Africanized Honey Bees Research Articles

Glyphosate contact alters the expression of genes in the head of africanized Apis mellifera bees

The increase in the world population results in a greater demand for food, intensifying the dependence on pesticides use. Glyphosate, a pesticide widely used in crops, can contaminate resources collected by bees. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the transcriptome of the head of Africanized Apis mellifera bees during the foraging phase to determine whether contact with the herbicide glyphosate, in lethal and sublethal doses, causes changes in the gene expression profile. For this, 180 marked bees were collected from their hives, aged 21 days, and distributed into three treatment groups: 1) bees in contact with the lethal dose of glyphosate (255.73 µg/bee); 2) bees in contact with the sublethal dose of glyphosate (2.5573 µg/bee); 3) control group with distilled water. Transcriptome analysis was performed on 12 bees from each treatment after one and four hours of exposure. The results show that one hour of contact with glyphosate resulted in 57 genes presenting differential expression in relation to the control (11 lethal and 53 sublethal), interfering in the signaling, communication and metabolism processes, while four hours of exposure, 38 genes (32 lethal and 11 sublethal) related, mainly, to the stimulation of the immune response. In summary, glyphosate affects the gene expression of honey bees during the foraging phase, at both doses, resulting in negative effects on behavior, metabolism and immune system, which compromises the health, activity and development of the colonies, also compromising the process of pollination.

Toxicity of the microencapsulated extract of seeds of Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) on Africanized honey bees

Pesticide toxicity is one of the causes of pollinator decline worldwide. Here we evaluate the chronic (for seven days) and acute (for one day) toxicity of a microencapsulated formulation (MF) obtained from Annona muricata seeds on Apis mellifera in concentrations of 0.157 and 2.49 g. When bees were exposed daily to the formulation, a small increase in mortality occurred, and a significant difference was observed (p < 0.001) between t survival curves. During the acute toxicity exposure, there was a low mortality in the first days after exposure. Based on the results obtained, we assume that the MF has low acute toxicity and chronic using LC50 on A. mellifera.

Accurate Detection of scutellata-Hybrids (Africanized Bees) Using a SNP-Based Diagnostic Assay.

Hybrid populations of Africanized honey bees (scutellata-hybrids), notable for their defensive behaviour, have spread rapidly throughout South and North America since their unintentional introduction. Although their migration has slowed, the large-scale trade and movement of honey bee queens and colonies raise concern over the accidental importation of scutellata-hybrids to previously unoccupied areas. Therefore, developing an accurate and robust assay to detect scutellata-hybrids is an important first step toward mitigating risk. Here, we used an extensive population genomic dataset to assess the genomic composition of Apis mellifera native populations and patterns of genetic admixture in North and South American commercial honey bees. We used this dataset to develop a SNP assay, where 80 markers, combined with machine learning classification, can accurately differentiate between scutellata-hybrids and non-scutellata-hybrid commercial colonies. The assay was validated on 1263 individuals from colonies located in Canada, the United States, Australia and Brazil. Notably, we demonstrate that using a reduced SNP set of as few as 10 loci can still provide accurate results.

The influence of sub-lethal neonicotinoid doses and ambient temperature on individual Apis mellifera scutellata flight efficiency

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) thermoregulation plays an integral part in their behaviour and physiology and has been shown to be vulnerable to the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides. Flight muscles are a crucial source of physiological heat as well as being vital for behavioural heat regulation, and are negatively affected by neonicotinoid insecticides. In this study, we evaluated the flight efficiency and capacity of Apis mellifera scutellata under the influence of both elevated ambient temperatures and sublethal neonicotinoid exposure. The various aspects of flight; success, distance, speed, and duration, were not notably affected by these factors. However, the honey bees’ ability to initiate a successful flight was significantly affected by neonicotinoid exposure. Such a reduction in honey bee flight capacity, and flight muscle function in general, especially under the increasing frequency and intensity of hot weather events, is cause for concern when considering legislation and use of these neonicotinoids in the agricultural and suburban setting.

