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Brazil is the leading soybean producing country in the world, and soybean is the major crop of Brazilian agriculture, spread over 36 million hectares during the 2020/21 season, producing almost 125 million tons. The honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and other bees are known as soybean flowers visitors, being potential pollinators of the crop, normally resulting in higher soybean yields. Over the last ten years, it has been observed an increasing interest of both beekeepers and soybean growers, to place honey bee colonies close to soybean fields, using the crop as a forage source. In the majority of the reports of soybeans growers, an increase of the soybean yield was observed when following this practice, while a small number claimed no yield modification. The purpose of the present work was to study the effect of visits of individuals of A. mellifera to soybean flowers and the consequent pollination on soybean productivity, when there is a constraint to the expression of the potential crop yield. The experiments were set up in Londrina, Brazil, during the 2016/17 and 2019/20 crop seasons, in areas with known sub superficial compaction layers, preventing soybean roots from deepening in the soil, therefore restricting the absorption of water and nutrients by the plants. Treatments consisted of 1) open plots, resembling a typical grower field with free access of bees; 2) a caged plot with an A. mellifera beehive inside, and 3) a caged plot with no bees or any other potential pollinating insect inside. Results indicated no yield differences due to the pollination of soybean flowers by the bees, compared to the treatment with the absence of bee visit. Among the yield components, only pods with 1 or 2 seeds were lower on caged plots with bees on the 1st experiment. No differences were detected for all others observed parameters on 1st and for all components on 2nd experiments. Observations of the honey bee behavior demonstrated that only 27.9% of the bee visits to soybean flowers resulted in nectar hoarding, with a time lapse of 4.52 seconds for a visit to a single flower. When a flower was only tested (72.1%), without nectar collection, the average time of a honey bee visit was 1.38 seconds. New studies should be performed to verify if other biotic or abiotic stresses that depress soybean yield also prevent the expression of the benefit of bees' pollination to soybean yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ants are ubiquitous and eusocial insects that exhibit frequent physical contact among colony members, thereby increasing their susceptibility to diseases. Some species are often found in beehives and in their surroundings, where they exploit the food resources of honey bees. This intricate relationship may facilitate the interspecific transmission of honey bee pathogens to ants, although ants themselves may contribute to spillback phenomena. The objective of this study was to assess the presence and abundance of honey bee pathogens in ants sampled from Italian apiaries. A total of 37 colonies within 24 apiaries across 7 regions were monitored. In total, 6 pathogens were detected in adult ants and 3 in the brood. In particular, the study revealed a high prevalence of honey bee pathogens in ants, with DWV, BQCV, and CBPV being the most commonly encountered. The brood also tested positive for the same viruses. Notably, all analyzed viruses were found to be replicative in both adult ants and ant broods. Furthermore, co‐infections were prevalent, suggesting complex pathogen interactions within ant populations. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences in pathogen prevalence and abundance among ant species and sample types. The findings highlight active infection in both the ants and the brood, suggesting a potential role of ants as reservoir hosts and vectors of honey bee pathogens emphasizing the need for further research to understand the implications of interspecific pathogen transmission on ant and bee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is relevant interest concerning beehives, taking into account climate change and its influence on bees' behavior. A part of the industrial engineering sector is focusing on beekeeping applications. More specifically, the present study aims to develop a trailer for the transport of beehives adapted to be placed or fixed to a tractor or a vehicle trailer, with the objective of transporting the beehives safely and stably during transhumance. The proposed novel design relates to a trailer that incorporates a device for housing a rectangular section of the beehives, which can be adapted for fixing or housing in a vehicle or in a vehicle trailer. The device comprises a lower support structure, adapted to support a plurality of rectangular sections of beehives stacked horizontally on the lower structure, an upper frame adapted to house the beehives inside, and two or more connecting elements between the lower structure and the upper frame. The connection of the trailer with the device facilitates the loading and unloading of the beehives by mechanical means. The different parts have been designed as individual pieces and then assembly is carried out to achieve the complete design. This method of implementation is because the simulation of individual components is simpler and easier, since if it is carried out through assembly, the type of joint, such as welding, and the length of the weld would have to be indicated at each point of contact between components, along with its thickness and all the necessary parameters. Therefore, in those welding points, fixed fastenings are indicated and so will simplify it. In accordance with the individual creation of each part, its own load simulation has been carried out. Static analyses are performed taking into account structural elements of this proposed design, with restrictions and loads being established. The analysis, including upper bars and supports, has been completed with several situations. Based on stress values, deformations have been determined and calculations evaluated. The trays have been manufactured using flat steel bars and angled bars for the legs and support of the hives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beekeeping is a vital economic activity for smallholder farmers; therefore, it is essential to provide beekeepers with information regarding the profitability and productivity of box hives to encourage them to embrace the technology. However, scant information is available to comprehensively compare the profitability and output of traditional and modern beehives. This study seeks to compare the performance of traditional and modern beehives in Baringo South Sub-County. Simple random sampling was used in conjunction with a cross-sectional survey to collect data from the 197 beekeepers who participated in the study. A gross margin analysis was performed to understand the returns of traditional and modern hives. According to the findings, individuals who used traditional beehives had a higher overall operational cost of Ksh. 1449.44 per hive, whereas those who used modern hives had a total operational cost of Ksh. 1000.73. In addition, the study also demonstrated that those that utilised modern beehives received larger gross margins in Kenyan shillings 7917.74, whilst those who used traditional beehives received Ksh. 5590.59. According to the study’s findings, modern beekeeping generates higher returns than traditional beekeeping. As a result, farmers should be encouraged to employ modern beehives to generate higher returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe aim of this investigation was to identify honeybee flora species, identify the constraints and opportunities of honey production in three purposively selected districts of North Wollo, Amhara, Ethiopia from September to November 2021. In total, 384 beekeepers were purposively selected for the interview based on accessibility and beekeeping potentials. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interview and focal group discussions were used for data collection. Beekeepers indicated that the major source of bee colony was buying, catching swarm and gift from others with decreasing order. Beekeepers kept their bee colony in the backyard area. They keep traditional, movable frame and top bar hive, respectively, in descending order. Majority of the beekeepers follow traditional production systems. Twenty-nine honeybee flora species and twelve poisonous plants are also identified. Use of agrochemicals, lack of beekeeping equipment, diseases, pests and predators were the main challenges to beekeeping identified in the study area. Conversely, the suitability of an environment with different agro-ecology, the availability of diversified honeybee flora and the attractive price of honey are the best-observed opportunities to increase honey production and productivity. In conclusion, great attention should be given to training and extension programs for beekeepers focusing on honeybee management, pest and predator prevention, and/or control methods. Supporting beekeeping equipments, strict rules and regulations on the use of agrochemicals should be necessary. Further research should be done on the abundance of honey bee flora and the level and effect of poisonous honeybee floras in order to increase the productivity and income of beekeepers.

