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Six Corsican essential oils (EOs) from Humulus lupulus were studied for their activity against Varroa destructor adults and Apis mellifera pupae. The GC/MS analysis of EOs showed that the major compounds of all accessions were α-Humulene, Myrcene, α-Selinene, β-Selinene, (E)-β-Farnesene, and (E)-β-Caryophyllene. Bioassays showed that EOs from each accession acted as toxins and repellents against V. destructor adults, with lower toxicity towards A. mellifera pupae. In terms of efficacy against V. destructor adults, Smaragd 2020 oil displayed the highest performance, with LC50 and LC90 values of 2.33 and 7.83 µL/L air, respectively. Meanwhile, Smaragd 2019 and Tettnanger EOs showed moderate toxicity, with LC50 values of 3.101 and 3.66 µL/L air, along with LC90 values of 11.67 and 19.89µL/L air, respectively. The oils from Biguglia and Ajaccio were strongly repellent to Varroa adults. At the lowest concentration (2 µL/mL), these EOs exhibited percentage of repellence greater than 70% after 2h exposure, with RC50 values of 1.66 and 1.26 µL/L air, respectively. Concerning their insecticidal effects, EOs demonstrate reduced toxicity towards bee pupae when compared to Varroa mites. Notably, Ajaccio stands out for inducing lower mortality among bee pupae, with a selectivity ratio below 2 and LC50 of 11.25 µL/L air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change (LUC) alters habitat quality and the provision of ecosystem services that affect economic activities, such as beekeeping. For beekeeping, landscapes reveal individual decisions that determine its productive potential, thus, landscapes can be considered a common pool resource. To understand how land use preferences shape scenarios that suggest the aggregated effects of decisions on beekeeping in agricultural landscapes, a participatory valuation and an economic choice game were conducted in field workshops in Veracruz, México. We found that, although participants valued land use benefits differently, they integrated common benefits to create scenarios that sustained beekeeping, but these decisions were sensitive to external factors that disincentivize collective action. In addition, characteristics positively associated with collective action at the individual and group levels differ, suggesting emerging group identities. Exercises like these allow the exploration of CPR in complex scenarios such as landscapes, to understand the dynamics of individual and group preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beehive products, particularly pollen, are among the foodstuffs that may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), prompting concern due to their negative effects on humans, such as hepatotoxic potential. Based on these aspects, this study represents the first investigation into eight PAs present in samples of bee bread (n = 16) and commercial pollens (n = 15) from Brazil utilizing liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem. Our findings showed the presence of at least two PAs in all samples analyzed (n = 31), with monocrotaline, senecionine, senecionine N-oxide, and retrorsine emerging as the most frequently abundant in the Brazilian samples. The PAs sum varied widely (from 268 to 263,849 µg kg−1), with 77.4% of the samples exceeding the maximum limit established by the European Union (500 µg kg−1). Therefore, this study demonstrates that bee pollen and bee bread are foods with high levels of PAs and highlights that further studies related to PAs and beehive products are necessary so that actions are taken to minimize risks to consumers and safeguard the beekeeping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary Humans and honey bees have a long history of interaction to yield valued products and services. However, honey bees are under pressure from changes in vegetation, agricultural practices and climate change. We investigate if pasture legumes can be harnessed to support honey bees. We use a diverse set of species that originated from the Mediterranean and western Europe but are now developed as commercial cultivars for the southern Australian livestock industries. We find that pasture legumes show great promise as a means to support honey bees and suggest that further targeted research is warranted. Globally, humans and honey bees (Apis mellifera) have a long history of interaction and this is now under pressure. In temperate southern Australia, exotic honey bees rely on an unstable native floral resource base, yet a diverse set of exotic pasture legume species are sown as staple rotational or permanent crops. We investigated if these pasture legumes could be strategically used to support honey bee populations for the apiary and horticulture industries in this region. A literature review on temperate pasture legumes and honey bees was undertaken and integrated with data from an Australian industry case study. Comparisons were made to the widely‐grown red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (T. repens). We found that many southern Australian pasture legumes could provide significant floral resources as well as enhanced temporal and spatial stability for honey bees due to phenological variability and broad adaptation. Honey bees will likely recognise and be attracted to their flowers and other characteristics are comparable, or potentially superior, to red and white clover, such as floret number per inflorescence, floret length, nectar volume and sucrose‐dominance and pollen protein. The floral resource diversity from pasture legume mixes could aid honey bee health and support pollinator services for adjacent crops. We conclude that the exotic pasture legumes of temperate Australia show promise for development as a sown floral resource for honey bees. Globally, further investigation is merited to maximise benefits from the integration of a diverse range of pasture legumes into agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of scientific guidance, most migratory beekeepers currently arrange their migratory beekeeping routes by experience. The production mode is extensive, and the quality and efficiency need to be improved. Therefore, this study investigates a dynamic migratory route recommendation problem considering the stochastic yield of nectar sources and uncertain disastrous weather events, by which the beekeeper can dynamically follow the practical and effective recommended route to cope with production risk to reach a better revenue. To this end, the problem is first formulated as a Markov decision process considering various flowering durations of nectar sources, migration costs and time, the prices of bee products, and, most importantly, uncertain yields. Then, an approximate dynamic programming algorithm incorporated with offline and online learning procedures is proposed to deal with the curse of dimensionality. Several acceleration methods are also provided to solve the problem more efficiently. The conducted numerical study shows that the proposed model and algorithm perform well in approximation precise and computational efficiency. Finally, the computational results show that the proposed migratory beekeeping route recommendation method effectively deals with yield uncertainty and significantly improves the migratory beekeeping revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research into the genetic diversity of honey bee (Apis melliferaL.) populations has become increasingly significant in recent decades, primarily due to population declines attributed to human activities and climate change. As a species of great importance, breeding programs that leverage understanding of genomic diversity could offer solutions to mitigate these challenges. The objective of this study was to examine the genomic diversity and population structure of Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) using the Illumina SNP chip on a large honey bee sample collected from Central and South-Eastern European countries. The study also aims to offer recommendations for future breeding programs. Results: Our analysis involved Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), heterozygosity, admixture analysis, fixation indices (FST), Neighbour-Joining tree, gene flow and Isolation-by-distance analysis. DAPC indicated distinct separation between the Carniolan and Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) populations, whereas the admixture analysis revealed varying levels of gene flow and genetic admixture within the Carniolan honey bee populations, demonstrating closer relationships between specific geographic regions (confirmed by Isolation-by-distance analysis). Furthermore, the research of heterozygosity, genomic inbreeding, pairwise FST values, and Neighbour-Joining tree provided insights into the patterns of genetic differentiation and similarity among the populations of Carniolan honey bee within its natural habitat. We have observed genetic homogeneity of the Carniolan honey bee population when considered in a broader genetic/geographical context. However, the Carniolan honey bee has sufficient genetic diversity in its geographical home range that needs to be carefully monitored and maintained. Conclusions: This study provides important insights into the genetic composition, differentiation, and relationships among Carniolan honey bee populations in Central and South-Eastern European countries. The findings are crucial for conservation efforts, breeding programs, and sustainable beekeeping practices. They emphasise the importance of considering genetic factors and population structure in the breeding and management of honey bees. By understanding these genetic relationships, we can develop strategies to preserve genetic diversity, improve breeding outcomes, and ensure the resilience of honey bee populations in the face of environmental changes and challenges. This knowledge can also inform policy makers and stakeholders on best practices to maintain healthy bee populations, which are vital for ecosystem services and agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beekeeping has faced increasing difficulties during the past decades, among which is the decline in floral resources. Agriculture provides essential floral resources for beekeeping, but some farming practices have also been shown to be responsible for their decline. To provide floral resources for beekeeping, what type of agricultural transformation should be promoted, and how? To answer these questions, we still lack knowledge about the floral resources that are used by beekeeping and about the technical-economic obstacles that farmers face in implementing more favorable farming practices, particularly in agropastoral settings. To help fill these gaps, we develop a novel approach that frames both agropastoral farming and beekeeping as farming systems, by characterizing the beekeeping systems of a given place, the floral resources they use, and the impacts these farming systems have on floral resources. This approach is applied to the agropastoral landscapes of Mount Lozère, southern France, using a methodology based on semi-structured interviews with farmers and beekeepers addressing the agronomical functioning of their farms. We demonstrate that the floral resources used by beekeepers on Mount Lozère are threatened by the current dominant agricultural development paths, which seek to maximize the material productivity of labor. Such paths lead to the intensification of agricultural practices in harvested areas and the extensification of rangelands. These pathways are reinforced by the low remuneration of agropastoral labor and by the current rules of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy. "Frugal" farming, a farming system based on reduced inputs and investments, and labor-intensive practices, namely, a labor-intensive use of pasture, seems an effective way to produce floral resources. Both, agropastoral farmers and beekeepers, would benefit from an increase in the number of agricultural workers in agropastoral landscapes. This calls for public policies that promote a better remuneration of agropastoral labor, either directly or by driving market mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinators are fundamental for plant reproduction in natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, their populations are declining worldwide, threatening the functioning of the ecosystem service they provide. The factors driving this change are manifold, but land use changes and interspecific transmission of pathogens between managed and wild bees are prominent. In this context, most research efforts have focused on specific taxa and rarely at the community level, limiting our ability to fully understand the effects of global change on the functioning of plant–pollinator interactions in ecosystems. Here, we investigate the impact of human activities (beekeeping and land use intensity) on the spread of an emergent pathogen Vairimorpha ceranae in Mediterranean wild bee communities inhabiting landscapes with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Plant–pollinator interactions were sampled in nine one‐hectare plots along a gradient of land use (urban structures, croplands and natural vegetation) and beekeeping intensity. We analysed the impact of human disturbances on pollination networks and pathogen prevalence, and applied a network approach to examine whether total effects of species in networks (i.e. direct plus indirect interactions) explain pathogen spread through bee communities. We found that V. ceranae prevalence in honey bees is not a good predictor of the pathogen spread through bee communities. There seems to be a temporal mismatch between pathogen dynamics in managed and wild bees. Networks with more diversity of interactions and more plants showed less pathogen prevalence, but total effect analyses (i.e. combining direct and indirect interactions) failed to explain pathogen transmission across pollination networks. Croplands increased wild bee density, and interactions and species diversity in networks, while shrublands had the opposite effect. Our results highlight the importance of studying pathogen dynamics at the community level and analysing species interaction patterns to improve our understanding of pathogen spread through communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honey bee subspecies native to Saudi Arabia, Apis mellifera jemenitica Rutter, is currently being threatened by genetic pressure from exotic subspecies imported by commercial beekeepers. Uncontrolled interbreeding between native and exotic subspecies could dilute advantageous adaptations and give rise to new haplotypes that are not well suited for Saudi Arabia’s harsh climate. In this study, we analyzed the mitochondrial haplotypes and parasitization patterns by Varroa destructor mites in commercial beekeeping operations across Southwestern Saudi Arabia. We sampled 300 workers from five randomly chosen colonies at each of the eleven apiaries from December 2022 to February 2023. We extracted DNA from two workers per colony for analysis of the mitochondrial COI-COII region and assessed the remaining workers for mite infestation levels. We also haplotyped a subgroup of mites. All 55 colonies analyzed belonged to the A. m. jemenitica subspecies, which is part of the Z subgroup of the A lineage. Mitochondrial genome analysis revealed ten distinct haplotype sequences at four of the eleven locations. The average (± SEM) number of mites per 100 workers across all sites was 1.95 ± 0.96 and was below a 3% infestation threshold at nine of the eleven locations. All tested mites belonged to the Korean haplotype. The Al-Riyan, Al-Radha, and Khaitaa apiaries had both, no novel haplotypes, and the lowest Varroa mite infestation levels. This study could ultimately inform a colony selection process for the implementation of a breeding program aimed at improving honey bee productivity in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pollen analysis is vital to determine the geographical and botanical origins of honey. • The pollen percentage is used to distinguish honey as monofloral or multifloral. • The dominant pollen source is identified. • Twenty five percent of the samples exhibited a high diversity index. Melissopalynology plays a pivotal role in identifying and managing the geographical and botanical origins of honey. In this study, forty-five honey samples were collected from three potential districts in the North Wollo zone, Ethiopia. The pollen grains of these samples were analyzed using the procedures outlined by the International Commission for Bee Botany (ICBB) to determine the botanical sources of the honey. Among the samples, twenty-five were classified as monofloral, while the remaining twenty were identified as multifloral honey. Nineteen plant species from twelve different plant families were identified as the honey bee floras in the North Wollo zone. The dominant families, representing over 45% of the pollen grains in the samples, were Asteraceae (9 samples), Myrtaceae (5 samples), Papilionaceae (4 samples), Fabaceae (2 samples), Hypericaceae (2 samples), Acanthaceae (1 sample), Brassicaceae (1 sample), and Ericaceae (1 sample). Bidens spp., Trifolium rueppellianum, and Eucalyptus globulus emerged as the top three honey bee floras in terms of relative percentage and frequency. Furthermore, eleven samples exhibited a high diversity index range (H) of 1.56% in Lasta and 1.01% in the Meket districts, while the remaining thirty-four samples showed a lower diversity index ranging from 0.31 to 0.99. Our findings underscore the importance of conserving bee floras to enhance honey production and ensure sustainability in beekeeping practices in the North Wollo Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing crop diversity is a way for agriculture to transition towards a more sustainable and biodiversity-friendly system. Growing buckwheat intercropped with paulownia can contribute not only to mitigating climate change but can also enrich the environment with species of agricultural importance, without causing a decline in pollinators, since buckwheat is pollinated mainly by the honeybee. In a field experiment comparing growing buckwheat with paulownia against a monoculture crop, we investigated differences in flower visitation and beekeeping value, as well as the associated impact on crop yields. We analysed the effect of intercropping on the beekeeping value of buckwheat in terms of bee population size and the sugar mass in buckwheat flowers, nectar mass in buckwheat flowers, the quality of the delivered raw sugar and biometric characteristics. We found significant differences in the number of branches on the main shoot and the total number of branches. Significantly higher parameters were obtained in sites with buckwheat monoculture. The cultivation method variant did not cause differentiation in either the structure elements or the yield itself. Yields ranged from 0.39 (2021) to 1.59 (2023) t·ha−1. The average yield in intercropping was slightly lower (0.02 t·ha−1) than in the monoculture system of buckwheat (0.93 t·ha−1). More flowers per plant per day of observation and more flowers in millions of flowers per hectare per day of observation were observed in the intercropping of buckwheat with paulownia. Based on our experiment, we concluded that growing buckwheat in monoculture significantly increased the number of flowers, resulting in an increase in pollinator density and an increased number of pollinators per unit area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research into the genetic diversity of honey bee (Apis melliferaL.) populations has become increasingly significant in recent decades, primarily due to population declines attributed to human activities and climate change. As a species of great importance, breeding programs that leverage understanding of genomic diversity could offer solutions to mitigate these challenges. The objective of this study was to examine the genomic diversity and population structure of Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) using the Illumina SNP chip on a large honey bee sample collected from Central and South-Eastern European countries. The study also aims to offer recommendations for future breeding programs. Results: Our analysis involved Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), heterozygosity, admixture analysis, fixation indices (FST), Neighbour-Joining tree, gene flow and Isolation-by-distance analysis. DAPC indicated distinct separation between the Carniolan and Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) populations, whereas the admixture analysis revealed varying levels of gene flow and genetic admixture within the Carniolan honey bee populations, demonstrating closer relationships between specific geographic regions (confirmed by Isolation-by-distance analysis). Furthermore, the research of heterozygosity, genomic inbreeding, pairwise FST values, and Neighbour-Joining tree provided insights into the patterns of genetic differentiation and similarity among the populations of Carniolan honey bee within its natural habitat. We have observed genetic homogeneity of the Carniolan honey bee population when considered in a broader genetic/geographical context. However, the Carniolan honey bee has sufficient genetic diversity in its geographical home range that needs to be carefully monitored and maintained. Conclusions: This study provides important insights into the genetic composition, differentiation, and relationships among Carniolan honey bee populations in Central and South-Eastern European countries. The findings are crucial for conservation efforts, breeding programs, and sustainable beekeeping practices. They emphasise the importance of considering genetic factors and population structure in the breeding and management of honey bees. By understanding these genetic relationships, we can develop strategies to preserve genetic diversity, improve breeding outcomes, and ensure the resilience of honey bee populations in the face of environmental changes and challenges. This knowledge can also inform policy makers and stakeholders on best practices to maintain healthy bee populations, which are vital for ecosystem services and agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of the genetic integrity of Apis mellifera subspecies has emerged as an important objective. In 2019, the Emilia-Romagna region became the first Italian regional authority to issue a law specifically addressing the protection of the native Apis mellifera ligustica subspecies. In this study we analysed a highly informative portion of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), widely used for assessing genetic diversity of honey bee populations. By analysing 1143 honey bees sampled after the introduction of this law, we provided a snapshot of the distribution of mtDNA haplotypes in this region. The two most frequent mtDNA haplotypes were C1 (characteristic of A. m. ligustica) and C2 (characteristic of A. m. carnica), reported in 86.5% and 11.0% of the analysed bees, respectively. About 1.3% and 1.1% of the analysed bees carried mtDNA haplotypes of the A and M lineages (haplotypes A1a, A1e, A4, A26, A65 and two novel ones, A2w and A6a; M3, M3a, M4 and M79). Continued genetic monitoring will be important to assess the impact of this regional law over the coming years. Based on the obtained results, we recommend a more stringent policy to prevent the erosion of the genetic integrity of the native subspecies A. m. ligustica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apiculture has presented significant growth in the last decades in Europe and worldwide. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there were 25.1 million bee colonies in Europe in 2021, with most of them being located in the southeastern countries. Smart technologies have invaded almost every pillar of agriculture, including apiculture. Modern apiculture is rather more nomadic than sedentary. Nomadism in beekeeping requires monitoring the settlement of bee colonies, in more than one place per year, in order to select more honey and pollen and contribute to the overall growth of the bees. To this scope, it is efficient to monitor and have wide control of bees remotely, in parallel with other smart applications, in order to prevent crises that would affect bee survival and/or yield production. The objectives of this paper are to outline a series of automation systems in apiculture used as a means towards the optimization of bee apiary management processes. Four beekeepers' case studies were used to demonstrate how sensors and communication means transfer multiple bee-related data from various bee apiary locations to a single control system. The methodology was based on input/output data evaluation, risk prioritization based on real data, and feedback to the beekeeper based on the potential risks. Based on the results, the most significant risks are related to bad weather conditions, varroa mites, and bee colony health. Furthermore, the beekeeper is able to optimize the whole management, operations, and strategic planning throughout the year. Last, it should be noted that the presented remote monitoring system will never substitute the necessity of traditional beekeeper visits, but it contributes to minimizing them based on the monitored daily data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution with pesticides as a result of intensive agriculture harms the development of bee colonies. Bees are one of the most important pollinating insects on our planet. One of the ways to protect them is to relocate and build apiaries in populated areas. An important condition for the development of bee colonies is the rich species diversity of flowering plants and the size of the areas occupied by them. In this study, a methodology for detecting and distinguishing white flowering nectar source trees and counting bee colonies is developed and demonstrated, applicable in populated environments. It is based on UAV-obtained RGB imagery and two convolutional neural networks—a pixel-based one for identification of flowering areas and an object-based one for beehive identification, which achieved accuracies of 93.4% and 95.2%, respectively. Based on an experimental study near the village of Yuper (Bulgaria), the productive potential of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) areas in rural and suburban environments was determined. The obtained results showed that the identified blooming area corresponds to 3.654 m2, out of 89.725 m2 that were scanned with the drone, and the number of identified beehives was 149. The proposed methodology will facilitate beekeepers in choosing places for the placement of new apiaries and planning activities of an organizational nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) has caused widespread death of honeybees, but the exact causes are not understood. Many scientists agree that pathogenic threats most likely contribute to CCD. Due to the integral ecosystem role bees fulfill, it is important to understand how honeybees respond immunologically to different factors to better inform practices to combat CCD. Quantifying the immunological cost of two different beekeeping approaches allows us to better understand how beekeeping practices affect bees' susceptibility to CCD. Within colonies, a plastic frame foundation provides structural support for the creation of honeycomb. Production of beeswax is energetically costly for colonies to produce, possibly causing energetic stress that may affect the colony's ability to fight pathogens. Two colonies were maintained, one with an internal plastic foundation on their frames and one without. We collected bees from each colony and extracted their hemolymph to quantify both their basal and activated immunological protein levels. Protein levels were higher in bees from the no foundation colony. Prophenoloxidase (PPO) activity trended toward higher levels in the no foundation colony, although this was not statistically significant. This suggests that lack of foundation causes the bees to have a higher protein turnover based on their energetic requirements, increasing their ability to fight off immunological threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products of bee origin, despite their complex composition and difficulties in standardization, have been of high interest among scientists representing various disciplines from basic sciences to industrial and practical implementation. As long as their use is monitored and they do not impact human health, they can be considered valuable sources of many chemical compounds and are potentially useful in medicine, food processing, nutrition, etc. However, apart from honey, the general turnover of bee products lacks precise and detailed legal requirements ensuring their quality. The different residues in these products constitute a problem, which has been reported in numerous studies. All products derived from beekeeping are made by bees, but they are also influenced by the environment. Such a dual pathway requires detailed surveillance of hazards stemming from outside and inside the apiary. This should be ensured via harmonized requirements arising from the binding legal acts, especially in international and intercontinental trade zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L., poses a substantial threat to apiculture, adversely impacting wax quality and potentially acting as a disease vector. There is an urgent need to develop innovative and effective control strategies to address the challenges posed by this pest and ensure the sustainability of the apiculture industry. Spiro‐derivative compounds represent a novel class of environmentally safe compounds with high insecticidal properties. For example, they have demonstrated high efficacy against sap‐sucking insects such as aphids and whiteflies. However, their effect on chewing insects has not yet been well explored. In this study, we hypothesized that 4‐amino‐1‐azaspiro[4.5]dec‐3‐en‐2‐one (4A1AD), a