Seasonal variation and characterisation of pollen collected by honeybee Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier in southwest Ethiopia

The ability of honeybees to successfully grow, reproduce and build strong colonies and produce honey depends on their ability to obtain enough resources from flowering plants within appropriate seasons. However, little is known about seasonal variations and characterisation of honeybee pollen collected in Ethiopia. Therefore, to address this, a total of 2160 pollen samples were collected from five districts in different seasons for two years. The pollen samples were acetolysed and taxonomically identified. The pollen type was classified into frequency categories based on its relative abundance. Diversity indices and species richness were also calculated and compared between districts and seasons. The highest species richness was recorded in Guraferda district, while the lowest was recorded in Godare district. The spring season was considered the most suitable as it has the highest richness in all districts. The ‘predominant’ and ‘secondary’ pollen sources were identified from different plant genera in Asteraceae (62.23%), Mimosaceae (23.59%), Myrtaceae (43.76%), Poaceae (27.25%), Rubiaceae (36.64%), Combretaceae (28.14%), Euphorbiaceae (18.97%), Burseraceae (16.35%), Convolvulaceae (16.52%), Solanaceae (21.40%), Icacinaceae (17.86%), and Dichapetalaceae (16.35%). Terminalia spp. (Combretaceae) had the highest pollen counts and are common in the area. Other species with significant pollen counts included Acacia spp. (Mimosaceae), Croton macrostachyus (Euphorbiaceae), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae), Vernonia spp. (Asteraceae) and Iodes spp. (Icacinaceae). This study indicated that southwest Ethiopia has great potential for honey production and beekeeping business based on the study of pollen collected. Thus, these results help as a guide to the optimal use of flora resources by a honeybee in the areas.

HBeeID: a molecular tool that identifies honey bee subspecies from different geographic populations

BackgroundHoney bees are the principal commercial pollinators. Along with other arthropods, they are increasingly under threat from anthropogenic factors such as the incursion of invasive honey bee subspecies, pathogens and parasites. Better tools are needed to identify bee subspecies. Genomic data for economic and ecologically important organisms is increasing, but in its basic form its practical application to address ecological problems is limited.ResultsWe introduce HBeeID a means to identify honey bees. The tool utilizes a knowledge-based network and diagnostic SNPs identified by discriminant analysis of principle components and hierarchical agglomerative clustering. Tests of HBeeID showed that it identifies African, Americas-Africanized, Asian, and European honey bees with a high degree of certainty even when samples lack the full 272 SNPs of HBeeID. Its prediction capacity decreases with highly admixed samples.ConclusionHBeeID is a high-resolution genomic, SNP based tool, that can be used to identify honey bees and screen species that are invasive. Its flexible design allows for future improvements via sample data additions from other localities.

Use of Wing Geometric Morphometric Analysis and mtDNA to Identify Africanization of Apis mellifera in the Central Highlands of Ecuador.

Seventy-five samples were collected from 15 beehives in the central highlands of Ecuador (Tungurahua-Chimborazo) to assess Africanization in managed bee populations using wing geometric morphometric and mitochondrial DNA analyses. The results indicated that when grouping the apiaries based on altitudinal floors into 2600-2800, 2801-3000, and 3001-3274 m above sea level, differences (p < 0.001) were observed. The morphotypes were similar in the first two floors, but the third indicated that altitude plays a crucial role in the differentiation of populations. When comparing with the pure subspecies, we found differences (p < 0.001); the nearest Mahalanobis distance was for Apis mellifera scutellata (D2 = 3.51), with 95.8% Africanization via father in the area. The maternal origin of all patterns belonged to lineage A (A. m. scutellata), with seven haplotypes. The most frequent haplotypes were A26 and A1; however, the A1q haplotype was not detected at the national level or in nearby countries. The identified haplotypes do not coincide with A4, which is predominant in South Africa and Brazil. The results indicate a double origin due to their presence in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The formation of specific morphological groups within ecoregions is suggested.

Food contamination with fipronil alters gene expression associated with foraging in Africanized honey bees.

