 361 colonies distributed in five argentinean eco-regions were examined to evaluate varroa mite infestation rate during autumn and ... | 2017 | 28095337 |
| influence of varroa mite (varroa destructor) management practices on insecticide sensitivity in the honey bee (apis mellifera). | since varroa mites may cause devastating losses of honey bees through direct feeding, transmitting diseases, and increasing pathogen susceptibility, chemical and mechanical practices commonly are used to reduce mite infestation. while miticide applications are typically the most consistent and efficacious varroa mite management method, miticide-induced insecticide synergism in honey bees, and the evolution of resistance in varroa mites are reasonable concerns. we treated colonies with the mitici ... | 2017 | 28085045 |
| effect of varroa destructor, wounding and varroa homogenate on gene expression in brood and adult honey bees. | honey bee (apis mellifera) gene expression related to immunity for hymenoptaecin (amhym) and defensin-1 (amdef-1), longevity for vitellogenin (amvit2) and stem cell proliferation for poly u binding factor 68 kda (ampuf68) was compared following varroa destructor parasitism, buffer injection and injection of v. destructor compounds in its homogenate. in adults, v. destructor parasitism decreased expression of all four genes, while buffer injection decreased expression of amhym, ampuf68 and amvit2 ... | 2017 | 28081188 |
| evaluation of oxalic acid treatments against the mite varroa destructor and secondary effects on honey bees apis mellifera. | the varroa destructor varroasis is a very serious parasite of honeybee apis mellifera. the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of varroa treatment using organic acid (oxalic acid) in algeria identifying its side effects on bee colonies. | 2016 | 28032102 |
| acute exposure to worst-case concentrations of amitraz does not affect honey bee learning, short-term memory, or hemolymph octopamine levels. | amitraz, an acaricide used to treat varroa destructor anderson & trueman, is one of the most commonly detected pesticides in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) hives. acaricides sometimes negatively impact honey bee cognition, but potential effects of amitraz on honey bee learning have been rarely studied. we topically exposed foragers to 95th percentile field-relevant levels of amitraz and, 24 h later, tested the ability of bees to associate a sucrose reward with a conditioned odor (learning respons ... | 2017 | 28028168 |
| varroa destructor mites can nimbly climb from flowers onto foraging honey bees. | varroa destructor, the introduced parasite of european honey bees associated with massive colony deaths, spreads readily through populations of honey bee colonies, both managed colonies living crowded together in apiaries and wild colonies living widely dispersed in natural settings. mites are hypothesized to spread between most managed colonies via phoretically riding forager bees when they engage in robbing colonies or they drift between hives. however, widely spaced wild colonies show varroa ... | 2016 | 27942015 |
| multiresidue method for trace pesticide analysis in honeybee wax comb by gc-qqq-ms. | the aim of this analytical study is to develop an improved multi-residue methodology of high sensitivity and expanded scope for pesticide residue analysis in honeybee wax combs. the method was validated for 160 pesticide residues (including acaricides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides) gas chromatography amenable and covering a wide variety of polarity and chemical structure. this method of analysis applied gas chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for the quanti ... | 2017 | 27886770 |
| fine scale population genetic structure of varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of the honey bee (apis mellifera). | varroa destructor is an obligate ectoparasitic mite and the most important biotic threat currently facing honey bees (apis mellifera). we used neutral microsatellites to analyze previously unreported fine scale population structure of v. destructor, a species characterized by extreme lack of genetic diversity owing to multiple bottleneck events, haplodiploidy, and primarily brother-sister matings. our results surprisingly indicate that detectable hierarchical genetic variation exists between api ... | 2016 | 27812229 |
| distance between honey bee apis mellifera colonies regulates populations of varroa destructor at a landscape scale. | inter-colony distance of apis mellifera significantly affects colony numbers of the parasitic mite varroa destructor. we set up 15 apiaries, each consisting of two colonies. each apiary pair was assigned an inter-colony distance of 0, 10, or 100 m. colonies were rendered nearly mite-free, then one colony in each pair was seeded with 300 female mites (mite-donor colony), while the other remained uninoculated (mite-recipient colony). after four months of monitoring, a whole model analysis showed t ... | 2016 | 27812228 |
| large-scale monitoring of effects of clothianidin-dressed oilseed rape seeds on pollinating insects in northern germany: effects on honey bees (apis mellifera). | possible effects of clothianidin seed-treated oilseed rape on honey bee colonies were investigated in a large-scale monitoring project in northern germany, where oilseed rape usually comprises 25-33 % of the arable land. for both reference and test sites, six study locations were selected and eight honey bee hives were placed at each location. at each site, three locations were directly adjacent to oilseed rape fields and three locations were situated 400 m away from the nearest oilseed rape fie ... | 2016 | 27644949 |
| synthesis of enantiopure alicyclic ethers and their activity on the chemosensory organ of the ectoparasite of honey bees, varroa destructor. | the preparation of enantiopure conformationally restricted alicyclic ethers and their inhibitory activities on the chemosensory organ of the varroa destructor, a parasite of honey bees, are reported in this article. we tested the effect of enantiopure ethers of cis-5-(2'-hydroxyethyl)cyclopent-2-en-1-ol on the varroa chemosensory organ by electrophysiology, for their ability to inhibit the responses to two honey bee-produced odors that are important for the mite to locate its host: nurse bee hea ... | 2016 | 27792333 |
| effects of varroa destructor on temperature and humidity conditions and expression of energy metabolism genes in infested honeybee colonies. | varroa destructor mites pose an increasing global threat to the apicultural industry and agricultural ecology; however, the issue of whether certain environmental factors reflect the level of mite infection is far from resolved. here, a wireless sensor network (wsn) system was used to examine how v. destructor, which has vital impacts on honeybee (apis mellifera) health and survival, affects the temperature and humidity of honeybee hives in a field experiment. this approach may facilitate early ... | 2016 | 27706787 |
| the glass is not yet half empty: agitation but not varroa treatment causes cognitive bias in honey bees. | honey bees (apis mellifera) are prone to judge an ambiguous stimulus negatively if they had been agitated through shaking which simulates a predator attack. such a cognitive bias has been suggested to reflect an internal emotional state analogous to humans who judge more pessimistically when they do not feel well. in order to test cognitive bias experimentally, an animal is conditioned to respond to two different stimuli, where one is punished while the other is rewarded. subsequently a third, a ... | 2017 | 27699501 |