Changes in the functional shape of astigmatan mite moveable digit profiles are examined to test if Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae) is a trophic intermediate between a typical micro-saprophagous carpoglyphid (Carpoglyphus lactis) and a common macro-saprophagous glycyphagid (Glycyphagus domesticus). Digit tip elongation in these mites is decoupled from the basic physics of optimising moveable digit inertia. Investment in the basal ramus/coronoid process compared to that for the moveable digit mastication length varies with feeding style. A differentiated ascending ramus is indicated in C. lactis and in T. putrescentiae for different trophic reasons. Culturing affects relative investments in C. lactis. A markedly different style of feeding is inferred for the carpoglyphid. The micro-saprophagous acarid does not have an intermediate pattern of trophic functional form between the other two species. Mastication surface shape complexity confirms the acarid to be heterodontous. T. putrescentiae is a particularly variably formed species trophically. A plausible evolutionary path for the gradation of forms is illustrated. Digit form and strengthening to resist bending under occlusive loads is explored in detail. Extensions to the analytical approach are suggested to confirm the decoupling of moveable digit pattern from cheliceral and chelal adaptations. Caution is expressed when interpreting ordinations of multidimensional data in mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of information on the comparative studies of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties as well as quality standards of stingless bee honey (SBH) in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to assess and compare the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH, specifically sourced from Meliponula beccarii, and produced under both wild and modern apiary conditions at two distinct geographical locations. A total of forty‐six honey samples were meticulously collected from domesticated stingless bee colonies and naturally occurring wild nests at Wolmera and Cheliya districts. Pollen analysis unveiled eleven distinct bee plant species distributed across six families, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent, primarily represented by Guizotia scabra and Vernonia amygdalina. Notably, the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH collected from modern pot hives exhibited significant variances (p <.05) when compared to SBH from wild nests. Principal component analysis (PCA) delineated the differentiation of SBH sources based on both geographical location and the type of beehive. One‐way ANOVA corroborated these distinctions, underscoring significantly higher levels (p <.05) of ash, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucrose, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and radical scavenging activities of SBH from modern pot hives in Wolmera. Whereas, Cheliya modern pot hives recorded higher values in pH, hydroxymethylfurfural and maltose contents compared to the wild nest SBH. Further analysis through Pearson correlation highlighted a strong positive association between total phenolic content and total flavonoid content with the antioxidant capacity of SBH. These findings underscore the significance of integrating modern pot hives to enhance the quality of SBH within Ethiopia's beekeeping sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollination services are affected by landscape context, farming management and pollinator community structure, all of which impact flower visitation rates, pollen deposition and final production. We studied these processes in Argentina for highbush blueberry crops, which depend on pollinators to produce marketable yields.We studied how land cover and honeybee stocking influence the abundance of wild and managed pollinators in blueberry crops, using structural equation modelling to disentangle the cascading effects through which pollinators contribute to blueberry fruit number, size, nutritional content and overall yield.All pollinator functional groups responded to landscape changes at a spatial scale under 1000 m, and the significance or direction of the effects were modulated by the field‐level deployment of honeybee hives.Fruit diameter increased with pollen deposited, but decreased with honeybee abundance, which, had indirect effects on fruit acidity. Honeybees had a positive effect on the number of fruit produced by the plants and also benefited the overall yield (kg plant−1) through independent effects on both the quality and quantity components of fruit production.Synthesis and applications. Deployment of beehives in blueberry fields can buffer, but not compensate for the negative effects on honeybee abundance produced by surrounding large scale none‐flowering crops. Such compensation would require high‐quality beehives by monitoring their health and strength. The contribution of honeybees to crop production is not equal across production metrics. That is, higher abundance of honeybees increases the number of berries produced but at the cost of smaller and more acidic fruits, potentially reducing their market value. Growers must consider this trade‐off between fruit quantity and quality when actively managing honeybee abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study was carried out to assess the farmer's perception on the importance of pollination and profitability analysis of citrus farming in Syangja district. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select the study areas and respondents from the study areas. Putalibazaar Municipality, Bhirkot Municipality and Waling Municipality of Syangja district were selected in consultation with the PMAMP of Syangja district. Similarly, 66 respondents were selected using the purposive random sampling to collect the data using the semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data were processed tabulated and analyzed using SPSS and MS-Excel. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. It was found that male population (80.3%) was dominant over female population (19.7%). The average cultivated land for citrus was found to be 9.984 ropani. Average productivity and average price per kg of citrus of sampled household was found to be 6.13 mt and Rs. 55/kg respectively. Benefit-cost ratio was found to be 2.51 where Labor cost account as the major cost among the total cost of production with average of Rs. 47735. Study found that only 19.7% of the farmers possessed a strong understanding of the concept of pollination. However, 56.1% of the population were found to keep beehive i.e action was taken to manage pollination knowingly or unknowingly but primary motive was to rear bee for honey rather than for managing the pollinators while remaining of the population took no action. Study conducted in Syangja district, Nepal revealed that substantial proportion. exceeding 63.6% of the local farmers lacked knowledge regarding crops dependent on pollinators for reproduction. Study found that 51.3% of participating farmers exhibited a low level of knowledge concerning climate change. Additionally, none of the respondents reported implementing practices specifically aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change on their agricultural operations. A study investigating agroecological practices among farmers revealed that 71.2% employed both intercropping and mulching techniques. In contrast, 28.8% of the farmers solely utilized mulching as their ecological practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the prevalence of microorganisms and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in beehives located on different plantations in Thailand. Seventeen swabs immersed in transport media were utilized for samples from different zones within beehives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, MALDI-TOF MS (VITEK® MS, bioMerieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France), and antibiotic drug susceptibility (disk-diffusion) tests were used to detect microorganism and antimicrobial resistance bacteria. The results from 16 beehive swabs found Gram-positive bacteria at 59.5%, Gram-negative bacteria at 35.1%, and fungi (yeast) at 5.4%. These organisms are classified as 11, 11, and 2 types of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi (yeast), respectively. Furthermore, no organism showed resistance to vancomycin or cefoxitin for antibiotic drug susceptibility testing. In contrast, all Acinetobacter spp. were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, imipenem, and meropenem, except for Acinetobacter schindleri, which was resistant to ceftazidime and cefotaxime. For other organisms, due to the limitations of tests to identify some environmental microbial species, the antimicrobial susceptibility test results cannot be interpreted as resistant or susceptible to the drug for these organisms. The study's findings will support prevention, healthcare services, and public health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is relevant interest concerning beehives, taking into account climate change and its influence on bees’ behavior. A part of the industrial engineering sector is focusing on beekeeping applications. More specifically, the present study aims to develop a trailer for the transport of beehives adapted to be placed or fixed to a tractor or a vehicle trailer, with the objective of transporting the beehives safely and stably during transhumance. The proposed novel design relates to a trailer that incorporates a device for housing a rectangular section of the beehives, which can be adapted for fixing or housing in a vehicle or in a vehicle trailer. The device comprises a lower support structure, adapted to support a plurality of rectangular sections of beehives stacked horizontally on the lower structure, an upper frame adapted to house the beehives inside, and two or more connecting elements between the lower structure and the upper frame. The connection of the trailer with the device facilitates the loading and unloading of the beehives by mechanical means. The different parts have been designed as individual pieces and then assembly is carried out to achieve the complete design. This method of implementation is because the simulation of individual components is simpler and easier, since if it is carried out through assembly, the type of joint, such as welding, and the length of the weld would have to be indicated at each point of contact between components, along with its thickness and all the necessary parameters. Therefore, in those welding points, fixed fastenings are indicated and so will simplify it. In accordance with the individual creation of each part, its own load simulation has been carried out. Static analyses are performed taking into account structural elements of this proposed design, with restrictions and loads being established. The analysis, including upper bars and supports, has been completed with several situations. Based on stress values, deformations have been determined and calculations evaluated. The trays have been manufactured using flat steel bars and angled bars for the legs and support of the hives.

Background: Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and ecological balance. Apis mellifera L. colonies, especially those located in specific geographic regions, such as the palm garden in Eastern Thailand, are susceptible to potential threats from microbial contaminants. Understanding and detecting microbial organisms in these beehives is essential for the preservation of bee health, honey production, and the broader ecosystem. However, the problem of microbial infection and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is more severe and continuously increasing, resulting in a health, economic, and social crisis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in A. mellifera beehives in palm gardens in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand.Results: Ten swabs in transport media were swabbed and obtained from different parts of each beehive (1 swab per beehive), for a total of 10 hives. Traditional microbial culture- based methods, biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility (disc-diffusion) tests were used to detect microbial organisms and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The swab tests from nine beehives resulted in the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (63.64%), Gram-negative bacteria (27.27%), and fungi/yeast (9.09%). These microorganisms are classified as a group of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and made up 40.91% of the bacteria discovered. Other bacteria found were Coryneform bacteria (13.64%), Pantoea spp. (13.64%), Bacillus spp. (9.09%), yeast (9.09%), glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (9.09%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.55%). However, due to the traditional culture- based and 0biochemical tests usually used to identify the microbial organisms in clinical specimens and the limitation of identifying some environmental microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test cannot reveal if the organism is resistant or susceptible to the drug. Nevertheless, drug-sensitive inhibition zones were formed with each antibiotic agent.Conclusion : s: Overall, the study supports prevention, healthcare, and public health systems. The contamination of microorganisms in the beehives may affect the quality of honey and other bee products or even the health of the beekeeper. To avoid this kind of contamination, it is therefore necessary to wear personal protective equipment while harvesting honey and other bee products.

Monitoring honey beehives is mainly done manually by beekeepers to evaluate the health of their hives and determine their growth and yield. With the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and tools, there have been some efforts in recent years to automate such monitoring. This can significantly benefit beekeepers as they can obtain critical data and insight into their hives' health and performance more regularly. In this paper, we use IoT devices and the Thingsboard dashboard to track the status of 28 honey beehives installed in the Western region of North Carolina as part of the Appalachian Multi-Apiary Informatics System (AppMAIS) project. In order to acquire data from a beehive, humidity and temperature sensors, as well as a microphone, have been placed inside the hives. In addition, a video camera has been placed at the top of the hive's entrance to obtain video recordings of the bees entering and leaving the hives, and a scale is placed under the hive to report the weight. The data collected from the sensors and peripherals installed in each of the AppMAIS hives are sent to the Thingsboard dashboard for management and visualization. In this paper, we report on our success with Thingsboard IoT tool to monitor honey beehives and take advantage of their capabilities to interact with the devices as needed to adjust operational parameters.

