Performance Of Honey Bee Colonies Research Articles

Evaluation of Some Pollen Substitutes on Productivity of Honey bee Colonies (Apis cerana F.)

This study examined the effects of different pollen substitutes on the performance of honey bee colonies in Assam, India. Natural Corbicula pollen (CPF) and six artificial diets were compared with a sugar syrup control for 15 days. CPF consistently outperformed other treatments in all parameters. Regarding the honey area, the CPF reached 22.63 cm2 and 22.65 cm2 in 2021 and 2022, respectively, while in the control group it was 15.61 cm2 and 15.72 cm2, respectively. CPF also had the highest pollen area (15.59 cm² and 15.68 cm²) and brood area (20.19 cm² and 20.35 cm²) in both years. Colony strength was maximized in the CPF (7.55 and 7.59 for frames 2021 and 2022). Among artificial foods, OUAT-PS (soy flour, honey, yeast, multivitamin) generally performed best, with no significant difference from CPF in colony strength. All pollen substitutes stimulated honey production and brood development with foods rich in proteins, vitamins and amino acids, and significantly improved colony performance compared to controls. These results can help beekeepers select appropriate additional nutrients in times of pollen shortage.

Effects of Vitamin Supplements in a Pollen Substitute on Some Characteristics of Bee Nucleus Colonies

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin supplementation in a pollen substitute on the performance of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera mellifera). Twenty nucleus colonies housed in Langstroth-Ruth hives were randomly selected and fed a diet consisting of corn gluten, sugar, and brewer’s yeast residuals, yielding 21.0% crude protein, 7.1% crude fat, and 1.7% crude ash. This diet was enriched with a vitamin mixture at doses of 1, 2, and 3 grams. Control group I received a sugar-water syrup (1:1, w/v), while control group II received the basic diet without vitamin supplementation. The three experimental groups were given the diet with varying amounts of the vitamin mixture. Results indicated that experimental group II demonstrated colony strength comparable to experimental group I but significantly higher than the control group by 14.6-49.4%, and 34.3% higher than experimental group III (P<0.05). Queen bee egg yield increased significantly, with control group II showing a 27.5% increase, experimental group I showing 52.1% increase, experimental group II showing 67.6% increase, and experimental group III showing 28.5% increase on July 28th. Similar trends were observed on August 28th, with respective increases of 30.2%, 32.5%, 37.4%, and 14.7% compared to control group I. Additionally, honey yields for experimental group II were significantly higher by 25.8-57.9% compared to the control groups and 46.8% higher than experimental group III (P<0.05). These findings suggest that vitamin-enriched pollen substitutes positively impact colony strength, queen bee egg laying, and honey production, underscoring the potential benefits of such supplementation in beekeeping practices.

Relative impacts of Varroadestructor (Mesostigmata:Varroidae)infestation and pesticide exposure on honey bee colony health and survival in a high-intensity corn and soybean producing region in northern Iowa.

The negative effects of Varroa and pesticides on colony health and survival are among the most important concerns to beekeepers. To compare the relative contribution of Varroa, pesticides, and interactions between them on honey bee colony performance and survival, a 2-year longitudinal study was performed in corn and soybean growing areas of Iowa. Varroa infestation and pesticide content in stored pollen were measured from 3 apiaries across a gradient of corn and soybean production areas and compared to measurements of colony health and survival. Colonies were not treated for Varroa the first year, but were treated the second year, leading to reduced Varroa infestation that was associated with larger honey bee populations, increased honey production, and higher colony survival. Pesticide detections were highest in areas with high-intensity corn and soybean production treated with conventional methods. Pesticide detections were positively associated with honey bee population size in May 2015 in the intermediate conventional (IC) and intermediate organic (IO)apiaries. Varroa populations across all apiaries in October 2015 were negatively correlated with miticide and chlorpyrifos detections. Miticide detections across all apiaries and neonicotinoid detections in the IC apiary in May 2015 were higher in colonies that survived. In July 2015, colony survival was positively associated with total pesticide detections in all apiaries and chlorpyrifos exposure in the IC and high conventional (HC) apiaries. This research suggests that Varroa are a major cause of reduced colony performance and increased colony losses, and honey bees are resilient upon low to moderate pesticide detections.