spiro‐derivative compound, would exhibit efficacy against G. mellonella larvae. To test this hypothesis, we conducted dipping and feeding bioassays, incorporating varying concentrations of 4A1AD on fourth instar G. mellonella larvae, and recorded mortality, biochemical parameters including total soluble protein content and enzyme activities, and anatomical abnormalities resulting from treatment. Results revealed a significant increase in larval mortality with increased concentrations and treatment durations across both bioassays. Additionally, a significant decrease in protein content and an increase in phenol‐oxidase activity were observed with alterations in α and β‐esterase activities. Scanning electron microscope findings revealed abnormalities in larval cuticle, spiracular openings and legs. These findings demonstrated the efficacy of 4A1AD, indicating a potential alternative to conventional insecticides in promoting sustainable apiculture practices. Moreover, they provide valuable contributions to the development of novel strategies for effective pest management in apicultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Interest in beekeeping has significantly increased in recent years. A basic understanding of the nutritional and physiological requirements of honeybees is of great interest to improve their welfare and honey yields. The unique anatomic features of the gastrointestinal tract of bees, which enable bees to make optimal use of their food resources, are extensively described in this review. Nectar, pollen, and resins are raw materials for the synthesis of honey, beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly by the honeybee. All of these products are used for nutrition or as food supplements for animals. In the context of these products, the legal requirements for the use of apiculture by-products in animal nutrition are highlighted. Honeybees are some of the smallest farmed animals, and apiculture by-products, e.g., honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and pollen contribute to animal nutrition. For the effective production of these by-products, the optimal development and nutrient supply of the honeybee is required. Beginning with the development of the mouth and anal pores on the second day of embryonic development, the digestive tract differentiates into the mouth and fore-, mid-, and hindgut during the pupal stage. The various glands within the oral cavity are particularly important, secreting enzymes and substances that are crucial for digestion and hive nutrition, e.g., invertase and royal jelly. Honeybees rely on a specialized caste system, with worker bees collecting nectar, pollen, water, and resin for the nutrition of the entire hive. Macronutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, obtained primarily from pollen and nectar, are essential for the growth and development of larvae and the overall health of the colony. Inadequate nutrient intake can lead to detrimental effects on larval development, prompting cannibalism within the hive. Apiculture by-products possess unique nutritional and therapeutic properties, leading to a growing interest in the use of honey, beeswax, propolis, and pollen as a feed additive. In recent years, the use of apicultural by-products in animal nutrition has been primarily limited to in vivo studies, which have demonstrated various positive impacts on the performance of farm animals. Honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and pollen are listed feed stuffs according to Regulation (EC) No. 68/2013. However, for animal nutrition there is not any specific legal definition for these products and no legal requirements regarding their ingredients as given for honey or beeswax in European food law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Honeybees are vital pollinators, essential for maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity, but there is rising concern about the health of managed honey bee colonies, especially in heavily human-influenced ecosystems. Multiple factors contribute to this decline, including environmental conditions, forage quality, and pesticide use. These elements have a complex effect on the health and nutritional status of honeybee colonies and influence their response to disease and various stressors. In this study, the authors propose a new approach to assess colony health by correlating common measures of colony strength such as honey and pollen reserves, the number of bees, and brood with hemolymph proteins, common bee pathogens (Varroa destructor and Nosema spp.), and essential trace elements (iron, zinc, and copper). Significant correlations were found between hemolymph proteins and colony performance measures, and between V. destructor and hemolymph proteins and iron content. In conclusion, this study confirms the need for a more holistic approach to honeybee health considering all the relevant aspects and critical points that may affect colony survival. Environment, forage quality, management practices, pathogens, and pesticides influence honeybee responses to stressors. This study proposes an innovative approach to assess colony health and performance using molecular diagnostic tools by correlating hemolymph proteins with common measures of colony strength, prevalent honeybee pathogens (Varroa destructor and Nosema spp.), and essential trace elements (iron, zinc and copper). Colonies were selected from four apiaries located in different environmental and foraging conditions in the province of Bologna (Italy). Hemolymph samples were taken from June to October 2019. The Varroa infestation of the colonies was estimated by assessing the natural mortality of the mites, while the bees were tested for Nosema spp. spores using a microscopic method. Hemolymph proteins were quantified and separated using SDS-PAGE, and colony performance was assessed by determining adult bees, total brood, honey, and pollen reserves. The biomarkers measured proved to be useful for monitoring changes in performance and trophic conditions during summer and early autumn. Significant correlations were found between hemolymph proteins and colony performance measures. A positive correlation between pollen reserves, vitellogenin, and hexamerin 70a highlights the importance of these proteins for successful overwintering. In October, Varroa infestation was negatively correlated with total proteins, vitellogenin, apolipophorin II, transferrin, and hexamerin 70a, with negative implications for overwintering; furthermore, Varroa infestation was also negatively correlated with iron content, potentially affecting iron homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to and avoidance of stress slow aging and confer increased longevity in numerous organisms. Honey bees and other superorganismal social insects have two main advantages over solitary species to avoid or resist stress: individuals can directly help each other by resource or information transfer, and they can cooperatively control their environment. These benefits have been recognised in the context of pathogen and parasite stress as the concept of social immunity, which has been extensively studied. However, we argue that social immunity is only a special case of a general concept that we define here as social stress protection to include group‐level defences against all biotic and abiotic stressors. We reason that social stress protection may have allowed the evolution of reduced individual‐level defences and individual life‐history optimization, including the exceptional aging plasticity of many social insects. We describe major categories of stress and how a colonial lifestyle may protect social insects, particularly against temporary peaks of extreme stress. We use the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) to illustrate how patterns of life expectancy may be explained by social stress protection and how modern beekeeping practices can disrupt social stress protection. We conclude that the broad concept of social stress protection requires rigorous empirical testing because it may have implications for our general understanding of social evolution and specifically for improving honey bee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apis mellifera, crucial pollinators for both native and cultivated plants, also yield various products such as honey, wax, royal jelly, and propolis, extensively utilized in the food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries. Nosema ceranae, a prevalent microsporidian worldwide, stands as a significant pathogen for A. mellifera, showing resistance to conventional antibiotics. Consequently, the exploration of novel compounds for N. ceranae control becomes imperative. Dithiocarbimate derivatives emerge as promising antifungal candidates under evaluation for combating various pathogens, particularly those affecting plants. This study assessed the toxicity profile of six dithiocarbimate derivatives on A. mellifera worker survival and N. ceranae pathogen. Among these, four compounds exhibited minimal bee mortality and proceeded to further evaluation against N. ceranae. In vitro assays demonstrated their inhibitory effects on spore germination. Remarkably, the most potent compound suppressed N. ceranae spores by 62% at a concentration of 20 µmol L−1in vivo. Thus, these dithiocarbimate derivatives represent promising new antifungal agents for combatting nosemosis in honey bee populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the first occurrence of the ectoparasitic genus Tropilaelaps in Russia. Tropilaelaps mites are known to damage honey bee brood and nests. The study found specimens of Tropilaelaps mercedesae in Western Siberia, Russia, which closely matched the incomplete description provided by previous researchers. The article highlights the need for further taxonomic analysis and emphasizes the importance of early detection and monitoring to mitigate the potential spread of Tropilaelaps mites. [Extracted from the article]