| behavioral modulation of infestation by varroa destructor in bee colonies. implications for colony stability. | colony collapse disorder (ccd) has become a global problem for beekeepers and for the crops that depend on bee pollination. while many factors are known to increase the risk of colony collapse, the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor is considered to be the most serious one. although this mite is unlikely to cause the collapse of hives itself, it is the vector for many viral diseases which are among the likely causes for colony collapse disorder. the effects of v. destructor infestation differ ... | 2016 | 27583438 |
| key management practices to prevent high infestation levels of varroa destructor in honey bee colonies at the beginning of the honey yield season. | varroa destructor is considered one of the main threats to worldwide apiculture causing a variety of physiological effects at individual and colony level. also, varroa mites are often associated with several honey bee viruses presence. relatively low levels of varroa during the spring, at the beginning of the honey yield season, can have a significant economic impact on honey production and colony health. winter treatments against varroa and certain management practices may delay mite population ... | 2016 | 27544258 |
| local bumble bee decline linked to recovery of honey bees, drought effects on floral resources. | time series of abundances are critical for understanding how abiotic factors and species interactions affect population dynamics, but are rarely linked with experiments and also scarce for bee pollinators. this gap is important given concerns about declines in some bee species. i monitored honey bee (apis mellifera) and bumble bee (bombus spp.) foragers in coastal california from 1999, when feral a. mellifera populations were low due to varroa destructor, until 2014. apis mellifera increased sub ... | 2016 | 27539950 |
| viral epidemiology of the adult apis mellifera infested by the varroa destructor mite. | the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor has become one of the major worldwide threats for apiculture. varroa destructor attacks the honey bee apis mellifera weakening its host by sucking hemolymph. however, the damage to bee colonies is not strictly related to the parasitic action of the mite but it derives, above all, from its action as vector increasing the transmission of many viral diseases such as acute paralysis (abpv) and deformed wing viruses (dwv), that are considered among the main ca ... | 2016 | 27441276 |
| proteome analysis of the hemolymph, mushroom body, and antenna provides novel insight into honeybee resistance against varroa infestation. | varroa destructor has been identified as a major culprit responsible for the losses of millions of honeybee colonies. varroa sensitive hygiene (vsh) is a suite of behaviors from adult bees to suppress mite reproduction by uncapping and/or removing mite infested pupae from a sealed brood. despite the efforts to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of vsh, they remain largely unknown. we investigated the proteome of mushroom bodies (mbs) and antennae of adult bees with and without vsh from a stoc ... | 2016 | 27384112 |
| monoterpenoid-based preparations in beehives affect learning, memory, and gene expression in the bee brain. | bees are exposed in their environment to contaminants that can weaken the colony and contribute to bee declines. monoterpenoid-based preparations can be introduced into hives to control the parasitic mite varroa destructor. the long-term effects of monoterpenoids are poorly investigated. olfactory conditioning of the proboscis extension reflex (per) has been used to evaluate the impact of stressors on cognitive functions of the honeybee such as learning and memory. the authors tested the per to ... | 2017 | 27306119 |
| why do varroa mites prefer nurse bees? | the varroa mite, varroa destructor, is an acarine ecto-parasite on apis mellifera. it is the worst pest of apis mellifera, yet its reproductive biology on the host is not well understood. in particular, the significance of the phoretic stage, when mites feed on adult bees for a few days, is not clear. in addition, it is not clear whether the preference of mites for nurses observed in the laboratory also happens inside real colonies. we show that varroa mites prefer nurses over both newly emerged ... | 2016 | 27302644 |
| spermatozoa capacitation in female varroa destructor and its influence on the timing and success of female reproduction. | mating of varroa destructor takes place inside the sealed honey bee brood cell. during copulation, male mites transfer the spermatozoa into the genital openings of the females. before the fertilization of female germ cells, the transferred spermatozoa have to pass through a final maturation process inside the genital tract of the female, the so-called capacitation. we here describe for the first time the morphological changes and chronological sequence of spermatozoa capacitation within female v ... | 2016 | 27209572 |
| specific cues associated with honey bee social defence against varroa destructor infested brood. | social immunity forms an essential part of the defence repertoire of social insects. in response to infestation by the parasitic mite varroa destructor and its associated viruses, honey bees (apis mellifera l.) have developed a specific behaviour (varroa-sensitive hygiene, or vsh) that helps protect the colony from this parasite. brood cells heavily infested with mites are uncapped, the brood killed, and the cell contents removed. for this extreme sacrifice to be beneficial to the colony, the ta ... | 2016 | 27140530 |
| comparison of varroa destructor and worker honeybee microbiota within hives indicates shared bacteria. | the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor is a major pest of the honeybee apis mellifera. in a previous study, bacteria were found in the guts of mites collected from winter beehive debris and were identified using sanger sequencing of their 16s rrna genes. in this study, community comparison and diversity analyses were performed to examine the microbiota of honeybees and mites at the population level. the microbiota of the mites and honeybees in 26 colonies in seven apiaries in czechia was studi ... | 2016 | 27129319 |
| linking measures of colony and individual honey bee health to survival among apiaries exposed to varying agricultural land use. | we previously characterized and quantified the influence of land use on survival and productivity of colonies positioned in six apiaries and found that colonies in apiaries surrounded by more land in uncultivated forage experienced greater annual survival, and generally more honey production. here, detailed metrics of honey bee health were assessed over three years in colonies positioned in the same six apiaries. the colonies were located in north dakota during the summer months and were transpo ... | 2016 | 27027871 |
