Africanized Honey Bee Colonies Research Articles

Africanized honey bee colonies in Costa Rica: first evidence of its management, brood nest structure and factors associated with varroa mite infestation.

Management, brood nest structure and factors associated with varroa mite infestation were studied in 60 apiaries of Africanized honey bees in the northwest region of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Apiaries were monitored two times. The first monitoring was taken forward during the rainy season between May and November 2019. The second monitoring during the dry season between February and March 2020. Information about the beekeepers, apiaries and management was collected through a survey. Amount of open and capped brood, honey and pollen were measured in the field. The infestation rate of varroa (IRV) was quantified using standard laboratory methods. A determination of multi-residue pesticides in bee bread was made through GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS techniques. According to the results, most of the beekeepers produce honey (96.7%), participate in training activities (82.2%), and change the bee queens annually (70%). The first monitoring was characterized by a lower amount of capped brood and honey reserves compared to the second one. IRV was significantly higher in the first monitoring (6.0 ± 0.4) in comparison with the second one (3.0 ± 0.3) (U Mann-Whitney p < 0.001). The maximum value for the first monitoring exceeds 40%, while this value was close to 25% in the second monitoring. Mite infestation exposed significant differences in relation to the variables associated to the beekeeper's management, i.e., change of bee queen (p = 0.002) or when beekeepers monitor varroa mites (p = 0.004). Additionally, the IRV had inverse correlations (p < 0.01) with the number of comb sides with capped brood (Spearman's rho coefficient = -0.190), and honey reserves (Spearman's rho coefficient = -0.168). Furthermore, 23 of 60 bee bread samples presented one to five pesticide residues, being the most frequent antifungal agrochemicals.

Research Article Protein supplementation of Africanized honey bee colonies improves drone and semen quality

Research Article Protein supplementation of Africanized honey bee colonies improves drone and semen quality

Effect of Improved Hive Cover Designs on Internal Microclimate and Colony Establishment of West African Honeybees (Apis mellifera adansonii L.) in Awka, Nigeria

Hive cover designs majorly affects the microclimate and colony establishment of African honeybee colonies in Nigeria. It became pertinent therefore to assess the effect of modified hive cover designs on the internal microclimate and colony establishment of West African honeybee (Apis mellifera adansonii L.) Colonies in Awka, Nigeria. Four insulating materials were used to construct the covers of twelve modified frame bar hives and designated: Control (plywood); T1 (warped boards); T2 (PVC) and T3 (foam). Each hive treatment was replicated three times. Data on ambient and hive microclimate as well as the colonization of honeybees’ colonies were observed and reported. The results indicated that the control had the highest temperature (31.86 ºC) while T1 (30.40ºC) had the least. The hive temperature was higher in March, 2023 (32.72°C) while August (29.87°C) had the least. The highest relative humidity (73.18%) was recorded in T1 while the control had the least (64.38%). The hive temperature and relative humidity was significantly affected by hive cover designs and different months of the study period (P&lt;0.05). The highest colonization by African honeybees was observed in the control (100%) but none occurred in T2 (0.00%). Colonization of the Control hives occurred in July, October, and November, 2022 while that of T1 and T3 occurred in December, 2022. Colony establishment of African honeybees was not significantly affected by hive cover designs (p=0.26) and different months of the study period (p=0.24). It was concluded that beekeepers should adopt the insulation of hiver covers with plywood wood since it had 100% colonization of West African honeybees’.

Varroa destructor infestation levels in Africanized honey bee colonies in Brazil from 1977 when first detected to 2020

Varroa destructor infestation levels in Africanized honey bee colonies in Brazil from 1977 when first detected to 2020

Africanized honeybee population (Apis mellifera L.) in Nicaragua: Forewing length and mitotype lineages.