This study describes the results of sowing certain cover crops from a stationary apiary in the Cornetu commune (in the south-west of the Ilfov County, Romania); these are phacelia, buckwheat, white mustard, spring peas, camelina variety - Mădălina and also a mix of seeds specially designed to attract bees favouring pollination. In order to determine the feeding behaviour and the preference of pollen sources by the bee colony, honey plants are identified in the vicinity of the apiary and up to the outskirts of the commune of Cornetu. The honeydew potential of Ilfov County includes several plants from the spontaneous flora which, through nectar secretions, pollen, and even manna secretions, provide bees with the raw material necessary for the maintenance and development of bee colonies. The research work aims to identify the plant species that form the melliferous base of the hive, according to their flowering, the specifics of the plants, of the production of nectar and pollen of the beehive in the conditions of the area, and the beekeeping share of each plant or group of plants. With their flowering period from February to March and until the end of October, these plants from the S-W region of Ilfov County provide a source of food for bee families throughout the active beekeeping season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permaculture dates back to the origins of man, fauna and flora that coexist on planet earth, each with a mission that contributes to maintaining the harmonious balance of ecosystems, for which, bees, the noble laborious, play a fundamental role in the pollination of agricultural crops and the diversity of plant species, floral, timber, fruit that make up the agro ecosystems, without which, the food of man would be limited; So much so that permapiculture safeguards the natural habitats of bees to guarantee their productivity, preserve their health and prolong their life; in this context, the objective of the work delved into the importance of permapiculture to maintain the balance of agricultural and agroforestry ecosystems, nature and mother earth as a whole. Based on a methodology of documentary review in primary and secondary sources, books, manuals and scientific articles, live recorded workshops and recorded interviews of experts, it was possible to obtain as results a characterization of permapiculture to determine that its importance lies in the rescue of ancestral knowledge that respects the natural environment of bees as producers of food and health for men. For these reasons, it is necessary to renew the traditional beekeeping practices oriented to an intensive beekeeping, towards the permapiculture that will guarantee the permanence of the brides of the sun on earth, and consequently to all the species, of which human beings are also part, being now, the moment to rethink and practice the filial love for the permapiculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower is a protandrous type, having a problem in which male and female elements mature at different times. Hence, cross pollination is the only way for seed setting in sunflower. For effective cross pollination, various techniques were developed. Based on this, field study was conducted during June 2022-August 2022 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu to enhance the yield and yield attributes of hybrid sunflower (Kaveri Champ) through honeybee as an agent for cross pollination. The study comprised six treatments with four replications. The treatments were: T1 –Natural pollination, T2 –Hand pollination, T3 –Head to head pollination, T4 –Beehive alone, T5 –Beehive + Hand pollination and T6 – Beehive + Head to head pollination. The study revealed that the (T5 ) Beehive + hand pollination showed the highest value in terms of seed yield (3669 kg/ha), number of filled seeds per head (1418), 100-seed weight (4.72 g) and seed set percentage (98.55) followed by (T4 ) Beehive alone. Natural pollination (T1 ) showed the lowest seed yield (2088 kg/ha), number of filled seeds per head (832), 100-seed weight – (4.12 g) and seed set percentage – (71.91) in all the yield parameters. Pollination with honeybees and by hand increased seed yield per head, compared to natural pollination. Results indicated that the use of honeybees for sunflower hybrid improved the yield and yield attributes of sunflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study sought to determine the anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties of distilled water-soluble extract of beehive (WSE-BH). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) studies were used to characterize the chemical compositions obtained from beehives extracted in water and methanol (also fractions). The GC-MS analysis identified 19 compounds in WSE-BH, including high total phenol and flavonoid contents, compared with the methanol extract (21 compounds), ethyl acetate fraction (9 compounds), and CCl4 fraction (27 compounds). The oral administration of WSE-BH (50 and 150 mg/kg) showed significant anxiolytic activities assessed by time spent in (30.80% and 39.47%, respectively) and entry into (47.49% and 55.93%, respectively) the open arms of the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Only the 150 mg/kg dose resulted in a significant effect on the number of head-dipping events in the hole-board test (HBT) (40.2 ± 2.33; p

Varroa mite, Varroa destructor is the most important ectoparasite of the honey bee, Apis mellifera worldwide, contributing to colony collapse. The development of alternative non-toxic methods against this pest is needed, as most of the wide-used acaricides in apiculture are banned in the European Union, which increase the risk of developing resistant mite populations against the remaining few products. In order to reveal biological basis of a new, semiochemical-based method, the aim of this study was to search for olfactory stimuli, used by female Varroa mites in orienting to drone brood for egglaying. Volatiles of uncapped drone brood were collected in situ, inside bee-hives, using either charcoal, or HayeSep® Q filters. Collections were analyzed by gas chromatograph linked to an electrotarsogram detector (GC-ETD), using the foreleg of female mite. Results showed that most components were present in collections trapped by any of these filters. However, some components appreared only in charcoal-, while others only in HayeSep® collections, respectively. Out of the large number of components, a few elicited electrophysiological responses. Structure elucidation of these active components are underways. Futher behavioral studies should reveal, which components play role in attraction of Varroa mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the prevalence of microorganisms and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in beehives located on different plantations in Thailand. Seventeen swabs immersed in transport media were utilized for samples from different zones within beehives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, MALDI-TOF MS (VITEK® MS, bioMerieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France), and antibiotic drug susceptibility (disk-diffusion) tests were used to detect microorganism and antimicrobial resistance bacteria. The results from 16 beehive swabs found Gram-positive bacteria at 59.5%, Gram-negative bacteria at 35.1%, and fungi (yeast) at 5.4%. These organisms are classified as 11, 11, and 2 types of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi (yeast), respectively. Furthermore, no organism showed resistance to vancomycin or cefoxitin for antibiotic drug susceptibility testing. In contrast, all Acinetobacter spp. were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, imipenem, and meropenem, except for Acinetobacter schindleri, which was resistant to ceftazidime and cefotaxime. For other organisms, due to the limitations of tests to identify some environmental microbial species, the antimicrobial susceptibility test results cannot be interpreted as resistant or susceptible to the drug for these organisms. The study’s findings will support prevention, healthcare services, and public health systems.