| disease dynamics of honeybees with varroa destructor as parasite and virus vector. | the worldwide decline in honeybee colonies during the past 50 years has often been linked to the spread of the parasitic mite varroa destructor and its interaction with certain honeybee viruses carried by varroa mites. in this paper, we propose a honeybee-mite-virus model that incorporates (1) parasitic interactions between honeybees and the varroa mites; (2) five virus transmission terms between honeybees and mites at different stages of varroa mites: from honeybees to honeybees, from adult hon ... | 2016 | 26968931 |
| how honey bee colonies survive in the wild: testing the importance of small nests and frequent swarming. | the ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor, and the viruses that it transmits, kill the colonies of european honey bees (apis mellifera) kept by beekeepers unless the bees are treated with miticides. nevertheless, there exist populations of wild colonies of european honey bees that are persisting without being treated with miticides. we hypothesized that the persistence of these wild colonies is due in part to their habits of nesting in small cavities and swarming frequently. we tested this hypot ... | 2016 | 26968000 |
| prolonged effects of in-hive monoterpenoids on the honey bee apis mellifera. | honey bees are exposed in their environment to contaminants but also to biological stressors such as varroa destructor that can weaken the colony. preparations containing monoterpenoids that are essential oil components, can be introduced into hives to control varroa. the long-term sublethal effects of monoterpenoids used as miticides have been poorly investigated. analysis of behavior of free-moving bees in the laboratory is useful to evaluate the impact of chemical stressors on their cognitive ... | 2016 | 26965704 |
| differential gene expression of two extreme honey bee (apis mellifera) colonies showing varroa tolerance and susceptibility. | varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of honey bees (apis mellifera), is the most serious pest threatening the apiculture industry. in our honey bee breeding programme, two honey bee colonies showing extreme phenotypes for varroa tolerance/resistance (s88) and susceptibility (g4) were identified by natural selection from a large gene pool over a 6-year period. to investigate potential defence mechanisms for honey bee tolerance to varroa infestation, we employed dna microarray and real time qu ... | 2016 | 26919127 |
| population growth of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in honey bee colonies is affected by the number of foragers with mites. | varroa mites are a serious pest of honey bees and the leading cause of colony losses. varroa have relatively low reproductive rates, so populations should not increase rapidly, but often they do. other factors might contribute to the growth of varroa populations including mite migration into colonies on foragers from other hives. we measured the proportion of foragers carrying mites on their bodies while entering and leaving hives, and determined its relationship to the growth of varroa populati ... | 2016 | 26910522 |
| comparison of tau-fluvalinate, acrinathrin, and amitraz effects on susceptible and resistant populations of varroa destructor in a vial test. | the parasitic mite varroa destructor is a major pest of the western honeybee, apis mellifera. the development of acaricide resistance in varroa populations is a global issue. discriminating concentrations of acaricides are widely used to detect pest resistance. two methods, using either glass vials or paraffin capsules, are used to screen for varroa resistance to various acaricides. we found the glass vial method to be useless for testing varroa resistance to acaridices, so we developed a polypr ... | 2016 | 26910521 |
| erratum to: differences in varroa destructor infestation rates of two indigenous subspecies of apis mellifera in the republic of south africa. | | 2016 | 26846365 |
| multi-residue method for the determination of pesticides and pesticide metabolites in honeybees by liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry--honeybee poisoning incidents. | a method for the determination of 200 pesticides and pesticide metabolites in honeybee samples has been developed and validated. almost 98% of compounds included in this method are approved to use within european union, as active substances of plant protection products or veterinary medicinal products used by beekeepers to control mites varroa destructor in hives. many significant metabolites, like metabolites of imidacloprid, thiacloprid, fipronil, methiocarb and amitraz, are also possible to d ... | 2016 | 26830634 |
| identification and gene-silencing of a putative odorant receptor transcription factor in varroa destructor: possible role in olfaction. | the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor is one of the major threats to apiculture. using a behavioural choice bioassay, we determined that phoretic mites were more successful in reaching a bee than reproductive mites, suggesting an energy trade-off between reproduction and host selection. we used both chemo-ecological and molecular strategies to identify the regulation of the olfactory machinery of varroa and its association with reproduction. we focused on transcription regulation. using prime ... | 2016 | 26801167 |
| factors influencing the prevalence and infestation levels of varroa destructor in honeybee colonies in two highland agro-ecological zones of uganda. | varroa mites are ecto-parasites of honeybees and are a threat to the beekeeping industry. we identified the haplotype of varroa mites and evaluated potential factors that influence their prevalence and infestation levels in the eastern and western highland agro-ecological zones of uganda. this was done by collecting samples of adult worker bees between december 2014 and september 2015 in two sampling moments. samples of bees were screened for varroa using the ethanol wash method and the mites we ... | 2016 | 26801158 |
| genome-wide association study of a varroa-specific defense behavior in honeybees (apis mellifera). | honey bees are exposed to many damaging pathogens and parasites. the most devastating is varroa destructor, which mainly affects the brood. a promising approach for preventing its spread is to breed varroa-resistant honey bees. one trait that has been shown to provide significant resistance against the varroa mite is hygienic behavior, which is a behavioral response of honeybee workers to brood diseases in general. here, we report the use of an affymetrix 44k snp array to analyze snps associated ... | 2016 | 26774061 |
| differences in varroa destructor infestation rates of two indigenous subspecies of apis mellifera in the republic of south africa. | varroa destructor anderson & trueman (varroa) is a damaging pest of the western honey bee, apis mellifera, in north america, europe, and asia. however, varroa infestations have not produced equivalent colony losses of african subspecies of honey bee throughout africa and parts of the americas. we surveyed the varroa infestation rates (number of varroa per 100 adult honey bees) in colonies of a. m. scutellata, a. m. capensis, and hybrids of the two subspecies throughout the republic of south afri ... | 2016 | 26704261 |