Taking into consideration that bees can be contaminated by pesticides through the ingestion of contaminated floral resources, we can utilize genetic techniques to assess effects that are scarcely observed in behavioral studies. This study aimed to investigate the genetic effects of ingesting lethal and sublethal doses of the insecticide fipronil in foraging honey bees during two periods of acute exposure. Bees were exposed to fipronil through contaminated honey syrup at two dosages (LD50 = 0.19 µg/bee; LD50/100 = 0.0019 µg/bee) and for two durations (1 and 4 h). Following exposure, we measured syrup consumption per bee, analyzed the transcriptome of bee brain tissue, and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), categorizing them functionally based on gene ontology (GO). The results revealed a significant genetic response in honey bees after exposure to fipronil, regardless of the dosage used. Fipronil affected various metabolic, transport, and cellular regulation pathways, as well as detoxification processes and xenobiotic substance detection. Additionally, the downregulation of several DEGs belonging to the olfactory-binding protein (OBP) family was observed, suggesting potential physiological alterations in bees that may lead to disoriented behaviors and reduced foraging efficiency.

Black queen cell virus detected in endemic African stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponinae)

Black queen cell virus detected in endemic African stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponinae)

Honey bee populations surviving Varroa destructor parasitism in Latin America and their mechanisms of resistance

The honey bee (Apis mellifera) parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is considered one of the main causes of colony losses in European honey bee (EHB) populations around the world. However, some EHB and Africanized honey bee (AHB) populations (derived from the African subspecies A. m. scutellata) that inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, have survived varroa mite infestations in the absence of acaricide treatments. It is conceivable to expect that these honey bee populations, which have been subjected to natural selection over decades, would have developed resistance against V. destructor or possess pre-existing adaptations that allow them to survive mite parasitism. Here, we present a comprehensive literature review describing the spread of V. destructor and the honey bee populations occurring in Latin America (LA), and summarize the evidence of resistance of those populations to V. destructor. We also analyze reports describing the potential mechanisms of mite resistance and how they operate in those honey bee populations. Studies of a few EHB, as well as of numerous AHB populations exhibiting resistance to V. destructor in LA, unveil the existence of evolutionary adaptations that restrain V. destructor population growth and provide insight into the current host-parasite relationship. This review supports the notion that selective breeding of local honey bee populations from LA could be a viable strategy to manage varroa mite infestations in colonies.

Varroa destructor mite population dynamics in africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies in a semi-arid region.

Most published data on mite infestation rates in semi-arid regions have been collected over only 3 or 4 months during a specific period of the year. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe parasite-host dynamics of hygienic and non-hygienic Africanized bee colonies considering environmental factors that may influence Varroa destructor mite infestation rates in a semi-arid region. To this end, the brood puncture method was applied to 37 colonies, forming two groups, namely G1, encompassing 16 hygienic colonies, and G2, comprising 21 non-hygienic colonies. After forming the groups, 300 worker bees from each colony were examined monthly for mite infestations and the data were correlated with climatological records. The monthly infestation average was considered low, below 10%, except in November, when it reached 12.19% ± 6.45. No statistically significant difference was observed for inter-group infestation rates (P > 0.05). When mite infestation rates were associated with climatic variables, they were linked to colony losses (32%) due to swarming. No significant correlations between hygienic behaviour and parasite infestation rates were noted. Nonetheless, these results support the idea that there is no need to apply acaricides for V. destructor control in Brazil.

Rapid identification of Africanized honey bee Apis mellifera (hymenoptera: apidae) using high-resolution melting analysis DNA from honey