Background: In recent decades, agricultural landscapes have been profoundly modified due to the intensification of agriculture, therefore leading to significant disturbances in all components of biodiversity. A survey on the knowledge of beekeeping realities and the use of phytosanitary products in areas of high honey production in Burkina Faso was carried out. Beekeeping realities design the state of beekeeping activities in the study localities. Methods: The objective of this survey was to characterize Beekeeping operations and to assess the level of knowledge of beekeepers on the effects of the use of phytosanitary products through different beekeeping and agricultural practices. In this sense, 113 farmer beekeepers from the Boucle du Mouhoun, Hauts-Bassins and Nord regions in Burkina Faso were surveyed about their different beekeeping practices. Results: The results obtained indicated that beekeeping is a secondary activity (96.47%) and is mainly practiced by men (90.27%). The respondents have mostly an average of 22 traditional hives. The majority of beekeepers have not received training (84.07%) on the hazards of plant protection products on their beekeeping farms. However, a large amount of beekeepers (70.73%) acknowledged that the use of plant protection products could be harmful to their activity. Hives are usually installed in or near the fields. The plant protection products used for crop protection are herbicides (27%), insecticides (23%), fungicides (8%), but especially mixed (42%). Conclusion: The results show that beekeeping in Burkina Faso remains traditional and is practiced for sociocultural reasons. The use of pesticides close to beekeeping could play a role in bee colony collapse taking place in these regions. Training beekeepers on the dangers of the chemicals they use in fields near hives is therefore essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of tea-oil Camellia on honeybee larvae, specifically focusing on the toxicity of its pollen. The study reveals that Camellia oleifera flowers are primarily pollinated by bees and wasps, with wasps being the most frequent visitors. Honeybees primarily collect nectar rather than pollen. The researchers propose that the toxic components in tea-oil pollen, specifically triterpenoid theasaponins, are responsible for the mortality of bee larvae. Tests conducted on honeybee larvae confirm that C. oleifera pollen is lethal, while Brassica napus pollen is not. The article also discusses the potential role of pollen toxicity in bird-pollinated flowers as a defense mechanism against overexploitation by honeybees. The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. [Extracted from the article]

The limited availability of antivirals for new highly pathogenic strains of virus has become a serious public health. Therefore, news products against these pathogens has become an urgent necessity. Among the multiple sources for news antibiotics and antivirals, insect exudates or their products has become an increasingly frequent option. Insects emerged 350 million years ago and have showed a high adaptability and resistance to the most varied biomes. Their survival for so long, in such different environments, is an indication that they have a very efficient protection against environmental infections, despite not having a developed immune system like mammals. Since the ancient civilizations, the products obtained from the bee have been of great pharmacological importance, being used as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and several other functions. Investigations of biological activity of propolis have been carried out, mainly in the species Apis mellifera, and its product have showed activity against some important viruses. However, for the Meliponini species, known as stingless bees, there are few studies, either on their chemical composition or on their biological activities. The importance of studying these bees is because they come from regions with native forests, and therefore with many species of plants not yet studied, in addition to which they are regions still free of pesticides, which guarantees a greater fidelity of the obtained data. Previous studies by our group with crude hydroalcoholic extract of propolis demonstrated an intense antiviral activity against Herpes, influenza, and rubella viruses. In this work, we chose to use aqueous extracts, which eliminates the presence of other compounds besides those originally present in propolis, in addition to extracting substances different from those obtained in alcoholic extracts. Therefore, this study aimed to identify, isolate and characterize compounds with antiviral effects from aqueous propolis extracts from Scaptotrigona aff postica, in emerging viruses such as zicavirus, chikungunya, and mayaro virus. The evaluation of the antiviral activity of the crude and purified material was performed by reducing infectious foci in VERO cell cultures. The results obtained with crude propolis, indicate a high reduction of zica virus (64×) and mayaro (128×) when was used 10% v/v of propolis. The reduction of chikungunya virus was of 256 fold, even when was used 5% v/v of propolis. The chemical characterization of the compounds present in the extracts was performed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Through the purification of propolis by HPLC and mass spectrometry, it was possible to identify and isolate a peak with antiviral activity. This substance showed activity against all viruses tested. When purified fraction was used, the reduction observed was of 16 fold for zicavirus, 32 fold for mayaro virus and 512 fold for chikungunya virus. Likewise, it was observed that the antiviral response was concentration dependent, being more intense when propolis was added 2 h after the viral infection. Now we are carrying out the chemical characterization of the purified compounds that showed antiviral action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, despite the undeniable importance of the beekeeping in different communities due to its economic, social and environmental functions (such as facilitating the pollination of plants), this sector is facing some challenges and neglected opportunities that have limited its performance and development. Hence, the current research tries to identify and analyze the challenges and opportunities of beekeeping in Fereydunshahr villages and provide suggestions for its development. Data were collected with a researcher made questionnaire. The sample size was 140 beekeepers who were selected by stratified sampling method among the beekeepers of Fereydunshahr villages (210 beekeepers). The results of descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the supply of counterfeit honey and cultural and social challenges (12.67% of variance) such as the lack of space to establish apiaries and the improper use of chemicals in agriculture are the main challenges. Also, the natural opportunities (22.70% of variance) include the suitable climate and vegetation for beekeeping activities and the presence of high quality and abundant water resources near the apiaries are the most important opportunities for beekeeping in Fereydunshahr. Finally, in accordance with challenges and opportunities identified in the beekeeping sector, some solutions were suggested in order to improve and develop beekeeping industry in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is a mechanism that manages a production system. This mechanism includes mathematical models and controllable inputs that can predict inputs with processes and results that can be monitored periodically. These parameters of PLF systems can improve resource use efficiency and reduce cultivation costs. Many situations, such as the behaviour of animals on farms, their nutrition, estrus cycles, and epidemics, can be monitored with wearable devices containing various sensors. However, real-time monitoring of the data collected by these devices is possible with Internet of Things (IoT) technology. IoT is a multi-layered network that enables sensors within the system to communicate with each other and implement certain decisions when necessary. Sensors and IoT devices extract information from the raw data they collect from the environment, which is then shared with other objects, devices, or servers via the internet. The real-time data collection, processing, and analysis provided by IoT enables improvements in the management of animal farms. This systematic review addresses IoT concepts and applications in the livestock sector from a systematic perspective for different animal farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to adapt a methodological tool capable of improving the way to obtain the Innovation Adoption Index in the Puebla beekeeping system. A questionnaire was designed and applied to a sample of 62 beekeepers, from which information was obtained on the use of management, genetics, food, and health innovations, from which 32 original variables and seven innovation categories were defined. The Innovation Adoption Index (InAI) was redesigned and adapted using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which made it easier to identify social aspects of beekeepers and innovations that contribute to improving honey productivity. The results show that the innovations that contribute the most to production are those contained in the categories of apiary location and health. On the other hand, the InAIalt evaluation proved to be a pertinent alternative for the explanation of the behavior of the yield per hive in addition to showing the specific contribution percentages on the innovations assessed, which can be used to calculate estimates that are more precise and consistent with the expected yields of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Currently, one of the most raised issues regarding the preservation of endemic honey bees is the importation of foreign subspecies, leading to genetic introgression and hybridization between subspecies. In Algeria, many beekeepers have reported importing foreign