| honey bee colonies headed by hyperpolyandrous queens have improved brood rearing efficiency and lower infestation rates of parasitic varroa mites. | a honey bee queen mates on wing with an average of 12 males and stores their sperm to produce progeny of mixed paternity. the degree of a queen's polyandry is positively associated with measures of her colony's fitness, and observed distributions of mating number are evolutionary optima balancing risks of mating flights against benefits to the colony. effective mating numbers as high as 40 have been documented, begging the question of the upper bounds of this behavior that can be expected to con ... | 2015 | 26691845 |
| resistance rather than tolerance explains survival of savannah honeybees (apis mellifera scutellata) to infestation by the parasitic mite varroa destructor. | varroa destructor is considered the most damaging parasite affecting honeybees (apis mellifera l.). however, some honeybee populations such as the savannah honeybee (apis mellifera scutellata) can survive mite infestation without treatment. it is unclear if survival is due to resistance mechanisms decreasing parasite reproduction or to tolerance mechanisms decreasing the detrimental effects of mites on the host. this study investigates both aspects by quantifying the reproductive output of v. de ... | 2016 | 26690678 |
| ecology of varroa destructor, the major ectoparasite of the western honey bee, apis mellifera. | varroa destructor is the most important ectoparasite of apis mellifera. this review addresses the interactions between the varroa mite, its environment, and the honey bee host, mediated by an impressive number of cues and signals, including semiochemicals regulating crucial steps of the mite's life cycle. although mechanical stimuli, temperature, and humidity play an important role, chemical communication is the most important channel. kairomones are used at all stages of the mite's life cycle, ... | 2016 | 26667378 |
| interaction between varroa destructor and imidacloprid reduces flight capacity of honeybees. | current high losses of honeybees seriously threaten crop pollination. whereas parasite exposure is acknowledged as an important cause of these losses, the role of insecticides is controversial. parasites and neonicotinoid insecticides reduce homing success of foragers (e.g. by reduced orientation), but it is unknown whether they negatively affect flight capacity. we investigated how exposing colonies to the parasitic mite varroa destructor and the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid affect fl ... | 2015 | 26631559 |
| ultrastrucural study of bee louse varroa destructor anderson & trueman 2000 (acari: varroidae) with resistance models from apis mellifera l. | the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor is the most dangerous pest of honeybee egyptian race apis mellifera l., as it causes many losses in apiculture worldwide. adult female mites are flattened with a dome-shaped dorsal shield. the present sem study revealed that the flat ventral surface is composed of series of plates. there are 5 rows of small, chemoreceptor papillae posterior to the genito-ventro anal shield, and a unique respiratory structure (peritreme) is located laterally above coxa iii ... | 2015 | 26485856 |
| quantifying the establishment likelihood of invasive alien species introductions through ports with application to honeybees in australia. | the cost of an uncontrolled incursion of invasive alien species (ias) arising from undetected entry through ports can be substantial, and knowledge of port-specific risks is needed to help allocate limited surveillance resources. quantifying the establishment likelihood of such an incursion requires quantifying the ability of a species to enter, establish, and spread. estimation of the approach rate of ias into ports provides a measure of likelihood of entry. data on the approach rate of ias are ... | 2016 | 26482012 |
| influence of honey bee genotype and wintering method on wintering performance of varroa destructor (parasitiformes: varroidae)-infected honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies in a northern climate. | the objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a cooperative breeding program designed to enhance winter survival of honey bees (apis mellifera l.) when exposed to high levels of varroa (varroa destructor anderson and trueman) in outdoor-wintered and indoor-wintered colonies. half of the colonies from selected and unselected stocks were randomly assigned to be treated with late autumn oxalic acid treatment or to be left untreated. colonies were then randomly assigned to be winter ... | 2015 | 26470288 |
| a new stratified sampling procedure which decreases error estimation of varroa mite number on sticky boards. | a new procedure of stratified sampling is proposed in order to establish an accurate estimation of varroa destructor populations on sticky bottom boards of the hive. it is based on the spatial sampling theory that recommends using regular grid stratification in the case of spatially structured process. the distribution of varroa mites on sticky board being observed as spatially structured, we designed a sampling scheme based on a regular grid with circles centered on each grid element. this new ... | 2015 | 26470273 |
| new miticides for integrated pest management of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in honey bee colonies on the canadian prairies. | varroa destructor anderson and trueman 2000 (acari: varroidae) is an ectoparasitic mite of the honey bee, apis mellifera l. (hymenoptera: apidae). honey bee colonies require extensive management to prevent mortality caused by varroa mites and the viruses they vector. new miticides (thymovar and hopguard) to manage varroa mites were evaluated during the spring and fall treatment windows of the canadian prairies to determine their effectiveness as part of an integrated management strategy. thymova ... | 2014 | 26470066 |
| the potential of bee-generated carbon dioxide for control of varroa mite (mesostigmata: varroidae) in indoor overwintering honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies. | the objective of this study was to manipulate ventilation rate to characterize interactions between stocks of honey bees (apis mellifera l.) and ventilation setting on varroa mite (varroa destructor anderson and trueman) mortality in honey bee colonies kept indoors over winter. the first experiment used colonies established from stock selected locally for wintering performance under exposure to varroa (n = 6) and unselected bees (n = 6) to assess mite and bee mortality and levels of carbon dioxi ... | 2015 | 26453704 |
| a 10 year survey of acaricide residues in beeswax analysed in italy. | the aim of this work was to provide an overview of the prevalence and level of acaricides in beeswax used in italy in the past 10 years by analysing 1319 beeswax samples processed by the certified laboratory of the italian bee research institute. | 2016 | 26423556 |
| the field efficacy of lepidium latifolium and zataria multiflora methanolic extracts against varroa destructor. | varroa destructor is the most serious pest of honeybee (apis mellifera), causing high economic losses in the beekeeping industry worldwide. the intensive utilization of many chemical substances against the mites resulted in resistance development. one of the applicable and alternative treatments being used for their control is plant-derived products (pdss). the aim of this study was to evaluate the acaricidal activity of lepidium latifolium and zataria multiflora leaf extracts on v. destructor i ... | 2015 | 26342827 |