Genetic characterization of honey bee populations, particularly the identification of Africanized honey bees, has traditionally been based on different molecular methods that involve the amplification and analysis of different regions of the mitochondrial or nuclear genome which often take a long time. We introduce high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) as a novel approach for rapid and cost-effective identification of the African lineage in Apis mellifera populations from mitochondrial DNA extracted from honey. Samples were collected from 111 apiaries in 13 Argentinean provinces between 2012 and 2018. Total DNA was extracted from 10 g honey sediment and subjected to quantitative PCR (qPCR) using specific primers (APIS-F/Afr207R) amplifying a 207 bp product. Positive controls (Africanized/Non-Africanized) were used for mitotype validation and a subset of qPCR products were sequenced to compare different haplotypes. HRM analysis enabled the quick detection of sequence polymorphisms in short amplicons generated by qPCR. Among the analyzed apiaries, 26 located above 35° S in Misiones, La Rioja, Catamarca, Formosa, Corrientes, Córdoba, and Santa Fé exhibited the Africanized mitotypes while the remaining apiaries below this latitude, mainly in Buenos Aires, Rio Negro, Neuquén, and Entre Ríos, showed the European mitotypes. These results align with previous characterizations in the region. HRM analysis demonstrated high sensitivity and effectiveness, requiring minimal DNA input, and reducing costs and sampling efforts. This approach provides a rapid and reliable method for identifying the African lineage, facilitating honey bee breeding programs, conservation efforts, and management strategies in regions with Africanized honey bee populations.

When size matters: effectiveness of three endemic African stingless bees as watermelon pollinators

When size matters: effectiveness of three endemic African stingless bees as watermelon pollinators

Toxicological, morphological and cytochemical effects caused by the agrochemical Fastac Duo in africanized Apis mellifera tolerant to neonicotinoid thiamethoxam

Agriculture is one of the main bases of the Brazilian economy, its production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds is breaking records. This great productivity needs handling and care to maintain itself. Due to the occurrence of pests there is a need to use agrochemicals, which in addition to their direct effect on killing insect pests, also affects the viability of beneficial insects to Apis mellifera bees. These insects play an essential role in the pollination of many species. These pollinators have declined for at least 14 years due to several factors, including the large-scale use of agrochemicals. Thus, our research group is maintaining colonies of A. mellifera bees tolerant to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, given the importance of this agrochemical in pest control. Due to the high number of available agrochemicals, in the present study the toxicity, changes in chromatin and morphology of the midgut of workers A. mellifera F4 tolerant to thiamehtoxam, submitted to oral exposure with the agrochemical Fastac Duo (combination of acetamiprid and alpha -cipermethrin). Adult forage workers of A. mellifera F4 tolerant were collected and submitted to in vitro bioassays, by oral exposure for 24 and 72 hours. After this period, the workers were analyzed to check for mortality, dose/response ratio, using the cytochemical technique Critical Electrolyte Concentration (CEC). The most digestion occurs in bees to observe the morphology of this region of the digestive tract. The results showed that there was a high mortality of workers in the treatments performed indicating that there is no cross tolerance, that is, F4 is not tolerant to Fastac Duo, but there is a positive dose/response correlation, where the higher the dose used, the greater the mortality. The changes in the chromatin structure suggest that there is condensation of the chromatin and a decrease in gene expression in two concentrations analyzed at 24 and 72 hours. As for the morphology of the midgut, changes were detected at the cellular level, but the peritrophic membrane was preserved. Thus, the use of Fastac Duo should be avoided, or at least, used in minimum doses necessary to avoid the mortality of A. mellifera bees.

Viability of Cull Bee Brood (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Apis mellifera&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) as an Additive in Chicken Feed for Enhanced Food Security

There is insufficient knowledge by African beekeepers on how to utilize and integrate culled bee brood into their chicken feed or food systems instead of dumping broods as wastes. Culling out access bee brood combs, diseased, old combs with brood remains will reduce over reproduction of bee brood in the bee colony and hence improving hygiene in bee hive colony which will increase its fitness. African bee keepers regularly practice bee brood culling of unwanted, damaged, diseased and excessive combs with brood during production and harvesting periods and throw away culled bee brood Africa beekeepers. Therefore, this study came up with new ways on how to collect, process, utilize and integrate culled bee brood into chicken feeds as additives instead of throwing them away as wastes. This would create new production opportunity among bee keeper now and in the future as culled bee brood to be an alternative source of protein in chicken feeds systems leading to improved food security. The study was conducted in three districts of southwestern Uganda (Kiruhura, Mbarara, Rwampara). Current Nutritional composition and hygiene practice were analyzed after sampling practices and collection. Analyzed 966 culled bee brood combs from 46 beekeeper’s colony. Data was analyzed using r-statistical program. All assumptions for statistical tests were met. A total of seven (7) apiaries participated in cull brood removal sample from 46 bee hives from each district that was sampled making a total of 966 colonies. a repeated measures ANOVA both at beginning of the season and the end of the season was used to analyze the beekeepers’ data from different apiary yard in western Uganda and five (5) colonies (bee hive) from an on-farm trial experiment at Mbarara, Kiruhura, Rwampara western Uganda, three (3) treatment and two control were utilized. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze this data. Using computer aided software of R-statistical package for analysis. Results were presented in table form from different seasons from laboratory analysis. The study also adds to existing literature where some insects are used industrially for selling as seen with the Nsenene (grass hoppers) in Uganda and crickets and black soldier’s flies in western Kenya at Jaramongi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology. MP2 has the highest metabolizable energy with slightly less microbes, and average moisture content. This makes it a good choice of feeds with bee brood additives for the chicken.