Protective covers impact honey bee colony performance and access to outside resources

Protective crop covers are used extensively to protect high-value crops from bird and hail damage, however, these structures may present challenges for honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), the main pollinators in these systems. Some studies have indicated that protective covers result in declines in colony size and resource storage, but few replicated field trials exist. To determine the impact of protective cropping structures on honey bee brood production and resource storage, 14 honey bee colonies were placed inside and outside of protective covers on four blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum and V. virgatum) farms in northern New South Wales, Australia. We measured changes in brood production, pollen and honey storage, hive weight and ambient hive temperature fortnightly over a 12-week period. Brood production, pollen and honey storage, and hive weight all displayed greater reductions within four weeks of placement under net cover, compared to hives outside of net cover. Although brood and honey metrics gradually increased in all hives during the remainder of the 12-week monitoring period, hives located under protective netting had relatively smaller gains in brood production and pollen storage when compared to hives located outside the protective covering. Hives under protective netting that were in the shade and/or whose entrances were facing south were most impacted by the end of the monitoring period. Our findings highlight the need for protected crop management strategies to consider pollinator health as well as crop pollination needs so that both bee health and pollination services are maintained in these systems.

Developmental exposure to hormone-mimicking insect growth disruptors alters expression of endocrine-related genes in worker honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) brains and hypopharyngeal glands.

Division of labor within a honey bee colony creates a codependence between bees performing different tasks. The most obvious example of this is between the reproductive queen and worker bees. Queen bees lay 1,000 or more eggs a day, while young worker bees tend and feed queens. Young workers and queens can be exposed to pesticides when foragers return to the hive with contaminated resources. Previous research has found negative effects of larval exposure to insect-growth disruptors (IGD) methoxyfenozide and pyriproxyfen, on adult responsiveness to artificial queen pheromone. The present work investigates potential physiological and molecular mechanisms underpinning this behavioral change by examining the development of hypopharyngeal glands and ovaries as well as the expression of genes related to reproduction and worker endocrine signaling in the brain and hypopharyngeal gland tissues. Though hypopharyngeal gland and ovary development were not altered by developmental exposure to IGDs, gene expression differed. Specifically, in the brain tissue, ilp1 was downregulated in bees exposed to pyriproxyfen during development, and Kr-h1 was downregulated in both methoxyfenozide- and pyriproxyfen-exposed bees. In the hypopharyngeal glands, Kr-h1, EcR-A, EcR-B, and E75 were upregulated in honey bees exposed to methoxyfenozide compared to those in the pyriproxyfen or control treatments. Here we discuss these results and their potential implications for the health and performance of honey bee colonies.

Commercial probiotic formulas Bactocell and Levucell promote spring brood production in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies.

Honey bees are essential pollinators for several economically important crops. In temperate countries, honey bee colonies face multiple threats during the overwintering period, such as food availability, diseases, and confinement. Beekeepers commonly use chemicals to improve colony health during winter, but these products can have a negative impact on bee health and pathogens can develop resistance to them. Thus, there is a need for further development of alternative treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of one endogenic bacterium (Bombella apis) and 2 commercial probiotic formulas (Bactocell and Levucell) on colony survival, spring development, and Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema) spp. spore count. Probiotic treatments were given in 1: 1 sugar syrup in October 2017 and April 2018, once a week for 2 wk. One experimental group was given Fumagilin-B, the only product approved in Canada to prevent nosemosis, once in October. The administration of 2 commercial probiotics, Bactocell (Pediococcus acidilactici) and Levucell (Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii), led to a significant increase in the number of sealed brood cells in spring. None of the probiotic treatments impacted the honey bee gut load of Vairimorpha spp. spores. The results suggest that beneficial microorganisms can improve spring development and performance of honey bee colonies.

Cold storage as part of a Varroa management strategy: effects on honey bee colony performance, mite levels and stress biomarkers