| ratios of colony mass to thermal conductance of tree and man-made nest enclosures of apis mellifera: implications for survival, clustering, humidity regulation and varroa destructor. | in the absence of human intervention, the honeybee (apis mellifera l.) usually constructs its nest in a tree within a tall, narrow, thick-walled cavity high above the ground (the enclosure); however, most research and apiculture is conducted in the thin-walled, squat wooden enclosures we know as hives. this experimental research, using various hives and thermal models of trees, has found that the heat transfer rate is approximately four to seven times greater in the hives in common use, compared ... | 2016 | 26335295 |
| isolation of oxalotrophic bacteria associated with varroa destructor mites. | bacteria associated with varroa mites were cultivated and genotyped by 16s rna. under our experimental conditions, the cultivable bacteria were few in number, and most of them proved to be fastidious to grow. cultivation with seven different media under o2 /co2 conditions and selection for colony morphology yielded a panel of species belonging to 13 different genera grouped in two different phyla, proteobacteria and actinobacteria. this study identified one species of actinobacteria that is a kn ... | 2015 | 26302038 |
| museum samples reveal rapid evolution by wild honey bees exposed to a novel parasite. | understanding genetic changes caused by novel pathogens and parasites can reveal mechanisms of adaptation and genetic robustness. using whole-genome sequencing of museum and modern specimens, we describe the genomic changes in a wild population of honey bees in north america following the introduction of the ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor. even though colony density in the study population is the same today as in the past, a major loss of haplotypic diversity occurred, indicative of a dra ... | 2015 | 26246313 |
| rna-sequencing elucidates the regulation of behavioural transitions associated with the mating process in honey bee queens. | mating is a complex process, which is frequently associated with behavioural and physiological changes. however, understanding of the genetic underpinnings of these changes is limited. honey bees are both a model system in behavioural genomics, and the dominant managed pollinator of human crops; consequently understanding the mating process has both pure and applied value. we used next-generation transcriptomics to probe changes in gene expression in the brains of honey bee queens, as they trans ... | 2015 | 26227994 |
| gene silencing by rna interference in the house dust mite, dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. | this is the first report of gene silencing by rna interference (rnai) in the european house dust mite, dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, trouessart, 1897. using a non-invasive immersion method first developed for the honey bee mite, varroa destructor, a significant reduction in the expression of d. pteronyssinus glutathione-s-transferase mu-class 1 enzyme (dpgst-mu1) was achieved following overnight immersion in double stranded rna encoding dpgst-mu1. although no detrimental phenotypic changes wer ... | 2015 | 26212476 |
| bacteria detected in the honeybee parasitic mite varroa destructor collected from beehive winter debris. | the winter beehive debris containing bodies of honeybee parasitic mite varroa destructor is used for veterinary diagnostics. the varroa sucking honeybee haemolymph serves as a reservoir of pathogens including bacteria. worker bees can pick up pathogens from the debris during cleaning activities and spread the infection to healthy bees within the colony. the aim of this study was to detect entomopathogenic bacteria in the varroa collected from the winter beehive debris. | 2015 | 26176631 |
| molecular prevalence of acarapis mite infestations in honey bees in korea. | acarapis mites, including acarapis woodi, acarapis externus, and acarapis dorsalis, are parasites of bees which can cause severe damage to the bee industry by destroying colonies and decreasing honey production. all 3 species are prevalent throughout many countries including uk, usa, iran, turkey, china, and japan. based on previous reports of acarapis mites occurring in northeast asia, including china and japan, we investigated a survey of acarapis mite infestations in honey bees in korean apia ... | 2015 | 26174825 |
| an observational study of honey bee colony winter losses and their association with varroa destructor, neonicotinoids and other risk factors. | this article presents results of an analysis of honey bee losses over the winter of 2011-2012 in the netherlands, from a sample of 86 colonies, located at 43 apiaries. the apiaries were selected using spatially stratified random sampling. colony winter loss data were collected and related to various measures of colony strength recorded in summer, as well as data from laboratory analysis of sample material taken from two selected colonies in each of the 43 apiaries. the logistic regression model ... | 2015 | 26154346 |
| genome characterization, prevalence and distribution of a macula-like virus from apis mellifera and varroa destructor. | around 14 distinct virus species-complexes have been detected in honeybees, each with one or more strains or sub-species. here we present the initial characterization of an entirely new virus species-complex discovered in honeybee (apis mellifera l.) and varroa mite (varroa destructor) samples from europe and the usa. the virus has a naturally poly-adenylated rna genome of about 6500 nucleotides with a genome organization and sequence similar to the tymoviridae (tymovirales; tymoviridae), a pred ... | 2015 | 26154017 |
| plant-derived tick repellents activate the honey bee ectoparasitic mite trpa1. | we have identified and characterized the trpa1 channel of varroa destructor (vdtrpa1), a major ectoparasitic mite of honey bee. one of the two vdtrpa1 isoforms, vdtrpa1l, was activated by a variety of plant-derived compounds, including electrophilic compounds, suggesting that chemical activation profiles are mostly shared between arthropod trpa1 channels. nevertheless, carvacrol and α-terpineol activated vdtrpa1l but not a honey bee noxious-stimuli-sensitive trpa, amhstrpa, and drosophila melano ... | 2015 | 26146083 |
| assessing hygienic behavior of apis mellifera unicolor (hymenoptera: apidae), the endemic honey bee from madagascar. | hygienic behavior (hb) is one of the natural mechanisms of honey bee for limiting the spread of brood diseases and varroa destructor parasitic mite. objective of our study was to measure hb of apis mellifera unicolor colonies (n = 403) from three geographic regions (one infested and two free of v. destructor) in madagascar. the pin-killing method was used for evaluation of the hb. responses were measured from 3 h 30 min to 7 h after perforation of the cells. colonies were very effective in detec ... | 2015 | 26125787 |