Dominance of African racial ancestry in honey bee colonies of Mexico 30 years after the migration of hybrids from SouthAmerica.

The Africanized honey bee, a hybrid of Apis mellifera scutellata from Africa with European subspecies, has been considered an invasive species and a problem for beekeeping. Africanized bees arrived in Mexico in 1986, 30 years after their accidental release in Brazil. Although government programs were implemented for its eradication, Africanized populations persist in Mexico, but precise information on the patterns of genetic introgression and racial ancestry is scarce. We determined maternal and parental racial ancestry of managed and feral honey bees across the five beekeeping regions of Mexico, using mitochondrial (mtDNA, COI-COII intergenic region) and nuclear markers (94 ancestrally informative SNPs), to assess the relationship between beekeeping management, beekeeping region, altitude, and latitude with the distribution of maternal and parental racial ancestry. Results revealed a predominantly African ancestry in the Mexican honey bees, but the proportion varied according to management, beekeeping regions, and latitude. The Mexican honey bees showed 31 haplotypes of four evolutionary lineages (A, M, C, and O). Managed honey bees had mitochondrial and nuclear higher proportions of European ancestry than feral honey bees, which had a higher proportion of African ancestry. Beekeeping regions of lower latitudes had higher proportions of African nuclear ancestry. Managed and feral honey bees showed differences in the proportion of maternal and nuclear racial ancestry. Managed honey bees from the Yucatan Peninsula and feral honey bees had a higher mtDNA than nuclear proportions of African ancestry. Managed honey bees, except those on the Yucatan Peninsula, had a higher nuclear than mtDNA proportion of African ancestry. Our study demonstrates that Africanized honey bee populations are genetically diverse and well established in Mexico, which highlights the limitations of management and government programs to contain the Africanization process and demands the incorporation of this lineage in any breeding program for sustainable beekeeping.

Occurrence of Lotmaria Passim in Africanized and European Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera, Lineages from the United States

Abstract Honey bee populations in the United States have been under stress for the past several decades. Several internal parasites may contribute to this, including the trypanosome Lotmaria passim. It is unknown how widespread the honey bee parasite, L. passim, is in Africanized honey bee (AHB) populations in the United States. A total of 321 feral honey bee colony samples which had been previously recorded to be of Africanized origin using molecular diagnostics from California (n=3), New Mexico (n=46), Oklahoma (n=57), Texas (n=106), and Utah (n=109) were used in this study. Of these samples, a total of 15 (4.7%) from three States were positive for L. passim. Utah AHB samples had the highest infection rate (11.0%), followed by Texas (1.9%) and Oklahoma (1.8%). Compared with previous studies on the occurrence of L. passim from European honey bees from the same sampled States, infection rates of Africanized honey bees for L. passim were significantly higher in the State of Utah, but not for the other sampled States. This study provides evidence that feral honey bee populations do not necessarily have lower levels of honey bee parasites than managed honey bee colonies.

