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The purpose of this work is to monitor the state of bee health through morphoclinical and laboratory examination of bees on samples of live bees and honeycombs with brood for the prevention and control of diseases in bees in order to include them in a study on the impact of the non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations on bees. Samples were collected during the active season 2023, and morpho-clinically and laboratory examined according to OIE regulations from 9 private apiaries (PH, AG, TR, CL, VN, IS, DB, VL and IF) from which we collected 18 samples. The laboratory results revealed the existence of some diseases in 6 apiaries (66.67%), as follows: a unique evolution (suspected foulbrood disease in one apiary) (11.11%), five apiaries with mixed conditions (55,56%) (varroosis, nosemosis, chalkbrood, and suspected poisoning), and three apiaries were diagnosed as clinically healthy (33.33%). Studying the influence of nonionizing radiation on bees has wider implications for ecology and the environment, as bees play a crucial role in pollination and maintaining ecosystems. The interaction between bees and electromagnetic radiation is a complex and multifactorial issue that may explain the diversity of conclusions in the available studies. Therefore, studies are needed in Romania to better understand the connection between non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation and the decline of bee populations (Collony Colapse Disorder). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longevity of honey bees, although genetically conditioned, is impacted by numerous factors including diseases, parasites, pesticides, predators, but also by environmental and socio-economic factors. Additionally, the decrease in pollen resources reduces the queen’s brood and finally the longevity of the bee colony. Therefore, a survey, based on clinical examinations in apiaries and a questionnaire completed by beekeepers was conducted in 2023 to analyze the major factors that adversely impact the honey bees colonies. For this a total of 50 beekeepers from five counties in Central and South-eastern Romania were enrolled in the study. Among the factors causing honey bee losses, diseases (including varroosis, wax moth, nosemosis, others) and unfavourable climatic conditions, such as longer dryness and cold periods, rains, or strong winds were reported. These findings emphasize on the importance of continuous monitoring, investigations, and specific control measures to be taken in order to preserve the health and activity of honey bee colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of questionnaire in beekeeping has been proved as an important tool of collecting valuable statistic data and answer particular questions. In the period 2014-2023 we launched different questionnaires at national level with the main purpose to evaluate the situation of honeybee colony losses (Apis mellifera) and possible causes. The main results on different questions are illustrated and analysed in the present paper, offering a general view on Romanian beekeeping, honeybee colony losses and associated causes. The preliminary data on validated questionnaires show that, the rate of honeybee colony loss registered values between 5.0% in 2015 and 17.0% in 2022/2023 winter season. Out of the total number of respondents and on the whole surveyed period, an average of 32.7% respondents registered mortalities over 10% at the apiary level, and 56.5% registered depopulations over 10%, with variations between different periods (years, months). Having an overview on the rate and incidence of colony losses in the last years and possible factors affecting honeybees can help the involved stakeholders to support the beekeeping field and adapt it to future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aimed to perform instrumental analyzes on actual hive products: six varieties of honey and three varieties of pollen, extracted from the apiary in the village of Boian, Bazna commune, Sibiu county, in order to certify them as organic products. The hive consists of 130 bee families, the form of beekeeping is stationary and pastoral. The type of crates is 90% of the vertical Dadant type, and the remaining 10% of the horizontal Dadant type. Bee families benefit from adequate microclimate conditions and care. The geographical factors and the honey base in the village of Boian, but also the pastoral movement make possible the good functioning of the apiary and to obtain important incomes following the beekeeping activity. In order to ecologically certify the bee farm, the following conditions are met: the apiary is well organized and has been operating for 25 years and can be reconverted from conventional apiary to organic apiary, there is an ecological honey base in the areas where the harvest is done, environmental conditions are optimal in the village of Boian, and the bees benefit from organic hives and quality ecological food in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees and bee technologies are highly depending on the environmental factors. The seasonal dynamics of the bee colony are influenced by the both, bee technologies and quality and quantity of the nectaro-pollenifer sources. It is known that the impact of losses through bee mortality and colony unification (26.09%) due to the evolution of nosemosis are almost equal with the losses considered normal for the winter period, respectively of maximum 30%. The present study is based on observations carried out on the evolution of nosemosis during of three consecutive years (September, 2016 - March, 2019) in a stationary apiary in Romania. Investigations for the presence of Nosema spores in both living and dead bees were performed. Additionally, the presence of Nosema spores in honey, inside of the nests, before and after extraction was determined. The evolution and involution of the bee colonies were monitored according to the level of Nosema infection, by laboratory analyses on dead bees, especially during the first period of winter. The results clearly emphasized that, due to the presence of Nosema spores in the hive, in order to reduce the infectious pressure, it is imposing that in the spring the frames on which the bees have wintered to be reformed, even though they still have food resources (honey and bee-bread). Additionally, the breeding of bee colonies is recommended to be performed using only colony without the frames with food or frames from which hatched the brood, in order to avoid infection of the new colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the project RoBeeTech is to create a high competence level scientific center of bee biotechnology in Romania. The research directions of RoBeeTech are similar to actual research interests of international teams in the field of bee pathology bee products quality or the genetic variability analysis of bees through modem biotechnologies. The three main research directions involve the two research labs from USAMV Cluj-Napoca -APHIS (Laboratory for Quality Control of Bee Products) and NA (Laboratory for Bee Disease Diagnosis). The objectives of RoBeeTech are focused on identification of genetic variability of bee colonies from Romania, the study of bee-parasite-pesticide interaction and new control and treatment techniques based on biologically active effect of bee products and secondary nietaboites from plants. Until now bee samples from over 80% of the country were collected, two progress reports and two repayment documents were already delivered and 4 articles were published at international and national conferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results of the morphological measurements performed on working bees originating in 6 apiaries located in Caras-Severin and Timis Counties. The experiments were carried out during 15.08.2009- 15.09.2009, on 412 bees belonging to the species Apis mellifica carpatica. During the experiment, we performed the following determinations: proboscis length, anterior wing length and width, posterior wing length and width, tibia length, tarsus length and we calculated the tarsal, cubital and radial indices. Successive to the statistical interpretation, we observed that the bees originating in the apiaries from Caras-Severin recorded bigger values in most parameters studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we tested the resistance of bee families to young bee diseases. The researches were carried out in two apiaries from Timişoara and Comoraste, Caras-Severin County. The biological material was consisted of 10 bee families belonging to the species Apis mellifica carpatica, distributed in two experimental variants of 5 families, with almost equal power. During this experiment, we assessed the degree of cleaning and removing of the young bees that died of freezing. Successive to the researches performed, in all the three controls we observed significant differences, from a statistical viewpoint (p<0.05) between the two experimental variants, regarding the number of cells with removed dead young bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romanian beekeeping faces a lot of challenges nowadays due to the problems related to climate change, the use of pesticides in agriculture, but also to the pandemic crisis. In this context, organic beekeeping represents an important alternative to traditional apicultural practices. The purpose of the study was to present the current situation of organic beekeeping in Romania, but also to identify some aspects related to sustainability. The research methodology was based on secondary and primary data. An online survey was conducted in 2020 on a sample of 433 Romanian beekeepers. The main findings showed that the majority of participants were aware of organic principles and were familiar with the concept of sustainability in beekeeping. However, only a small percentage of beekeepers were certified in the organic system. The evaluation of the concept of sustainability showed that the most important factor for the surveyed beekeepers was the environmental aspect, followed by the economic and social components. The pandemic crisis has negatively impacted the beekeepers' activities due to travel restrictions and the limited access to the apiaries. If, in economic terms, they were affected by the sales drop in the first months of the crisis, there were also some positive effects such as the increase in demand for health-related products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]