honey bees, notably the Italian Apis mellifera ligustica, for their high honey production. In order to provide a molecular characterization and a better knowledge of the genetic background of the Algerian honey bees subspecies A. m. intermissa and A. m. sahariensis, we analyzed the widely used COI-COII mitochondrial marker. In this study, we sequenced 139 drones of which 68 were from 20 regions in Algeria, and 71 individuals as a reference population, sampled in Europe, the South West Indian Ocean archipelagos, and Madagascar, representing the evolutionary lineages M, C, and A. As a result, we found that all Algerian samples belong to the African lineage A with the identification of 24 haplotypes, of which 16 are reported for the first time. The reference population shows ten different haplotypes distributed over the three lineages, with the identification of a new haplotype carried by two individuals sampled in France. The results of this survey show the absence of evidence of genetic introgression between Algerian and European honey bees. The practice of beekeeping in Algeria is of great cultural, social, and economic importance. However, the importation of non-local subspecies reported by beekeepers has disrupted the natural geographical distribution area and the genetic diversity of the native honey bees. To assess the genetic diversity of A. m. intermissa and A. m. sahariensis, and their relationships with African and European subspecies, the COI-COII intergenic region was analyzed in 335 individuals, 68 sampled in Algeria, 71 in Europe, Madagascar, and the South West Indian Ocean archipelagos, and 196 sequences recovered from GenBank. The results show the presence of the A lineage exclusively in Algerian samples with the identification of 24 haplotypes of which 16 are described for the first time. These haplotypes were found to be shared by both subspecies, with A74 being the most common haplotype in the population studied. The sequence comparison indicates the existence of three polymorphisms of the COI-COII marker: P0Q, P0QQ, and P0QQQ. One new haplotype was identified in the M lineage in samples from France. No evidence of genetic introgression within the Algerian honey bee population was detected. These data enhance our knowledge of the genetic diversity and emphasize the importance of protecting these local subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Invasive wasps can have huge impacts on global apiculture. Here, we developed 12 range dynamic models to globally calibrate the future range dynamics and invasion hotspots of 12 major invasive Vespidae wasp species through a unified approach and evaluated their future impacts on apiculture worldwide. We detected increases in their habitat suitability in most parts of the globe and substantial range expansions, both mainly driven by future climatic changes. We also identified those invasive wasp species projected to have the largest potential ranges, highest range expansion ratios, and largest centroid shifts, as well as the invasion hotspots of all major invasive wasp species in the future. In summary, the increasing habitat suitability and range dynamics of invasive wasps indicate that global apiculture will likely face greater adverse impacts in the future. Therefore, our study provides important and novel information for combatting invasions of wasps and mitigating their expected impacts on global apiculture. Until now, no study has examined the future range dynamics of major invasive wasp species to assess their future impacts on global apiculture. Here, we developed 12 species distribution models to calibrate the future range dynamics of 12 major invasive Vespidae wasp species under a unified framework. An increase in their habitat suitability was identified in more than 75% of global land. Substantial range expansions were detected for all 12 species, and they were primarily induced by future climate changes. Notably, Polistes dominula and Vespa crabro had the largest potential ranges under all scenarios, suggesting their greater impact on global apiculture. Polistes chinensis and Vespa velutina nigrithorax had the highest range expansion ratios, so they warrant more urgent attention than the other species. Polistes versicolor and P. chinensis are expected to exhibit the largest centroid shifts, suggesting that substantial shifts in prioritizing regions against their invasions should be made. Europe and the eastern part of the USA were future invasion hotspots for all major invasive wasp species, suggesting that apiculture might face more pronounced threats in these regions than in others. In conclusion, given their substantial range shifts, invasive wasps will likely have increasingly negative impacts on global apiculture in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the ecological interaction between honeybees (Apis mellifera) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) plants, examining the mutual benefits of this relationship. Field experiments conducted in Egypt from December 2022 to May 2023 recorded diverse insect pollinators attracted to fennel flowers, especially honeybees. Assessing honeybee colonies near fennel fields showed improvements in sealed brood (357.5–772.5 cells), unsealed brood (176.3–343.8 cells), pollen collection (53.25–257.5 units), honey accumulation (257.5–877.5 units), and colony strength (7.75–10) over three weeks. Fennel exposure explained 88–99% of variability in foraging metrics. Comparing open versus self-pollinated fennel revealed enhanced attributes with bee pollination, including higher flower age (25.67 vs 19.67 days), more seeds per umbel (121.3 vs 95.33), bigger seeds (6.533 vs 4.400 mm), heavier seeds (0.510 vs 0.237 g/100 seeds), and increased fruit weight per umbel (0.619 vs 0.226 g). Natural variation in seed color and shape also occurred. The outcomes demonstrate the integral role of honeybees in fennel agroecosystems through efficient pollination services that improve crop productivity and quality. Fennel provides abundant nutritional resources that bolster honeybee colony health. This research elucidates the symbiotic bee-fennel relationship, underscoring mutualistic benefits and the importance of ecological conservation for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning an olfactory discrimination task leads to heterogeneous results in honeybees with some bees performing very well and others at low rates. Here we investigated this behavioral heterogeneity and asked whether it was associated with particular gene expression patterns in the bee's brain. Bees were individually conditioned using a sequential conditioning protocol involving several phases of olfactory learning and retention tests. A cumulative score was used to differentiate the tested bees into high and low performers. The rate of CS+ odor learning was found to correlate most strongly with a cumulative performance score extracted from all learning and retention tests. Microarray analysis of gene expression in the mushroom body area of the brains of these bees identified a number of differentially expressed genes between high and low performers. These genes are associated with diverse biological functions, such as neurotransmission, memory formation, cargo trafficking and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, communication systems, including RFID, have been used in intelligent beehives for beekeeping. RFID systems in the UHF frequency band offer reading distances of tens of centimetres, allowing the localisation and identification of the queen bee inside the hive. With this purpose, this work proposes an analysis of an environment of propagation that consists of a honeycomb frame, where the reader is placed within the frame, and the tag is placed in different positions over it. A honeycomb frame consists of a wooden box containing a honey wax panel, supported by metallic wires. The environment is modelled theoretically using its S-parameters and simulated in CST Studio. An analysis of these results and empirical measurements is performed. The results show that a periodicity in the received power of the tag is found with respect to the distance to the reader when the tag is located in a direction parallel to the wire, where local maximum and minimum values are found. Additionally, when the tag is placed over a wire of the frame, a higher received power is obtained compared to the case where the tag is placed between two wires. Furthermore, it has been observed that the reading range has increased with respect to free space, covering the full frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight samples of propolis commercially available on south-eastern Poland's beekeeping market were compared in terms of quality, chemical composition and biological activity, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The organoleptic characteristics and physicochemical requirements indicated that only 50% of tested propolis samples was classified to class II regarding obligatory limits, while the others were out-class. A big variation in mineral composition was determined by the ICP-OES method but all samples were free of heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Ni). Although mesophilic bacteria, yeasts and moulds occurred in tested propolis (in general lower than 102 CFU/g), E. coli and spore-forming sulphite-reducing bacteria as well as Salmonella and Shigella bacteria were not detected. High antioxidant activity and total phenolic content for all samples was confirmed, which was correlated with antibacterial activity tested against E. coli ATCC 11775 strain. Additionally, the propolis sample with the strongest antibacterial activity (MIC 0.33 mg/mL) inhibited biofilm formation of S. aureus and S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 (MBIC 0.66 and 5.25 mg/mL, respectively). However, great variation in terms of antioxidant activity and HPLC polyphenolic profile were observed, and sakuranetin and pinobanksin were identified as the most effective antioxidant