Various subspecies of Apis mellifera L. were introduced to Central America since colonization 500 years ago. Hybridization increased with the entrance of the Africanized bee in Nicaragua in 1984. Rustic beekeeping activities and numerous feral swarms define the genetic pattern, reflected in phenotypic heterogeneity and remarkable differences in the behaviour of the bee colonies, especially the nest defence. Due to these facts, the question emerge about the degree of Africanization of honeybee colonies in Nicaragua. In this study, we identified Africanized honeybee colonies based on the single character "mean forewing length" and we corroborated our results by determining mitotypes using mtDNA analysis. Morphometric and genetic approaches were realized in three different geographical zones of Nicaragua and related to beehive characteristics and management. Worker bee samples were taken from the inside of 146 hives from 26 apiaries. Abdominal colour as phenotypic character was the first examination, followed by measurement of 1460 right forewings to determine corresponding probability of Africanization. More than 60% of the beehives showed phenotypic heterogeneity and mean forewing length of 8.74 mm (SD 0.16 mm) indicated a high degree of Africanization. Those results provided a selection of 96 worker bees to perform PCR of two worker bees per hive. For mitochondrial DNA analysis 14 samples from sentinel apiaries were added. Three from 61 beehives presented bees with different mtDNA. Throughout, three mitotypes of the African (A) lineage were detected; one mitotype is still unidentified. Mitotype A1 A. mellifera iberiensis was represented by 88 bees and mitotype A4 A. mellifera scutellata by 21 bees. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the PCR findings. No associations were found between mitotypes, forewing length, beehive characteristics and management. A high degree of Africanization in A. mellifera colonies represented by two predominating mitotypes from the A lineage, prevail in Neotropical Nicaragua, with mitotype A4 predominating at higher altitudes.

Horizontal and vertical colonies for royal jelly production in Brazil

The potential of royal jelly production in Africanized honeybee colonies was evaluated using techniques involving two queens per colony in horizontal and vertical systems during the spring of 2019. The techniques were tested for their effect on cell acceptance (%); royal jelly production per colony (g), per harvest (g), and per position of cell bar (g) and compared with standard techniques (five and ten-frame hives) in southern Brazil. Results showed statistical significance in royal jelly production between methods. Vertical [...]

Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Peruvian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Populations Using the tRNAleu-cox2 Intergenic Region.

Simple SummaryCurrently, the genetic diversity of Peruvian honey bee populations is unknown. Only two studies were carried out and suggest that many regions of Peru present Africanized honey bee colonies and a varied degree of Africanization. To molecularly characterize and know more about the genetic background of Peruvian honey bees, the highly polymorphic tRNAleu-cox2 was used. This study analyzed 512 colonies in three regions of Peru: Lima, Piura, and Junín. The results indicated that 65% colonies correspond to lineage A (African), 33.8% colonies to lineage C (Eastern European), and 1.2% colonies to lineage M (Western European). A total of 24 haplotypes were identified: 16 haplotypes belong to lineage A (sub-lineage AI (13), sub-lineage AIII (03)), lineage C (06), and lineage M (02), and 15 of them are for the first time reported and represented by A1t, A1u, A1w, A4p, A4q, A4s, A4t, A4u, A4v, A4w, 30d, A30e, A65, M7b, and M7c. Piura and Lima presented higher proportions of African haplotypes and lower proportions of haplotypes from lineage C than Lima. Very few haplotypes of lineage M were identified, whose presence could be due to accidental purchases or traces of honey bee introductions from lineage M in the 19th century. Hence, studies about the diversity and genetic structure of Peruvian honey bee populations are necessary to promote adequate, sustainable management and establish conservation and breeding programs.Mitochondrial DNA variations of Peruvian honey bee populations were surveyed by using the tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region. Only two studies have characterized these populations, indicating the presence of Africanized honey bee colonies in different regions of Peru and varied levels of Africanization, but the current status of its genetic diversity is unknown. A total of 512 honey bee colonies were sampled from three regions to characterize them. Our results revealed the presence of European and African haplotypes: the African haplotypes identified belong to sub-lineage AI (13) and sub-lineage AIII (03), and the European haplotypes to lineages C (06) and M (02). Of 24 haplotypes identified, 15 new sequences are reported here (11 sub-lineage AI, 2 sub-lineage AIII, and 2 lineage M). Peruvian honey bee populations presented a higher proportion from African than European haplotypes. High proportions of African haplotype were reported for Piura and Junín, unlike Lima, which showed more European haplotypes from lineage C. Few colonies belonging to lineage M would represent accidental purchase or traces of the introduction into Peru in the 19th century.