The perceptions and definitions of healthy indoor environments have changed significantly throughout architectural history. Today, molecular biology teaches us that microbes play important roles in human health, and that isolation from them puts not only us but also other inhabitants of urban landscapes, at risk. In order to provide an environment that makes honeybees more resilient to environmental changes, we aim for combining the thermal insulation functionality of mycelium materials with bioactive therapeutic properties within beehive constructions. By identifying mycelial fungi's interactions with nest-related materials, using digital methods to design a hive structure, and engaging in additive manufacturing, we were able to develop a set of methods for designing and fabricating a fully grown hive. We propose two digital methods for modelling 3D scaffolds for micro-super organism co-occupation scenarios: "variable-offset" and "iterative-subtraction", followed by two inoculation methods for the biofabrication of scaffolded fungal composites. The HIVEOPOLIS project aims to diversify and complexify urban ecological niches to make them more resilient to future game changers such as climate change. The combined functions of mycelium materials have the potential to provide a therapeutic environment for honeybees and, potentially, humans in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amazonian Forest hosts a great diversity of stingless bees. The Tropical Amazonian climate – moist and hot – favors the development of a diverse mycobiota associated with them, which is largely unknown. We isolated and identified yeasts associated with the nests of Melipona interrupta and Cephalotrigona femorata, which are native to the Central Amazonia. The yeasts were cultured on YPD and screened with a BD™ CHROM-agar™Candida medium (CHROM-agar). Isolates with the same color pattern were identified based on the sequencing of the hypervariable domains from rRNA loci (ITS1/2 and 28 S rRNA D1/D2) and the Dde I restriction pattern targeting 3Kb amplicons from the same loci via the PCR-RFLP method. We isolated 532 yeasts from the nests of pollen, honey, larval food, and cerumen, which were grouped into 15 color and restriction pattern. The 15 strains belonged to the genera: Aureobasidium, Candida, Debaryomyces, Hyphopichia, Hanseniaspora, Kodamaea, Metschnikowia, Pichia, Rhodotorula, Trichosporon, Wickerhamiella, and Zygosaccharomyces. The combined use of the YPD cultivation method and CHROM-agar medium screening allowed the identification of the diverse community of yeasts associated with these stingless bees, while Dde I restriction pattern analysis enabled the discrimination of the strains in 15 different yeast groups and can serve as a model for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, stingless bee honey has gained popularity due to its health benefits and commercial potential. There is a worrying tendency of bee colonies leaving its hives suddenly, and a specific research has been done to monitor the insect's habits. This project proposed a testbed for a stingless beehive monitoring system capable of capturing sensory data that provides an accurate indication of the bee's health and activity. This project utilises a raspberry pi gateway as a LoRa packet forwarder and four Arduino end nodes to collect sensor data from stingless beehives. The outcome showed that all planned functionalities had been accomplished, and these characteristics are expected to provide sufficient information to the beekeeper to take appropriate action to avert colony collapse. Future studies will focus on the modelling and correlation of measured environmental data in order to forecast bee colony loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honeybee Apis mellifera is highly appreciated worldwide because of its products, but also as it is a pollinator of crops and wild plants. The beehive is vulnerable to infections due to arthropods, fungi, protozoa, bacteria and/or viruses that manage to by-pass the individual and social immune mechanisms of bees. Due to the close proximity of bees in the beehive and their foraging habits, infections easily spread within and between beehives. Moreover, international trade of bees has caused the global spread of infections, several of which result in significant losses for apiculture. Only in a few cases can infections be diagnosed with the naked eye, by direct observation of the pathogen in the case of some arthropods, or by pathogen-associated distinctive traits. Development of molecular methods based on the amplification and analysis of one or more genes or genomic segments has brought significant progress to the study of bee pathogens, allowing for: (i) the precise and sensitive identification of the infectious agent; (ii) the analysis of co-infections; (iii) the description of novel species; (iv) associations between geno- and pheno-types and (v) population structure studies. Sequencing of bee pathogen genomes has allowed for the identification of new molecular targets and the development of specific genotypification strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization warns that the alarming increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria will lead to 2.7 million deaths annually due to the lack of effective antibiotic therapies. Clearly, there is an urgent need for short-term alternatives that help to alleviate these alarming figures. In this respect, the scientific community is exploring neglected ecological niches from which the prototypical antibiotic-producing bacteria Streptomycetes are expected to be present. Recent studies have reported that honeybees and their products carry Streptomyces species that possess strong antibacterial activity. In this study, we have investigated the antibiotic profile of two Streptomycetes strains that were isolated from beehives. One of the isolates is the strain Streptomyces albus AN1, which derives from pollen, and shows potent antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. The other isolate is the strain Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus AD2, which was isolated from honey, and displays a broad range of antimicrobial activity against different Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococus faecalis. Cultures of S. griseoaurantiacus AD2 have the capacity to produce the antibacterial compounds undecylprodigiosin and manumycin, while those of S. albus AN1 accumulate antifungal compounds such as candicidins and antimycins. Furthermore, genome and dereplication analyses suggest that the number of putative bioactive metabolites produced by AD2 and AN1 is considerably high, including compounds with anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. Our results postulate that beehives are a promising source for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds that might be of interest to the agri-food sector and healthcare pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water-soluble extract is a gummy semi-solid content of Apis cerana indica beehive (WSE-BH). The present study reports the neuropharmacological effects of beehive derived from Apis cerana indica with brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The neuropharmacological results evaluated by modified open field, hole cross, elevated plus maze and hole board (OF-HC-EPM-HBT) test by Swiss Albino mice of both sexes after single oral administration where parameters for sedative and anxiolytic activity was square movements, hole crossing, time spent in open arm and head dipping which is the unpunished or unlearned response. A time-dependent manner activity observed by WSE-BH (200 and 400 mg/kg) and diazepam (1 mg/kg) against negative control normal saline. At low dose (200 mg/kg), the OF and HC possess significant reducing effects in time dependence manner while EPM and HBT exhibited significant anxiolytic activity avoiding sedation, whereas at 400 mg/kg exhibited an irregular effect. The current results were suggesting that WSE-BH might a good source of anxiolytic and sedative effects at low dose concentration. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2020; 3(2.000): 128-134]

