Collection of wax scale (Ceroplastes sp.) by the honey bee Apis mellifera

Abstract

In order to provide their dietary and social needs, honey bees collect pollen, nectar, water and propolis from plants surrounding the colony. Some studies have also shown that bees collect other material, such as fungal spores (Shaw, 1990). In contrast, royal jelly and wax are produced directly from the glands of the bees (Witherell, 1978). During an investigation of pollen flora recording in Thessaloniki, Greece, we placed pollen traps on the entrances of ten hives of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) each containing six frames. Apart from pollen loads, we also noticed a significant number of wax covers of a soft scale insect Ceroplastes sp. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in three out of the ten traps. The phenomenon started on 14 October 2005 and ended on 13 November 2005. Although the colonies during this period were not collecting a significant amount of pollen (9.8 ± 5.7 g per day), the ratio of the number of wax covers to the number of pollen loads was on average 1:20, which was surprisingly high. The bees were removing the wax covers of the scales, leaving them exposed, and then they were foraging and transferring the wax covers into the hive (Fig. 1). We also noticed the covers of the scale insects, free of wax and no other wax traces, on the floor of the hives, indicating that the bees might have used the wax to cap cells or to build combs. A similar observation concerning the use of wax from soft scales by Amazonian stingless bees to build their nests has been mentioned by Camargo and Pedro (2002). Although these scale insects have several enemies, they cause significant damage to many cultivated fruits and ornamental plants. Ceroplastes spp. cause direct damage by sucking sap and indirectly by excreting honeydew on leaves and fruits, on which sooty mould subsequently grows (Katsoyannos, 1996). Further studies concerning the biological control of Ceroplastes spp. with the use of honey bees should be considered. Acknowledgements