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Nosemosis is a microsporidian disease caused by Nosema ceranae and N. apis and transmitted via oral-fecal and oral-oral routes. It is globally distributed among adult bees in honeybee colonies. Considering the health importance of nosemosis in honeybees, the study aims to determine the frequency of Nosema spp. infection in migratory apiaries in Hormozgan province by microscopic and molecular methods. In the present study, 20 bees from ten randomly selected hives in 84 migratory apiaries were collected. In the laboratory, the abdomen of the bees was separated from the rest of the body with entomological tweezers and scissors and then ground up in a mortar containing saline serum. The prepared suspension was filtered by passing through a sieve, then the prepared suspension was transferred to test tubes and centrifuged. The pellets were repeatedly washed by saline solution and centrifuged. Finally, the pellets were examined for spores of Nosema spp. by light microscopy and conventional PCR. In microscopy, 38.2 % of apiaries were positive for Nosema spp. spores. By PCR however, DNA of N. ceranae was detected in 39.2. % of apiaries with no samples positive for N. apis. Due to the considerable frequency of infection in migratory apiaries in Hormozgan province, it is necessary to carry out appropriate health measures such as screening of apiaries with appropriate diagnostic methods and training of beekeepers to disinfect hives in order to control Nosema infection in Iranian apiaries by the veterinary health officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honeybee is one of the most important insect species for mankind due to its role in the pollination of crops and products that it makes. Western honeybee Apis mellifera is a cosmopolitan species due to human beekeeping practices. The geometric morphometric method was used to investigate the differences in wing size and shape of worker honeybee populations collected from 8 locations and apiaries from Isfahan and Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari provinces. Fore and hindwing shape and size variations were investigated based on 16 homologous landmark coordinates. In terms of wing size, data showed that Khansar's honeybees have the largest and Shahrekord honeybees have the smallest fore and hindwings. In terms of wing shape, more than half of the pairwise compared populations showed significant differences in both fore and hindwings. Also, allometry is not seen, meaning that variations in wing size and wing shape were independent from one another. This study provides information on the diversity of honeybee populations in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insect wing is one of the most important characteristics that allowed insects to occupy most of the habitats on the planet. Honeybee wings has been the subject of studies on the venation abnormalities. A total of 424 honeybees from 14 locations were collected and all four wings were removed and examined for 19 abnormalities on the forewings and 6 abnormalities on the hindwings. In general, supernumerary veins were the most common abnormalities seen and abnormalities no. 23, 2, 6, 1, 5, 21, 10, 13 had the highest and abnormalities no. 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 25 had the lowest frequencies. All of the abnormalities had similar frequencies in the right and left wings in the population. In terms of correlation between 25 abnormalities, abnormality pairs AB3-AB13, AB6-AB7, AB7-AB8, AB10-AB12, AB16-AB17 on the forewing and AB2-AB23, AB12-AB20, AB12-AB24, AB13-AB21, AB16-AB25, and AB17-AB25 between the forewing and hindwing show significant positive correlations and abnormality pairs AB4-AB5, AB7-AB15 and AB8-AB9 on the forewing show significant negative correlations with each other. In terms of the differential occurrence of abnormalities , a few locations differed significantly from other locations. This study provides some insights into the nature of these abnormalities on the honeybee wings., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Nosema ceranae as a fungal parasite has been reported from the Apis mellifera in all continents. It causes reduced longevity, depopulation, decreased production, and colony losses in honeybee colonies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of N.ceranae in the apiaries of Mazandaran province. In this study, we randomly selected 320 hives from thirty-two apiaries and collected twenty old honeybees from the apiaries. The collected samples were examined by microscopy and molecular methods. The results of the microscopic examinations showed that 78.12% of apiaries were infected with Nosema spp. In addition, N. ceranae was identified 84.37% of apiaries by PCR, while no samples were infected by N. apis. Blast analysis of the sequenced samples confirmed the presence of N. ceranae infection in the apiaries. Based on the obtained results, a high frequency of N.ceranae was detected in apiaries in Mazandaran province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nosemosis of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is present in bee colonies worldwide. Until recently, Nosema apis had been regarded as the causative agent of the disease, that causes heavy economic losses in apicultures. Nosema ceranae is an emerging microsporidian parasite of European honeybees, A. mellifera, but its distribution is not well known. Previously, nosemosis in honeybees in Iran was attributed exclusively to N. apis. Methods: Six Nosema positive samples (determined from light microscopy of spores) of adult worker bees from one province of Iran (Savadkouh- Mazandaran, northern Iran) were tested to determine Nosema species using previously- developed PCR primers of the 16 S rRNA gene. As it is difficult to distinguish N. ceranae and N. apis morphologically, a PCR assay based on 16 S ribosomal RNA has been used to differentiate N. apis and N. ceranae. Results: Only N. ceranae was found in all samples, indicating that this species present in Iran apiaries. Conclusion: This is the first report of N. ceranae in colonies of A. mellifera in Iran. It seems that intensive surveys are needed to determine the distribution and prevalence of N. ceranae in different regions of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kandovan region in the north west of Iran is used by bee keepers as an apiary to collect nectar and produce high quality honey. This study was carried out to survey plants foraged by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and to identify them in Kandovan (East- Azarbaijan, Iran). Identification of these plants can help us to know their flowering time and location, which could be recommended to the bee keepers for the emplacement of honeybee colonies for producing high quality and quantity honey in the bee hives. During 2007-2008 honeybee activities (nectar and pollen collecting) were surveyed two times weekly, within the radius of three km from the apiary. The results indicated that there were 22 families and 98 species of honey plants in this region. Among them, 16 species (16.32%) belonged to Fabaceae, 14 species (14.28%) to Asteraceae, eight species (8.16%) to Lamiaceae, seven species (7.14%) to Rosaceae, seven species (7.14%) to Apiaceae, six species (6.12%) to Brassicaceae, six species (6.12%) to Papaveraceae, six species (6.12%) to Scrophulariaceae and 28 to others. The life form of plant species was determined by using of Raunkier's life forms. They included 63.26% Hemicryptophytes, 17.34% Therophtytes, 6.12% Phanerophytes, 10.20% Chamaephytes, 3.06% Geophytes. Three species (3.09%) have high attractiveness, 60 species (61.85%) good attractiveness, three species (3.09%) middle attractiveness and 31 species (31.95%) weak attractiveness. Twenty one species (21.42%) were as nectar source, 33 species (33.67%) as pollen source and 44 species (44.89 %) as nectar and pollen source for honeybees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]