components. Moreover, the usefulness of ATR-FTIR spectra analysis was confirmed as a quick method for initial testing of propolis quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have reported fragmentary evidence that climate change is altering the phenology and behavior of honey bees. We compiled records of off-season swarming of the Japanese honey bee (Apis cerana japonica) between autumn and winter to improve our understanding of the impact of climate change on the subspecies' swarming phenology. Based on a survey of 311 beekeepers, eleven off-season swarming records were collected, with ten of them are from 2020 onward. The beekeepers who reported off-season swarming records had eight to twenty years of beekeeping experience, and they declared that they were witnessing off-season swarming for the first time, suggesting a recent increase. One possible factor contributing to the increase in off-season swarming is the temperature rise, as average autumn and winter temperatures in Japan have been increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Africanized honey bee, a hybrid of Apis mellifera scutellata from Africa with European subspecies, has been considered an invasive species and a problem for beekeeping. Africanized bees arrived in Mexico in 1986, 30 years after their accidental release in Brazil. Although government programs were implemented for its eradication, Africanized populations persist in Mexico, but precise information on the patterns of genetic introgression and racial ancestry is scarce. We determined maternal and parental racial ancestry of managed and feral honey bees across the five beekeeping regions of Mexico, using mitochondrial (mtDNA, COI‐COII intergenic region) and nuclear markers (94 ancestrally informative SNPs), to assess the relationship between beekeeping management, beekeeping region, altitude, and latitude with the distribution of maternal and parental racial ancestry. Results revealed a predominantly African ancestry in the Mexican honey bees, but the proportion varied according to management, beekeeping regions, and latitude. The Mexican honey bees showed 31 haplotypes of four evolutionary lineages (A, M, C, and O). Managed honey bees had mitochondrial and nuclear higher proportions of European ancestry than feral honey bees, which had a higher proportion of African ancestry. Beekeeping regions of lower latitudes had higher proportions of African nuclear ancestry. Managed and feral honey bees showed differences in the proportion of maternal and nuclear racial ancestry. Managed honey bees from the Yucatan Peninsula and feral honey bees had a higher mtDNA than nuclear proportions of African ancestry. Managed honey bees, except those on the Yucatan Peninsula, had a higher nuclear than mtDNA proportion of African ancestry. Our study demonstrates that Africanized honey bee populations are genetically diverse and well established in Mexico, which highlights the limitations of management and government programs to contain the Africanization process and demands the incorporation of this lineage in any breeding program for sustainable beekeeping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honeybee, Apis mellifera, stands out for its positive image due to its contribution to crop pollination and honey production, which facilitated its widespread distribution. However, large apiaries resulting in high honeybee densities could increase pollination frequency while increasing competition for floral resources, ultimately affecting native plant fitness.We studied the impact of managed honeybee hives on pollination and reproductive success of native plants in Villavicencio Nature Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina. During the flowering peak, we studied pollination and reproduction of three native plant species (Larrea divaricata, L. cuneifolia and Zuccagnia punctata) near and far from the hives. We estimated pollen deposition on flower stigmas, pollen tubes developed in flower pistils, fruit set, seed set and seed viability.We found that the honeybee hives had a positive effect on the reproduction of the self‐compatible species, L. divaricata. For the self‐incompatible species, results differed among species: Hives had positive effects on the pollination and negative effects on the reproduction of L. cuneifolia, while they had negative effects on the reproduction of Z. punctata.Synthesis and applications. Beekeeping is increasingly turning to natural areas in search of better quality honey; however, increased honeybee abundance in the field could influence the reproduction of native plants. Our results show that the introduction of managed hives negatively affected the reproduction of self‐incompatible native plants. This result allows us to make several recommendations for conservation and management actions concerning beekeeping in natural areas, regarding the among‐year rotation of the location of hives, the number of hives per site, and the need to monitor the reproduction of self‐incompatible species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of bees and conservation practices can be embedded in individuals from early childhood. The Tanzanian Maasai, known for their pastoral life, have recently seen the introduction of beekeeping activities in their region. The key question in this study was "How are the Maasai faring with the introduction of beekeeping in their society?" The research involved (1) some exploratory interviews with adult Maasai, (2) a preliminary survey of 196 Maasai children from a school that recently engaged in beekeeping activities, and (3) the main study, a survey of 119 Maasai adults from the same region who were aware of beekeeping activities. All adult interviewees indicated positive feelings toward bees and beekeeping despite how "modern" or "traditional" they felt. And Maasai school children showed their enthusiasm for and empathy with bees. Specifically, while only 27% of children felt emotionally connected to bees, 84% believed beekeeping activities were beneficial, and 70% wanted to learn more about bees in school. The study of Maasai adults showed that, compared to livestock and dogs, they were significantly less emotionally connected to bees. Although 92% were aware of beekeeping, only 4% had been involved in creating any bee-related products. Further, individual relatedness to nature was associated with their willingness to engage in and learn about beekeeping activities for themselves and their children. However, the association was weaker in the case of adult Maasai, who had a more negative attitude toward bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Increasing honey bee resilience against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, while respecting sustainability, may be achieved by enriching natural mite resistance traits in the breeding population. Some of these traits are linked to specific variants in the honey bee genome, which can be pinpointed and characterized with high-throughput molecular lab tests. Breeding by focusing on these genomic variants is thus more efficient and less time-consuming. However, when evaluating the link between a specific varroa resistance trait outcome and its associated variants in the genome, different contributions of the variants may be observed between honey bee races. It is hypothesized that these observations evolve from different linkages between the trait-causing genes and the genomic variants. Therefore, we evaluated the presence of genomic variants associated with a varroa resistance trait in different honey bee samples across the European continent. We observed significant differences in the presence of the genomic variants in the considered honey bee races, which underpin our hypothesis of linkage dissimilarities. This study shows that determining the honey bee race prior to using the genomic variants associated with varroa resistance for selective breeding is of utmost importance. Implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in modern beekeeping would improve sustainability, especially in breeding programs aiming for resilience against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Selecting honey bee colonies for natural resistance traits, such as brood-intrinsic suppression of varroa mite reproduction, reduces the use of chemical acaricides while respecting local adaptation. In 2019, eight genomic variants associated with varroa non-reproduction in drone brood were discovered in a single colony from the Amsterdam Water Dune population in the Netherlands. Recently, a new study tested the applicability of these eight genetic variants for the same phenotype on a population-wide scale in Flanders, Belgium. As the properties of some variants varied between the two studies, one hypothesized that the difference in genetic ancestry of the sampled colonies may underly these contribution shifts. In order to frame this, we determined the allele frequencies of the eight genetic variants in more than 360 Apis mellifera colonies across the European continent and found that variant type allele frequencies of these variants are primarily related to the A. mellifera subspecies or phylogenetic honey bee lineage. Our results confirm that population-specific genetic markers should always be evaluated in a new population prior to using them in MAS programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Worldwide, honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are involved in pollinating both wild and economically useful plants, while their products are also used by the food and pharmaceutical industries. But currently, apiculture is encountering the adverse effects of global climate change, including more variable rainfall, shifting seasonal precipitation, and increasing temperature averages. These changes threaten the sustainable future of apiculture as these anomalies have already contributed significantly to the economic downturn of the apiculture industry in recent years. In this review, we provide an overview of the current challenges faced by apiculture due to climate change, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) applications in apiculture that can assist to address them. AI has been utilized in various scientific aspects of apiculture, such as managing hives, maintaining health, detecting pests and diseases, monitoring habitats, and managing population distribution. This is achieved by analyzing data objects such as text, audio, images, videos, sensor readings, and numerical values to investigate, model, predict, and make supporting decisions. Several shortcomings of the existing AI application are identified in this review, and the knowledge gaps regarding the development of autonomous intelligent systems for sustainable beekeeping are also highlighted. Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are important for agriculture and ecosystems; however, they are threatened by the changing climate. In order to adapt and respond to emerging difficulties, beekeepers require the ability to continuously monitor their beehives. To carry out this, the utilization of advanced machine learning techniques proves to be an exceptional tool. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the available research on the different applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in beekeeping that are relevant to climate change. Presented studies have shown that AI can be used in various scientific aspects of beekeeping and can work with several data types (e.g., sound, sensor readings, images) to investigate, model, predict, and help make decisions in apiaries. Research articles related to various aspects of apiculture, e.g., managing hives, maintaining their health, detecting pests and diseases, and climate and habitat management, were analyzed. It was found that several environmental, behavioral, and physical attributes needed to be monitored in real-time to be able to understand and fully predict the state of the hives. Finally, it could be concluded that even if there is not yet a full-scale monitoring method for apiculture, the already available approaches (even with their identified shortcomings) can help maintain sustainability in the changing apiculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study addresses the growing number of reports of Varroa mite resistance to amitraz, which is vital for beekeepers in managing this destructive pest. Recently, beekee-pers in France and the United States have reported the diminishing effectiveness of amitraz treatments, threatening their ability to control Varroa infestations. We collected data from French apiaries in 2020 and 2021, examining the field effectiveness of amitraz treatments and conducting laboratory sensitivity tests to the pesticide. Additionally, we genotyped 240 Varroa mites from different regions in France, focusing on a specific genetic marker previously linked to amitraz resistance. Our findings revealed regional occurrences of resistance, but the decrease in treatment efficacy was less severe compared to resistance against other pesticides. Notably, our genetic analysis suggested that the previously identified genetic marker may not directly cause amitraz resistance. These findings underscore the urgent need for ongoing monitoring and the development of new strategies to manage Varroa mites, ensuring the sustainability of beekeeping. By understanding and addressing resistance, we can maintain amitraz as a reliable tool to protect bee colonies, which are crucial due to the essential pollination services they provide. Resistance against amitraz in Varroa mite populations has become a subject of interest in recent years due to the increasing reports of the reduced field efficacy of amitraz treatments, especially from some beekeepers in France and the United States. The loss of amitraz as a reliable tool to effectively reduce Varroa mite infestation in the field could severely worsen the position of beekeepers in the fight to keep Varroa infestation rates in their colonies at low levels. In this publication, we present data from French apiaries, collected in the years 2020 and 2021. These data include the field efficacy of an authorized amitraz-based Varroa treatment (Apivar® ,Véto-pharma, France) and the results of laboratory sensitivity assays of Varroa mites exposed to the reference LC90 concentration of amitraz. In addition, a total of 240 Varroa mites from Eastern, Central, and Southern regions in France that were previously classified as either "sensitive" or "resistant" to amitraz in a laboratory sensitivity assay were genotyped. The genetic analyses of mite samples are focused on the β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor, which is considered as the main target site for amitraz in Varroa mites. Special attention was paid to a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 260 of the ORβ-2R-L gene that was previously associated to amitraz resistance in French Varroa mites, Varroa. Our findings confirm that amitraz resistance occurs in patches or "islands of resistance", with a less severe reduction in treatment efficacy compared to pyrethroid resistance or coumaphos resistance in Varroa mites. The results of our genetic analyses of Varroa mites call into question the hypothesis of the SNP at position 260 of the ORβ-2R-L gene being directly responsible for amitraz resistance development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In addition to invaluable ecosystem services, beekeeping offers opportunities for job creation, income generation and food security. Beekeepers have been experiencing economic losses due to high rates of honey bee colony losses driven by various factors worldwide. We conducted this study using the COLOSS monitoring survey tools for the first time in Ethiopia to assess honey bee colony loss rates, annual colony development, beekeeping practices, and to determine the role of management practices (varroa monitoring, varroa treatment, colony splitting, feed supplementation, use of natural comb, and purchase of beeswax from external sources), as well as region, on colony losses. For this, data were collected by interviewing beekeepers from two major beekeeping regions in the country—Oromia and Tigray. Our results showed a high rate of colony losses in Ethiopia, which significantly varied between the regions. The main drivers of honey bee colony losses are related to natural disasters (particularly war), beekeeping husbandry practices, and pest management. Therefore, it is important to promote the capacity of smallholder beekeepers to implement improved beekeeping practices such as feed supplementation, queen replacement and pest management that would lead to reduced losses, increased profitability, and improved food security and livelihood. The COLOSS research association has been assessing honey bee colony losses, associated risk factors and management, focusing on Western countries but with a progressive international expansion. Here, we report the first survey on the loss rates of colonies in 2022/2023 in Ethiopia using COLOSS monitoring survey tools. A face-to-face interview questionnaire survey was conducted on 64 beekeepers selected from Oromia and Tigray regions. This covered 1713 honey bee colonies distributed in 68 apiaries. The percentages of colonies lost were significantly different between Oromia (24.1%) and Tigray (66.4%) regions. Colony losses were attributed as unsolvable queen problems (8% in Oromia; 10% in Tigray), natural disaster (32%; 82%), and empty hives or dead colonies (60%; 8%). The loss rate was significantly affected by queen replacement (p < 0.0001), use of natural comb (p < 0.0001), feed supplementation (p < 0.0001), region (p < 0.0001), varroa treatment (p < 0.0001), colony splitting (p < 0.01), and merging (p < 0.01). Beekeepers in Oromia managed more colonies and implemented improved practices compared to those in Tigray. However, all beekeepers in Oromia detected at least some bees with signs of deformed wing virus, compared to 76% of beekeepers in Tigray. In conclusion, the colony loss rate was significantly different between Oromia and Tigray regions due to differences in natural disasters, management, environment and health factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Apis mellifera, csd is the primary gene involved in sex determination: haploid hemizygous eggs develop as drones, while females develop from eggs heterozygous for the csd gene. If diploid eggs are homozygous for the csd gene, diploid drones will develop, but will be eaten by worker bees before they are born. Therefore, high csd allelic diversity is a priority for colony survival and breeding. This study aims to investigate the variability of the hypervariable region (HVR) of the csd gene in bees sampled in an apiary under a selection scheme. To this end, an existing dataset of 100 whole-genome sequences was analyzed with a validated pipeline based on de novo assembly of sequences within the HVR region. In total, 102 allelic sequences were reconstructed and translated into amino acid sequences. Among these, 47 different alleles were identified, 44 of which had previously been observed, while 3 are novel alleles. The results show a high variability in the csd region in this breeding population of honeybees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

My paper wishes to delve into concepts such as assemblage and sympoiesis and examine them within the framework of my ethnographic fieldwork on beekeeping in the Western chain of the Italian Alps. I believe that the implications of notions such as sympoiesis and assemblage can be seen to surface in the context of beekeeping and bee culture, as they emerge as multispecies activities where everything and everyone involved can be regarded as a social actor. In this respect, the most relevant issues I would like to tackle are referred to knowledge production and know-how among beekeepers who keep their apiaries in the plains for most part of the year and move them to mountain areas for the summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]