| composition of fatty acids in the varroa destructor mites and their hosts, apis mellifera drone-prepupae. | the fatty acid (fa) profile of lipids extracted from the varroa destructor parasitic mite and its host, drone-prepupae of apis mellifera, was determined by gas chromatography (gc). the percentages of saturated fatty acids (sfas), monounsaturated fatty acids (mufas) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufas) were generally similar in parasites and their hosts. fatty acids were arranged in the following descending order based on their content: mufas (ca. 52-55%), sfas (ca. 41%) and pufas (ca. 3%). th ... | 2015 | 25911034 |
| phenotypic and genetic analyses of the varroa sensitive hygienic trait in russian honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies. | varroa destructor continues to threaten colonies of european honey bees. general hygiene, and more specific varroa sensitive hygiene (vsh), provide resistance towards the varroa mite in a number of stocks. in this study, 32 russian (rhb) and 14 italian honey bee colonies were assessed for the vsh trait using two different assays. firstly, colonies were assessed using the standard vsh behavioural assay of the change in infestation of a highly infested donor comb after a one-week exposure. secondl ... | 2014 | 25909856 |
| the effect of queen pheromone status on varroa mite removal from honey bee colonies with different grooming ability. | the objective of this study was to assess the effects of honey bees (apis mellifera l.) with different grooming ability and queen pheromone status on mortality rates of varroa mites (varroa destructor anderson and trueman), mite damage, and mortality rates of honey bees. twenty-four small queenless colonies containing either stock selected for high rates of mite removal (n = 12) or unselected stock (n = 12) were maintained under constant darkness at 5 °c. colonies were randomly assigned to be tr ... | 2015 | 25860860 |
| a snp test to identify africanized honeybees via proportion of 'african' ancestry. | the honeybee, apis mellifera, is the world's most important pollinator and is ubiquitous in most agricultural ecosystems. four major evolutionary lineages and at least 24 subspecies are recognized. commercial populations are mainly derived from subspecies originating in europe (75-95%). the africanized honeybee is a new world hybrid of a. m. scutellata from africa and european subspecies, with the african component making up 50-90% of the genome. africanized honeybees are considered undesirable ... | 2015 | 25846634 |
| mating frequencies of honey bee queens (apis mellifera l.) in a population of feral colonies in the northeastern united states. | across their introduced range in north america, populations of feral honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies have supposedly declined in recent decades as a result of exotic parasites, most notably the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor. nonetheless, recent studies have documented several wild populations of colonies that have persisted. the extreme polyandry of honey bee queens-and the increased intracolony genetic diversity it confers-has been attributed, in part, to improved disease resistan ... | 2015 | 25775410 |
| a selective sweep in a varroa destructor resistant honeybee (apis mellifera) population. | the mite varroa destructor is one of the most dangerous parasites of the western honeybee (apis mellifera) causing enormous colony losses worldwide. various chemical treatments for the control of the varroa mite are currently in use, which, however, lead to residues in bee products and often to resistance in mites. this facilitated the exploration of alternative treatment methods and breeding for mite resistant honeybees has been in focus for breeders in many parts of the world with variable res ... | 2015 | 25660040 |
| prevalence and epizootical aspects of varroasis in golestan province, northern iran. | the varroa destructor mite is considered as a major pest of honey bees apis mellifera. the rapid spread of varroa mites among bee colonies may be due to several factors, including drifting of infested bees, movement of bee swarms, and robbing of weakened colonies. disease spread and predisposing the infested bees to other diseases lead to high economic losses in beekeeping industries. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and evaluate some managing factors in golestan province ... | 2014 | 25629070 |
| evidence for passive chemical camouflage in the parasitic mite varroa destructor. | social insect colonies provide a stable and safe environment for their members. despite colonies being heavily guarded, parasites have evolved numerous strategies to invade and inhabit these hostile places. two such strategies are (true) chemical mimicry via biosynthesis of host odor, and chemical camouflage, in which compounds are acquired from the host. the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor feeds on hemolymph of its honey bee host, apis mellifera. the mite's odor closely resembles that of i ... | 2015 | 25620373 |
| next generation sequencing of apis mellifera syriaca identifies genes for varroa resistance and beneficial bee keeping traits. | apis mellifera syriaca exhibits a high degree of tolerance to pests and pathogens including varroa mites. this native honey bee subspecies of jordan expresses behavioral adaptations to high temperature and dry seasons typical of the region. however, persistent honey bee imports of commercial breeder lines are endangering local honey bee population. this study reports the use of next-generation sequencing (ngs) technology to study the a. m. syriaca genome and to identify genetic factors possibly ... | 2016 | 25615619 |
| beehave: a systems model of honeybee colony dynamics and foraging to explore multifactorial causes of colony failure. | a notable increase in failure of managed european honeybee apis mellifera l. colonies has been reported in various regions in recent years. although the underlying causes remain unclear, it is likely that a combination of stressors act together, particularly varroa mites and other pathogens, forage availability and potentially pesticides. it is experimentally challenging to address causality at the colony scale when multiple factors interact. in silico experiments offer a fast and cost-effective ... | 2014 | 25598549 |
| impact of varroa destructor on honeybee (apis mellifera scutellata) colony development in south africa. | the devastating effects of varroa destructor anderson & trueman on european honeybee colonies (apis mellifera l.) have been well documented. not only do these mites cause physical damage to parasitised individuals when they feed on them, they also transmit viruses and other pathogens, weaken colonies and can ultimately cause their death. nevertheless, not all honeybee colonies are doomed once varroa mites become established. some populations, such as the savannah honeybee, a. m. scutellata, have ... | 2015 | 25037745 |
| identification of developmentally-specific kinotypes and mechanisms of varroa mite resistance through whole-organism, kinome analysis of honeybee. | recent investigations associate varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae) parasitism and its associated pathogens and agricultural pesticides with negative effects on colony health, resulting in sporadic global declines in domestic honeybee (apis mellifera) populations. these events have motivated efforts to develop research tools that can offer insight into the causes of declining bee health as well as identify biomarkers to guide breeding programs. here we report the development of a bee-spe ... | 2014 | 24904639 |
