Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are essential for the ecosystem, so their loss threatens biodiversity and agriculture. Several factors have been proposed as possible causes of both massive losses and Colony Collapse Disorder. In August 2017 episodes of colony losses were registered in General Alvear, Buenos Aires province. The aim of the present study was to find possible causes of these events. The samples were screened for presence of several pathogens and the determination of maternal lineages was also performed. Seven out of ten colonies were positive for pathogens, but there was no high prevalence of any of them. It will be necessary to carry out a standardization of studies, and delineate boundaries that allow comparing cases in order to discriminate different types of mortality of colonies that occur worldwide.
Highlights
Losses of honey bees and other pollinators threat biodiversity as well as food and agricultural production (SimonDelso et al, 2014; Watson & Stallins, 2016)
None of the hives exhibited the presence of M. plutonius, P. larvae, A. apis, or any protist
Several factors have been proposed as possible causes of massive losses related to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
Summary
Losses of honey bees and other pollinators threat biodiversity as well as food and agricultural production (SimonDelso et al, 2014; Watson & Stallins, 2016). The phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is expressed carrying out a complete absence of adult bees in a hive often plenty of both capped brood and food reserves (vanEngelsdorp et al, 2009). This scenario has been observed around the world during the last two decades. Some beekeepers in the United States have reported losses of up to 75% of their hives between 2006 and 2007 (Oldroyd, 2007; vanEngelsdorp et al, 2009; 2017; Ellis et al, 2010; vanEngelsdorp & Meixner, 2010). In South America, in Argentina, even though there are no documented cases, several records of beekeepers suggest a 30% of losses in the last years (Maggi et al, 2014). The aim of the present study was to analyze the possible causes of these episodes
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