The World Health Organization warns that the alarming increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria will lead to 2.7 million deaths annually due to the lack of effective antibiotic therapies. Clearly, there is an urgent need for short-term alternatives that help to alleviate these alarming figures. In this respect, the scientific community is exploring neglected ecological niches from which the prototypical antibiotic-producing bacteria Streptomycetes are expected to be present. Recent studies have reported that honeybees and their products carry Streptomyces species that possess strong antibacterial activity. In this study, we have investigated the antibiotic profile of two Streptomycetes strains that were isolated from beehives. One of the isolates is the strain Streptomyces albus AN1, which derives from pollen, and shows potent antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. The other isolate is the strain Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus AD2, which was isolated from honey, and displays a broad range of antimicrobial activity against different Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococus faecalis. Cultures of S. griseoaurantiacus AD2 have the capacity to produce the antibacterial compounds undecylprodigiosin and manumycin, while those of S. albus AN1 accumulate antifungal compounds such as candicidins and antimycins. Furthermore, genome and dereplication analyses suggest that the number of putative bioactive metabolites produced by AD2 and AN1 is considerably high, including compounds with anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. Our results postulate that beehives are a promising source for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds that might be of interest to the agri-food sector and healthcare pharmaceuticals.

Given the consolidated circulation of Aethina tumida (SHB) in Reggio Calabria and Vibo Valentia provinces of Calabria region (Southern Italy), the need for a more effective and less time-consuming approach to SHB surveillance emerged. Accordingly, honeybee sentinel colonies were established in the infested areas under the supervision and management of the Veterinary Services of the Local Health Unit. In this short communication, we present the protocol adopted in the Calabria region to manage the SHB positive sentinel honeybee colonies. The procedures for safely packing and transport the SHB infested sentinel honeybee colonies from the field to the official laboratory and the subsequent procedure for their careful inspection in the laboratory are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonies of the European honeybee, the most important pollinator insects, are subjected to many negative impacts of modern society, in form of pollution, pests, invading species and colony collapse disorder (CCD). The newly emerging technology of the Internet of Things (IoT), enables remote monitoring using wireless sensors inside beehives. In this paper, we present the model of the system for remote temperature monitoring on a various points inside the beehive colony using IoT devices. Measured data is transmitted to a remote server where received data streams are processed in real-time using Complex Event Processing (CEP) which enables detection of critical events and report it to the beekeeper. These data streams are compared with reference temperature patterns using machine learning algorithms, which give computers the ability to learn to detect events without being explicitly programmed. This system can significantly reduce the beekeeper reaction time and increase chances for a beehive colony overcoming certain types of anomalies with human intervention.

The perceptions and definitions of healthy indoor environments have changed significantly throughout architectural history. Today, molecular biology teaches us that microbes play important roles in human health, and that isolation from them puts not only us but also other inhabitants of urban landscapes, at risk. In order to provide an environment that makes honeybees more resilient to environmental changes, we aim for combining the thermal insulation functionality of mycelium materials with bioactive therapeutic properties within beehive constructions. By identifying mycelial fungi’s interactions with nest-related materials, using digital methods to design a hive structure, and engaging in additive manufacturing, we were able to develop a set of methods for designing and fabricating a fully grown hive. We propose two digital methods for modelling 3D scaffolds for micro-super organism co-occupation scenarios: “variable-offset” and “iterative-subtraction”, followed by two inoculation methods for the biofabrication of scaffolded fungal composites. The HIVEOPOLIS project aims to diversify and complexify urban ecological niches to make them more resilient to future game changers such as climate change. The combined functions of mycelium materials have the potential to provide a therapeutic environment for honeybees and, potentially, humans in the future.

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The honeybee Apis mellifera is highly appreciated worldwide because of its products, but also as it is a pollinator of crops and wild plants. The beehive is vulnerable to infections due to arthropods, fungi, protozoa, bacteria and/or viruses that manage to by-pass the individual and social immune mechanisms of bees. Due to the close proximity of bees in the beehive and their foraging habits, infections easily spread within and between beehives. Moreover, international trade of bees has caused the global spread of infections, several of which result in significant losses for apiculture. Only in a few cases can infections be diagnosed with the naked eye, by direct observation of the pathogen in the case of some arthropods, or by pathogen-associated distinctive traits. Development of molecular methods based on the amplification and analysis of one or more genes or genomic segments has brought significant progress to the study of bee pathogens, allowing for: (i) the precise and sensitive identification of the infectious agent; (ii) the analysis of co-infections; (iii) the description of novel species; (iv) associations between geno- and pheno-types and (v) population structure studies. Sequencing of bee pathogen genomes has allowed for the identification of new molecular targets and the development of specific genotypification strategies.