| population growth of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) in commercial honey bee colonies treated with beta plant acids. | varroa (varroa destuctor anderson and trueman) populations in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies might be kept at low levels by well-timed miticide applications. hopguard(®) (hg) that contains beta plant acids as the active ingredient was used to reduce mite populations. schedules for applications of the miticide that could maintain low mite levels were tested in hives started from either package bees or splits of larger colonies. the schedules were developed based on defined parameters for ... | 2014 | 24828399 |
| three halloween genes from the varroa mite, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman) and their expression during reproduction. | the ecdysteroid biosynthetic pathway involves sequential enzymatic hydroxylations by a group of enzymes collectively known as halloween gene proteins. complete sequences for three halloween genes, spook (vdspo), disembodied (vddib) and shade (vdshd), were identified in varroa mites and sequenced. phylogenetic analyses of predicted amino acid sequences for halloween orthologues showed that the acarine orthologues were distantly associated with insect and crustacean clades indicating that acarine ... | 2015 | 25488435 |
| towards a better understanding of apis mellifera and varroa destructor microbiomes: introducing 'phyloh' as a novel phylogenetic diversity analysis tool. | the study of diversity in biological communities is an intriguing field. huge amount of data are nowadays available (provided by the innovative dna sequencing techniques), and management, analysis and display of results are not trivial. here, we propose for the first time the use of phylogenetic entropy as a measure of bacterial diversity in studies of microbial community structure. we then compared our new method (i.e. the web tool phyloh) for partitioning phylogenetic diversity with the tradit ... | 2015 | 25367306 |
| protecting honey bees: identification of a new varroacide by in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies. | varroa destructor is the main concern related to the gradual decline of honeybees. nowadays, among the various acaricides used in the control of v. destructor, most presents increasing resistance. an interesting alternative could be the identification of existent molecules as new acaricides with no effect on honeybee health. we have previously constructed the first 3d model of ache for honeybee. by analyzing data concerning amino acid mutations implicated in the resistance associated to pesticid ... | 2014 | 25358237 |
| high varroa mite abundance influences chemical profiles of worker bees and mite-host preferences. | honeybee disappearance is one of the major environmental and economic challenges this century has to face. the ecto-parasitic mite varroa destructor represents one of the main causes of the worldwide beehive losses. although halting mite transmission among beehives is of primary importance to save honeybee colonies from further decline, the natural route used by mites to abandon a collapsing colony has not been extensively investigated so far. here, we explored whether, with increasing mite abun ... | 2014 | 25165133 |
| biphasic responses of the honeybee heart to nanomolar concentrations of amitraz. | amitraz is a pesticide targeting the octopaminergic receptors. in a previous study, octopamine, a biogenic amine, was found to induce a biphasic effect on the honeybee heart, inhibition at low concentrations and excitation at high concentrations. furthermore, the honeybee heart was found to be far more sensitive to octopamine compared to other insect hearts. the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of amitraz on the electrical and mechanical properties of the honeybee he ... | 2013 | 25149247 |
| risk factors associated with the presence of varroa destructor in honey bee colonies from east-central argentina. | varroa destructor is considered one of the major threats for worldwide apiculture. damage caused by varroa mite includes body weight loss, malformation and weakening of the bees. it was also suggested as the main cause associated with colony winter mortality and as an important vector for several honey bee viruses. little is known about multiple factors and their interaction affecting v. destructor prevalence in apiaries from south america. the aim of this study was to identify risk factors asso ... | 2014 | 24794646 |
| an evaluation of the associations of parameters related to the fall of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae) from commercial honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies as tools for selective breeding for mite resistance. | varroa destructor (anderson and trueman) trapped on bottom boards were assessed as indirect measurements of colony mite population differences and potential indicators of mite resistance in commercial colonies of russian and italian honey bees (apis mellifera l.) by using 35 candidate measurements. measurements included numbers of damaged and nondamaged younger mites, nymphs, damaged and nondamaged older mites, fresh mites, and all mites, each as a proportion of total mites in the colonies and a ... | 2014 | 24772529 |
| autumn invasion rates of varroa destructor (mesostigmata: varroidae) into honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) colonies and the resulting increase in mite populations. | the honey bee parasite varroa destructor anderson & trueman can disperse and invade honey bee colonies by attaching to "drifting" and "robbing" honey bees that move into nonnatal colonies. we quantified the weekly invasion rates and the subsequent mite population growth from the end of july to november 2011 in 28 honey bee colonies kept in two apiaries that had high (hbd) and low (lbd) densities of neighboring colonies. at each apiary, half (seven) of the colonies were continuously treated with ... | 2014 | 24772528 |
| africanized honey bees (apis mellifera) have low infestation levels of the mite varroa destructor in different ecological regions in mexico. | honey bee (apis mellifera) colonies of african and european descent were compared for levels of varroa destructor infestation in 3 different ecological regions in mexico. the 300 colonies that were studied were located in subtropical, temperate sub-humid, and temperate dry climates. the morphotype and mitotype of adult bees as well as their rates of infestation by varroa mites were determined. additionally, the number of combs with brood and covered with bees was recorded for each colony. the hi ... | 2014 | 24634296 |
| evaluation of the impact of exomite pro on varroa mite (varroa destructor) populations and honeybee (apis mellifera) colonies: efficacy, side effects and residues. | in this research, we examined the application of thymol-based powder, directly over the top of the brood frames in colonies with different population in a 2-year study. the efficacy against mites, the side effects on bees and the contamination of honey were studied comparably to thymol-based gel treatment. in one-store colonies, thymol-based powder treatment gave average efficacy 64.5% and did not differ significantly from thymol-based gel treatment (65.4%). the natural mortality in control colo ... | 2014 | 24549753 |