Hyperspectral lidar for monitoring high-resolution activity patterns of African stingless bee species

BackgroundStingless bees are vital pollinators and honey producers in the tropics. Research on stingless bees is generally underrepresented compared to the western honeybees, and while stingless bee studies from some regions are reported, there is a particular lack of reports on the species endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. Since conventional entomological methods such as mark-recapture and radar harmonic tags suffer from limited observation counts and amount to a significant payload, fluorescent powder tagging offers a promising alternative to understanding their behavior. We deploy a hyperspectral fluorescence lidar monitors a 25-mm-wide transect in front of the hives.ResultsDuring a 1 day study at the International Stingless Bee Center, near Kakum National Park, Ghana, 17,862 insects were observed with the lidar, of which 7520 were tagged with fluorescent dyes. Approximately half of the bees from the selected hives were successfully tagged, with an estimated misclassification of 1%. According to our limited data, the observed species, Meliponula bocandei and the Dactylurina staudingeri exhibited different activity patterns. D. staudingeri displayed a half-hour longer active day, with clear crepuscular activity peaks. In contrast, M. bocandei activity was diurnal, with less pronounced crepuscular peaks.ConclusionsWe demonstrate how hyperspectral fluorescence lidar can monitor powder-tagged insects throughout the day. The monitored species revealed distinct activity patterns over the day. Our findings highlight the potential of this technology as a valuable tool for understanding insect behavior and environmental preferences of species, in situ, which could potentially give clues of response to climate changes of these critical species.

Melissopalynological Analysis of Honey from French Guiana.

Beekeeping directly depends on the floral biodiversity available to honey bees. In tropical regions, where nectar and pollen resources are numerous, the botanical origin of some honey is still under discussion. A precise knowledge of plants foraged by honey bees is useful to understand and certify the botanical origin of honey. In this study, attention was paid to honey samples from the French Guiana Atlantic coast where beekeepers generally place their hives in four types of biotopes: seaside vegetation, mangrove, savannah, and secondary forest. Pollen analysis of 87 honey samples enabled the identification of major plants visited by Africanized honey bees during the dry season (approximately from July to January). Through melissopalynologic analysis, 51 pollen types were identified and classified according to their relative presence. Frequently observed pollens (with relative presence > 50%) in French Guiana kinds of honey were those from Mimosa pudica, Cocos sp., Rhyncospora sp., Avicennia germinans, Paspalum sp., Spermacoce verticillata, Tapirira guianensis, Cecropia sp., Myrtaceae sp., Mauritia flexuosa sp., Solanum sp., and Protium sp. In many honeys, only M. pudica was over-represented (relative frequency > 90%). Color and electrical conductivity in French Guiana honeys exhibit significant variations, with color ranging from 27 mm to 110 mm Pfund, and electrical conductivity ranging from 0.35 to 1.22 mS/cm.

Oral administration of phytochemicals protects honey bees against cognitive and motor impairments induced by the insecticide fipronil.

Pollution produced by exposure to pesticides is a major concern for food security because the negative impacts on pollinators. Fipronil, an insecticide broadly used around the globe has been associated with the ongoing decline of bees. With a characteristic neuroactive toxicodynamic, fipronil leads to cognitive and motor impairments at sublethal dosages. Despite of regional bans, multilevel strategies are necessary for the protection of pollinators. Recent evidence suggests that specific nutrients in the diets of bees may induce protection against insecticides. Here, we evaluated whether the administration of three phytochemicals, namely rutin, kaempferol and p-coumaric acid provide protection to the Africanized honey bee Apis mellifera against oral administration of realistic dosages of fipronil. We tested the potential impairment produced by fipronil and the protection induced by the phytochemicals in learning, 24h memory, sucrose sensitivity and motor control. We found that the administration of fipronil induced a concentration-dependent impairment in learning and motor control, but not 24h memory or sucrose sensitivity across a 24h window. We also found that the administration of rutin, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol and the mixture was innocuous and generally offered protection against the impairments induced by fipronil. Overall, our results indicate that bees can be prophylactically protected against insecticides via nutrition, providing an alternative to the ongoing conflict between the use of insecticides and the decline of pollinators. As the studied phytochemicals are broadly present in nectar and pollen, our results suggest that the nutritional composition, and not only its production, should be considered when implementing strategies of conservation via gardens and co-cropping.