The sounds present inside a beehive originate from the overlap of honeybee buzzes with external sounds. They reveal patterns that support the hypothesis that the sonic context of the beehive may be utilized by honeybees as a source of ecoacoustic codes for communication and the coordination of social activity. Patterns were observed in a data series of acoustic files sampled at a frequency of 48 kHz during the period May–July 2023 in a beehive of Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806). The acoustic information was extracted using the acoustic complexity index (ACIt f) algorithm applied to a fast Fourier transform matrix. Data series, aggregated in 1368 min × 512 frequency bins × 61 days, were tentatively classified according to three temporal classes of aggregation (eight, six, and four clusters, respectively) using the hierarchical K -means clustering algorithm. The clusters obtained at these three resolutions were considered potential ecoacoustic codes (PECs) belonging to each minute of the data series. The number of discontinuities along the 24-h PEC sequence, the coefficient of variation of the number of PECs at daily and seasonal scales, and the PEC sample entropy confirmed a patterned distribution of PECs across the 24 h, modulated at a monthly scale. A significant correlation was found between these indices and the daily average wind speed, and temperature. Honeybee buzz is an informative medium used by honeybees to develop survival strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the consolidated circulation of Aethina tumida (SHB) in Reggio Calabria and Vibo Valentia provinces of Calabria region (Southern Italy), the need for a more effective and less time-consuming approach to SHB surveillance emerged. Accordingly, honeybee sentinel colonies were established in the infested areas under the supervision and management of the Veterinary Services of the Local Health Unit. In this short communication, we present the protocol adopted in the Calabria region to manage the SHB positive sentinel honeybee colonies. The procedures for safely packing and transport the SHB infested sentinel honeybee colonies from the field to the official laboratory and the subsequent procedure for their careful inspection in the laboratory are illustrated.

Various notes of electronic portals, documentaries and to a lesser extent scientific articles have reported interest in improving the production yield of honey by beehive. Among these works, climatic, social and technological factors can be reported in their dimensional form, where experts and specialists recognize that they contribute to improving honey production. Supported by apicultural experts, the Delphi method and the MICMAC structural analysis, this article reports the influence and dependence of 22 variables and their direct and indirect relationship with honey production in the intermunicipal region of Misantla of the apicultural district no. 52. Variables based on MICMAC are classified as key, regulatory, lever and autonomous. On a strategic level, the 'location of the apiary'related to the 'diversity of honey flowering' and the 'time between the placement of the apiary and the honey harvest', represent the key variables with the highest strategic value of 75/79, 61/79 and 63/79, respectively. Alt hough the 'flowering of honey species' is a key variable for honey production, the result also indicates that this variable is not a determinant for the beekeeper to decide the 'location of apiaries'. These results provide knowledge in four categories of influential variables in honey production so that the beekeeper reflects on his beekeeping practices and can design strategies and make decisions, to improve honey production yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the result of an investigation carried out from August 2015 to November 2016, to characterize the beekeeping production and transhumant activity of the municipalities of Misantla, Yecuatla, Colipa, Juchique de Ferrer and Tenochtitlan. Interviews are conducted with specialists, experts and honey producers. It is found that the beekeeping activity is carried out for at least 500 families with an average experience of 22 years, with semi-extensive transhumant systems with an average production of 24 kg of honey per beehive, of which 9% have more than 500 beehives working under semi-technified schemes. Among these systems, only 10% of beekeepers have invested in the differentiation of beehive products. The volume of honey generated with production systems of a queen bee per beehive is at least 90 t year-1, with an economic value of $174 000 (US $). It has been found that 90% of beekeepers in the study region transhuman between places in that region and 23% of them do it to another entity. On the other hand, it was also found that access and permission to land are factors that define transhumant routes and identification of suitable areas for apiaries settlement. This research provides a map of areas used as apiaries settlements, as research work, their results deserve the attention of future research to identify spatial zones through systems of geo-positioning, as well as a transhumance program for these locations based on calendars of flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The welfare of the colony within the hive can be monitored remotely in real time. • Beekeepers can access a royalty-free and easily reproducible IoLT system. • Heat maps are a valuable tool for studying the inside of the hive. • Hive monitoring has a direct impact on preventing the loss of bees. Monitoring beekeeping processes is a research area that is increasingly attracting interest, not only in order to maximize honey productivity but also to preserve the bee's health and its environment. This paper presents a low-cost low-invasive system that uses IoT technologies as MQ Telemetry Transport, MQTT, and Node-RED, in an open hardware platform easily reproducible and royalty-free, to capture in real-time valuable information in form of a 3D-grid to show how the bees are located within the hive during the winter months using spatial thermal data without the need to open the hive up, thereby preventing manual manipulation by the beekeeper which puts the bees welfare in jeopardy. This system can reveal unexpected or little-known bee behaviors, facilitating a more comprehensive analysis of the health and strength of a bee colony to help beekeepers make the most appropriate decisions to ensure the productivity of their hive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European honeybee colonies are the most important pollinator insects and source of honey and other useful products. Honeybee colonies today face new diseases and pests as well as pollution which threaten their survival and endanger whole food production which relies on honey bee pollination. Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables integration of wireless sensors inside beehives to enable remote monitoring of various beehive parameters from remote location using Internet. Detection of certain critical events in beehive is hard to be explicitly program due to complex dependence between multiple input parameters. Machine learning algorithms give computers the ability to learn to detect these events without being explicitly programmed. Detection of these event from streams of data collected from IoT sensors is possible using Complex Event Processing (CEP) which applies machine induced knowledge do detect and warn beekeepers about certain events in beehive.