Presencia de la levadura Kodamaea ohmeri en escarabajos Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) colectados de colonias de abeja melífera africanizada en dos apiarios en Yucatán, México

Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), commonly known as the Small Hive Beetle (SHB), is becoming a significant pest in the beekeeping industry outside of its natural distribution range. In Mexico, recent reports indicate that the SHB is distributed throughout the Yucatan peninsula. The invasion of honey bee colonies by SHB it is mainly chemically mediated by volatiles produced by the yeast Kodamaea ohmeri which is regarded as a secondary symbiont of the SHB. It was analyzed the presence of this yeast in honey bee colonies of Yucatan based on the premise that symbionts are often conjointly distributed with their hosts, therefore the presence of K. ohmeri in hives will be closely associated with the presence of SHB. In managed Africanized honey bee (AHB) colonies, yeasts associated with adult beetles were isolated and identified and the results show that the SHB together with their associated yeast, K. ohmeri, have invaded AHB colonies in Yucatan. It was also reported the presence of yeasts other than K. ohmeri associated with SHB that for the first time are recorded in a geographical region where they had not been recorded before.

Assessment on Colonization, Absconding and Honey Yield by African Honeybee Colonies Reared in Hives with Different Colours in Awka, South-Eastern Nigeria

Honey production in Nigeria is affected by several factors especially the inability to select the best hive colour. This research was conducted using twelve (12) modified top bar hives painted with different colours and labelled PH₁, PH₂, PH₃ and UPH. The hive labelled PH₁ was painted white, PH₂ was painted royal blue while PH₃ was painted mint green. However, hives labelled UPH used as control were unpainted hives constructed with Nauclea diderrichii. Each hive treatment was replicated three times in a Complete Randomized Design. Data collected were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis Test of significance. Treatment UPH had the highest colonization rate (100%), followed by treatment PH₁ (66.7%) while least in hives painted with royal blue and mint green (33.33%). Colonization was observed in treatment PH₁ and PH₃ on August while it occurred in treatment UPH on July, August and September, 2017. No significant difference existed between the colonization rate of the different hive colours (P>0.05). Highest rate (100%) of absconding was recorded in treatment PH₃. Treatment PH₁, PH₃ and UPH absconded in the months of November and October, 2017 and February, 2018 respectively. There was no significant difference in the absconding rate between the different hive colours. Importantly, honeybee colony in PH₂ produced the highest quantity of honey (0.67 kg) while no honey (0.00kg) was harvested from the other treatments. Colour does not significantly influence hive colonization by African honeybees (P>0.05). The study concluded that hive colour did not significantly improve colonization, absconding and honey yield.

Current Status of Acarapis woodi Mite Infestation in Africanized Honey Bee Apis mellifera in Brazil

Acarapis woodi Rennie (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is an endoparasitic mite, which can affect the respiratory system in the honey bee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) causing mortality. This mite was first recorded in Brazil in the 1970s, but its current presence is unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the presence of A. woodi in the Africanized honey bee A. mellifera in Brazil, to update the occurrence data of this parasite, 47 yr after its detection. We examined a total of 153 honey bee colonies, from 15 different states using dissection and molecular techniques. This is the first study of the detection of A. woodi in Brazil using molecular techniques. The results were negative for both methods employed, and we can conclude that A. woodi is not present in Africanized honey bee colonies in Brazil.

Intranidal temperature and body size of Africanized honey bees under heatwaves (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

It is generally accepted that temperate subspecies of honey bees can maintain stable temperatures inside their nests; however, little information is available on the cooling ability of tropical honey bees and the effect of high environmental temperatures on individuals. In this study, we registered temperatures in the brood area of strong- and medium-populated colonies of Africanized honey bees during heatwaves (maximum environmental temperature 44 °C) between April and May in the tropical Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. To evaluate the effect on colonies, we compared the body size of workers produced under high temperatures in the field and siblings produced at stable 34–35 °C laboratory conditions. We found that in the field, temperatures of the brood nest in both types of colony can increase above 36 °C during the hottest part of the day, especially in less strong colonies. Workers produced in the field were significantly smaller, compared to those reared in the lab at stable temperatures. This is a first study reporting body size reduction in honey bees as a consequence of possible thermoregulation disruption during heatwaves. We discuss our results considering potential effects of heat stress to Africanized honey bee colonies and tropical beekeeping.