| propolis chemical composition and honeybee resistance against varroa destructor. | propolis is known as honeybee chemical defence against infections and parasites. its chemical composition is variable and depends on the specificity of the local flora. however, there are no data concerning the relationship between propolis chemical composition and honeybee colony health. we tried to answer this question, studying the chemical composition of propolis of bee colonies from an apiary near avignon, which are tolerant to varroa destructor, comparing it with colonies from the same api ... | 2014 | 24483289 |
| supplementing with vitamin c the diet of honeybees (apis mellifera carnica) parasitized with varroa destructor: effects on antioxidative status. | we studied a total of eight developmental stages of capped brood and newly emerged workers of apis mellifera carnica colonies naturally parasitized with varroa destructor. during winter and early spring four colonies were fed syrup containing 1.8 mg vitamin c kg(-1) (ascorbic acid group; group aa) while four colonies were fed syrup without the vitamin c (control group c). selected elements of the antioxidative system were analysed including total antioxidant status (tas), glutathione content and ... | 2014 | 24477034 |
| honey bee lines selected for high propolis production also have superior hygienic behavior and increased honey and pollen stores. | honey bees use propolis to defend against invaders and disease organisms. as some colonies produce much more propolis than others, we investigated whether propolis collecting is associated with disease resistance traits, including hygienic behavior and resistance to the parasitic bee mite, varroa destructor. the three highest (hp) and three lowest propolis-producing (lp) colonies among 36 africanized honey bee colonies were initially selected. queens and drones from these colonies were crossed t ... | 2013 | 24391041 |
| examining the role of foraging and malvolio in host-finding behavior in the honey bee parasite, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman). | when a female varroa mite, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman), invades a honey bee brood cell, the physiology rapidly changes from feeding phoretic to reproductive. changes in foraging and malvolio transcript levels in the brain have been associated with modulated intra-specific food searching behaviors in insects and other invertebrates. transcription profiles for both genes were examined during and immediately following brood cell invasion to assess their role as potential control elements ... | 2014 | 24375502 |
| rapid method for dna extraction from the honey bee apis mellifera and the parasitic bee mite varroa destructor using lysis buffer and proteinase k. | we developed a rapid method for extraction of dna from honey bees, apis mellifera, and from the parasitic bee mite, varroa destructor. the advantages include fast processing and low toxicity of the substances that are utilized. we used lysis buffer with nonionic detergents to lyse cell walls and proteinase k to digest proteins. we tested whole thorax, thoracic muscle mass, legs, and antennae from individual bees; the mites were processed whole (1 mite/sample). each thorax was incubated whole, wi ... | 2013 | 24301746 |
| point mutations in the sodium channel gene conferring tau-fluvalinate resistance in varroa destructor. | sodium channels (scs) in mites and insects are target sites for pesticides, including pyrethroids. point mutations in the sc gene have been reported to change the structural conformation of the protein and its sensitivity to pesticides. to find mutations in the sc gene of the mite varroa destructor (vmna), the authors analysed the vmna gene sequences available in genbank and prepared specific primers for the amplification of two fragments containing the regions coding for (i) the domain ii s4-s6 ... | 2014 | 24243563 |
| esterases of varroa destructor (acari: varroidae), parasitic mite of the honeybee. | varroa destructor is an ectoparasite that causes serious damage to the population of the honeybee. increasing resistance of the parasite to acaricides is related, among others, to metabolic adaptations of its esterases to facilitate decomposition of the chemicals used. esterases are a large heterogeneous group of enzymes that metabolize a number of endogenous and exogenous substrates with ester binding. the aim of the present study was to determine the activity of esterases in the body extracts ... | 2014 | 24233156 |
| viral infection affects sucrose responsiveness and homing ability of forager honey bees, apis mellifera l. | honey bee health is mainly affected by varroa destructor, viruses, nosema spp., pesticide residues and poor nutrition. interactions between these proposed factors may be responsible for the colony losses reported worldwide in recent years. in the present study, the effects of a honey bee virus, israeli acute paralysis virus (iapv), on the foraging behaviors and homing ability of european honey bees (apis mellifera l.) were investigated based on proboscis extension response (per) assays and radio ... | 2013 | 24130876 |
| thymol as an alternative to pesticides: persistence and effects of apilife var on the phototactic behavior of the honeybee apis mellifera. | thymol is a natural substance increasingly used as an alternative to pesticides in the fight against the varroa destructor mite. despite the effectiveness of this phenolic monoterpene against varroa, few articles have covered the negative or side effects of thymol on bees. in a previous study, we have found an impairment of phototaxis in honeybees following application of sublethal doses of thymol-lower or equal to 100 ng/bee-under laboratory conditions. the present work shows the same behaviora ... | 2014 | 24043507 |
| the mutual influence of proteins from varroa destructor extracts and from honeybee haemolymph on their proteolytic activity--in vitro study. | the influence of extracts from varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of the honeybee apis mellifera, on the proteinase activity of worker bee haemolymph was analysed in vitro, along with the influence of bee haemolymph on the proteolytic activity of v. destructor extract. the study was conducted in three different environments: ph 7.5 (high activity of bee enzymes and very low activity of parasite enzymes), ph 5 (moderate activity of enzymes from both sources) and ph 3.5 (limited activity of bee p ... | 2013 | 23990428 |
| genomic organization and reproductive regulation of a large lipid transfer protein in the varroa mite, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman). | the complete genomic region and corresponding transcript of the most abundant protein in phoretic varroa mites, varroa destructor (anderson & trueman), were sequenced and have homology with acarine hemelipoglycoproteins and the large lipid transfer protein (lltp) super family. the genomic sequence of vdlltp included 14 introns and the mature transcript coded for a predicted polypeptide of 1575 amino acid residues. vdlltp shared a minimum of 25% sequence identity with acarine lltps. phylogenetic ... | 2013 | 23834736 |