There is a dearth of information on the comparative studies of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties as well as quality standards of stingless bee honey (SBH) in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to assess and compare the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH, specifically sourced from Meliponula beccarii , and produced under both wild and modern apiary conditions at two distinct geographical locations. A total of forty-six honey samples were meticulously collected from domesticated stingless bee colonies and naturally occurring wild nests at Wolmera and Cheliya districts. Pollen analysis unveiled eleven distinct bee plant species distributed across six families, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent, primarily represented by Guizotia scabra and Vernonia amygdalina . Notably, the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH collected from modern pot hives exhibited significant variances ( p  < .05) when compared to SBH from wild nests. Principal component analysis (PCA) delineated the differentiation of SBH sources based on both geographical location and the type of beehive. One-way ANOVA corroborated these distinctions, underscoring significantly higher levels ( p  < .05) of ash, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucrose, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and radical scavenging activities of SBH from modern pot hives in Wolmera. Whereas, Cheliya modern pot hives recorded higher values in pH, hydroxymethylfurfural and maltose contents compared to the wild nest SBH. Further analysis through Pearson correlation highlighted a strong positive association between total phenolic content and total flavonoid content with the antioxidant capacity of SBH. These findings underscore the significance of integrating modern pot hives to enhance the quality of SBH within Ethiopia's beekeeping sector., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Paenibacillus larvae and Brevibacillus laterosporus are two bacteria that are members of the Paenibacillaceae family. Both are commonly found in beehives and have historically been difficult to distinguish from each other due to related genetic and phenotypic characteristics and a shared ecological niche. Here, we discuss the likely mischaracterization of three 16S rRNA sequences previously published as P. larvae and provide the phylogenetic evidence that supported the GenBank reassignment of the sequences as B. laterosporus. We explore the issues that arise by using only 16S rRNA or other single-gene analyses to distinguish between these bacteria. We also present three sets of molecular markers, two sets that distinguish P. larvae from B. laterosporus and other closely related species within the Paenibacillus genus and a third set that distinguishes B. laterosporus from P. larvae and other closely related species within the Brevibacillus genus. These molecular markers provide a tool for proper identification of these oft-mistaken species. IMPORTANCE 16S rRNA gene sequencing in bacteria has long been held as the gold standard for typing bacteria and, for the most part, is an excellent method of taxonomically identifying different bacterial species. However, the high level of 16S rRNA sequence similarity of some published strains of P. larvae and B. laterosporus, as well as possible horizontal gene transfer events within their shared ecological niche, complicates the use of 16S rRNA sequence as an effective molecular marker for differentiating these two species. Additionally, shared characteristics of these bacteria limit the effectiveness of using traditional phenotypic identification assays, such as the catalase test. The results from this study provide PCR methods to quickly differentiate between these two genera and will be useful when studying Brevibacillus, Paenibacillus, and other disease-relevant bacteria commonly found in beehives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to find out the nickel level in the serpentine multi-floral-honey obtained from the honeybeeswith higher nickel concentration than the non-serpentine flora. The average value of Ni concentration in the aerial part of examined flora samples comprised of 10 different plant species resulted to be 336mgkg-1. The honey was collected from 1 apiary three years in the row,which is situated in serpentine area of southeastern part of Kosovo-Rezhance and from 3 other apiaries from non-serpentinearea. Obtained results have revealed higher concentration of nickel in the serpentine multi-floralhoneythan those in the non-serpentine honey. The average Ni level in the serpentine multi-floral honey was 3.71mg.kg-1, with the highest concentration of 3.96mgkg-1. Whereas the average levels of Ni in the non-serpentine flora was1.66 mg.kg-1.with the highest reading of1.92 mgkg-1 . In conclusion, the entire amount of nickel in the honey comes either from nectar collected by honey bees in the Ni accumulative and hyper-accumulative serpentine flora or by dust coming from serpentine soils, which is abundant on Ni content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beehive as a quantitative monitor of pesticide residues applied over a soybean crop was studied through a semi field experiment of controlled exposure of honey bees to pesticides in macro tunnels. The distribution within exposed beehives of pesticides commonly used in soybean plantation, was assessed. Residue levels of insecticides in soybean leaves, honey bees, wax, honey and pollen were analyzed. The transference from pesticides present in the environment into the beehive was evidenced. The obtained results allow relating pesticide concentrations present in the environment with traces found in foraging bees. Therefore, pesticide transference ratios could be calculated for each detected compound (acetamiprid, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) which showed a linear inverse trend with their 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow). The least transferred pesticide to the hive (acetamiprid) has the highest vapor pressure (Vp). This study gives new insights on the usefulness of monitoring the environment through beehives aiming to evaluate if agroecosystems remain sustainable. It also contributes to generate valuable information for model building aiming to predict environmental quality through beehive's analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Beehives are made up of wax, which are the natural glandular secretions of honeybees. One such huge beehive was incidentally noticed on the wall behind the Department of Anatomy, K.V.G. Medical College Sullia in 2012. The bees had already abandoned it and there were no bees even fluttering around. So we plucking it ensured that it was excised as a whole, instead of allowing it to get biodegraded. With assistance we got it to the Department. Objective : To study the architecture of this beehive and use of its wax to repair damaged dry human bones in the Department of Anatomy. Materials and Methods: Spirit lamp, spirit, Forceps, Cutting blades, quick fix, varnish, spatula and enamel paint were used for the study. Wax melted when heated at 62-65degree Celsius. Crude wax of the beehive was placed on the damaged bone by plucking a part of it. Then the bone was given a correct shape manually. Damaged bone part was repaired artistically using a hot spatula. Results: We could repair many damaged bones with this chunk of wax. Conclusion : This is a simple, cost effective, appropriate technique of bone repair in Anatomy. Regular maintenance of bones will prevent its damage. Thus bones can be used for a long period which can ensure percolation of right information to students of Anatomy.