Royal jelly production with queens produced by single and double grafting in Africanized honeybee colonies

The objective of this research was to evaluate royal jelly production from Africanized honeybee queens of different lineages (lineage selected for honey production, lineage selected for royal jelly production and unselected) produced by single and double grafting and to compare royal jelly production among their offspring. Data were tested by double factorial analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5%. The parameters evaluated were: queen weight at emergence, percentage of larvae acceptance in the upper and lower bars, royal jelly per cup (mg) and royal jelly per colony/collection (g). Queens selected for honey presented greater weight at emergence, while the unselected queens were the lightest. Double grafting was better than simple grafting, since the queens were born 2.38% heavier. There was no difference (p &gt; 0.05) in relation to royal jelly production according to neither the lineage nor even comparing the method by which the queens were produced. The cost of labor to produce queens by double grafting was much higher, as by the simple grafting about 170% more queens were born. The potential of Africanized honeybees with adequate production management and favorable environmental conditions favors the production of royal jelly.

New Record of the Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, in Africanized Honey Bee Colonies in Costa Rica

The small hive beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida Murray (Insecta: Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is a honey bee parasite native to sub-Saharan Africa (Hepburn & Radloff, 1998). It was first described by Murray...

Africanized honeybee and its contribution to soybean yield in Brazil

Cultivated areas of soybean in Brazil have been increasing with each harvest and the seed market is moving in the same direction, launching new varieties every year. To increase not only planted area but also productivity, it is necessary to use technologies and use integration systems. In this study, the effect of pollination by honeybees on two soybean varieties in two consecutive years was evaluated. Three treatments were established: cages with Apis mellifera honeybees, cages without bees and free areas for insect visitation. The results showed an increase 6.45% of soybean yield in areas with free access to insect visitation. While in the cages with the introduction of Africanized honeybee colonies the increase was 13.64%. These results indicate that even in the most recent cultivars, cross pollination can show productivity gains even in an autogamous species.

Keeping a low profile: small hive beetle reproduction in African honeybee colonies

Keeping a low profile: small hive beetle reproduction in African honeybee colonies

Detection of Africanized bees in the Dominican Republic

The distribution of the Africanized honey bee (AHB) in the Caribbean region is “patchy”, with some islands, such as Puerto Rico, testing positive for AHB since the mid 1990s, while other regions, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti appeared to be free of AHB. In this study we confirm, through molecular test of mitochondrial genetic material, that AHB is now present in managed colonies in the Dominican Republic. The presence of the Africanized mitotype was established using the cytochrome b/BglII assay. Results show that 39% of the colonies sampled displayed the African haplotype, and 73% apiaries had at least one Africanized colony. Six out of the eight provinces surveyed (excluding Santo Domingo and Dajabón) tested positive for the presence of AHB colonies. The results indicate that AHB is present in the Dominican Republic and that currently it may be more prevalent in the northwest region of the country. However, a more intensive survey is needed to confirm countrywide prevalence of the African genotype, and to examine the situation in neighboring Haiti.

The influence of nest site selection on the population dynamics of Africanized honey bees in an urban landscape

AbstractUrban landscapes provide habitat for many species, including domesticated and feral honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). With recent losses of managed honey bee colonies, there is increasing interest in feral honey bee colonies and their potential contribution to pollination services in agricultural, natural, and urban settings. However, in some regions the feral honey bee population consists primarily of Africanized honey bees. Africanized honey bees (AHB) are hybrids between European honey bees and the African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellataLepeletier, and have generated economic, ecological, and human health concerns because of their aggressive behavior. In this study, we used two long‐term datasets (7–10 years) detailing the spatial and temporal distribution of AHB colonies in Tucson, AZ, USA, where feral colonies occupy a variety of cavities including water meter boxes. A stage‐structured matrix model was used to elucidate the implications of nest site selection and the effects of colony terminations on the structure and dynamics of the AHB population. Our results suggest that Tucson's AHB population is driven by a relatively small number of ‘source’ colonies that escape termination (ca. 0.165 colonies per km2 or 125 colonies in total), although immigrating swarms and absconding colonies from the surrounding area may have also contributed to the stability of the Tucson AHB population. Furthermore, the structure of the population has likely been impacted by the number and spatial distribution of water meter boxes across the city. The study provides an example of how urban wildlife populations are driven by interactions among landscape structure, human management, and behavioral traits conferred by an invasive genotype.

Control del ácaro &lt;i&gt;Varroa destructor&lt;/i&gt; en cría sellada de obrera al utilizar ácido fórmico y timol, en colmenas de abejas africanizadas, bajo condiciones tropicales. Nota Técnica

Se evaluó la mortalidad del ácaro Varroa destructor en cría sellada de obrera, al aplicar ácido fórmico y timol en colmenas de abejas africanizadas. El apiario se ubicó en Atenas, Alajuela - Costa Rica. Este se dividió en tres grupos seleccionados al azar (A, B y C). El grupo A fue tratado con 150 g de ácido fórmico al 65%; en el B se realizó dos aplicaciones de 25 g de timol; el C se utilizó como testigo. La mortalidad de los diferentes estadios de varroa fue evaluada en cría sellada de obrera, revisando la pupa y el fondo de la celda. Se determinó una mortalidad de 86% en los diferentes estadios de varroa en cría sellada de obrera luego de aplicar ácido fórmico. Mientras que en colmenas tratadas con timol y el grupo testigo, la muerte de ácaros, en cría sellada, fue menor a un 10%. Se concluye que, al aplicar ácido fórmico, se produce una alta mortalidad de los diferentes estadios del ácaro V. destructor en la cría sellada de obrera. Mientras tanto, en las colmenas tratadas con timol y el grupo testigo, la mortalidad de ácaros fue considerablemente menor, lo cual puede indicar un efecto directo del ácido fórmico sobre los ácaros presentes en la cría sellada de obrera.

Regulation of Pollen Foraging Activity in &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Apis mellifera&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Africanized Honeybees Colonies

Efficient honey production requires knowledge about the behavior of the workers and the parameters that influence the strength of the colony. In this study, the objective was to analyze the interaction between the foraging behavior of worker honeybees and pollen storage levels in Africanized honeybees colonies. Colonies with low pollen storage increased pollen intake rates, but this value was 15% lower than colonies with high pollen storage, demonstrating a direct relationship between the pollen storage levels and foraging activity. The difference in pollen intake rates varied according to the number of foraging honeybees and pollen load collected by each individual. Under both high and low pollen storage, colonies returned pollen storage to initial level within 16 days, suggesting that honeybees regulate pollen storage levels around a homeostatic set point. Relationship between pollen storage levels and colony brood production was also found, indicating how alterations in the behavior of each individual can affect the strength of the colony.

&lt;b&gt;Performance of Africanized honeybee colonies settled by queens selected for different traits

We evaluated varroa infestation and the performance of Africanized honeybee colonies with queens selected for honey and royal jelly production, and also unselected queens, correlating with climatic variables. In Campo Alegre, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, the experiment I used 10 Langstroth hives and in Mafra, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, the experiment II was performed with 15 Schenk hives. A mapping in areas of sealed and unsealed brood, honey and pollen was carried out on days zero, 45 and 90 days after the introduction of the queen. In the experiment I, there was interaction between the type of queen selection and the evaluation period for areas of sealed brood, honey, and total stored food. The group selected for royal jelly production presented larger sealed brood area and smaller honey area at 90 days. Varroa infestation was lower (p < 0.05) at 90 days. The type of queen selection and the evaluation period influenced the sealed brood area, the total brood and the total area occupied in the colony. The high relative humidity caused greater honey storage for the local group. The different groups of queens presented different behavior according to the environment in which they are settled.