Placing honey bee colonies in cold storage has been proposed as a way to induce a pause in brood production as part of a Varroa mite treatment plan. Here, we exposed colonies to combinations of with or without an October cold storage period and with or without a subsequent miticide application. We then measured the effects of those treatments on colony-level variables (i.e. colony size, Varroa infestation level, survivorship and hive weight and temperature) and pooled individual-level variables that are associated with nutritional and stress responses. Colonies were assessed before and after cold storage, and again post winter, for a total duration of about 5 months, and the experiment was repeated. Brood levels were significantly lower after cold storage, and hive temperatures indicated that most or all brood had emerged after about two weeks in cold storage. However, Varroa levels at the end of the experiments in February were not significantly different among treatment groups. Colonies kept outside (not subjected to cold storage) and treated with a miticide had higher survivorship on average than any other treatment group, but no other group comparisons were significant, and long-term impact of cold storage on adult bee populations and on colony thermoregulation was low. The bee forage environment was also very different between the 2 years of the study, as rainfall and bee forage availability were much higher the second year. Colonies were over 2.5 times larger on average the second year compared to the first, both in terms of adult bee mass and brood area, and expression levels of nutrition and stress response genes were also significantly higher the second year. The results indicate that limited cold storage would likely have little long-term impact on most colony and individual measures of health, but for such a strategy to succeed levels of stressors, such as Varroa, may also need to be low.

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Effect of Queen Excluder Placing on Honey Yield and Honeybee Colony Performance in Selected Beekeeping Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Association of excessive precipitation and agricultural land use with honey bee colony performance

Association of excessive precipitation and agricultural land use with honey bee colony performance

Trans-generational immune priming against American Foulbrood does not affect the performance of honeybee colonies.

Honeybees are major pollinators for our food crops, but at the same time they face many stressors all over the world. One of the major threats to honeybee health are bacterial diseases, the most severe of which is the American Foulbrood (AFB). Recently a trans-generational vaccination approach against AFB has been proposed, showing strong potential in protecting the colonies from AFB outbreaks. Yet, what remains unstudied is whether the priming of the colony has any undesired side-effects. It is widely accepted that immune function is often a trade-off against other life-history traits, hence immune priming could have an effect on the colony performance. In this experiment we set up 48 hives, half of them with primed queens and half of them as controls. The hives were placed in six apiaries, located as pair of apiaries in three regions. Through a 2-year study we monitored the hives and measured their health and performance. We measured hive weight and frame contents such as brood amount, worker numbers, and honey yield. We studied the prevalence of the most common honeybee pathogens in the hives and expression of relevant immune genes in the offspring at larval stage. No effect of trans-generational immune priming on any of the hive parameters was found. Instead, we did find other factors contributing on various hive performance parameters. Interestingly not only time but also the region, although only 10 km apart from each other, had an effect on the performance and health of the colonies, suggesting that the local environment plays an important role in hive performance. Our results suggest that exploiting the trans-generational priming could serve as a safe tool in fighting the AFB in apiaries.

Effect of queen excluder placing on honey yield and honeybee colony performance in selected beekeeping areas of East Shewa and West Arsi zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Effect of queen excluder placing on honey yield and honeybee colony performance in selected beekeeping areas of East Shewa and West Arsi zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Impact of the Plant-Based Natural Supplement Imмunostart Herb on Honey Bee Colony Performance

Abstract Winter is the season that poses the greatest challenges for honey bee colonies. Therefore, the main approach in beekeeping practice is aimed mainly at providing sufficient quality food supplies for bee colonies in early autumn. We conducted the present study to test the influence of the natural plant extract IMМUNOSTART HERB on population strength, stored pollen area, capped worker brood area, and honey yield. The experimental groups were supplied with IMМUNOSTART HERB 4 times at 7-day intervals, whereas sugar syrup was given to the control groups. The obtained results showed that the applied supplemental diet affected all investigated biological parameters, with the most noticeable effect after the second application. In all measurements, the honey bee colony parameters in the treated groups showed higher values in comparison to the control groups. These results highlight the potential of herbal supplements to effectively improve bee colonies’ development during the period of scarce bee forage, as well as to provide suitable conditions for successful overwintering.

Effectiveness of electric harps in reducing Vespa velutina predation pressure and consequences for honey bee colony development.

Vespa velutina has become a species of concern in invaded regions of Europe and Asia, due to its impacts on biodiversity, apiculture and society. This hornet, a ferocious hunter of pollinating insects, poses a serious threat to biodiversity and pollination services. Despite ongoing efforts, its extermination in continental Europe is hampered by a lack of effective control methods, thus effective mitigation measures are primary concerns. The aims of this work were: (i) to study the effects of V. velutina predating on honey bee colonies, and (ii) to assess the effectiveness of electric harps in reducing hunting pressure and predation. We assessed the predation pressure and compared honey bee colony performance, body weight of workers, and winter survivorship for protected versus unprotected colonies in 36 experimental hives across three apiaries. Electric harps protected honey bees by reducing predation pressure and therefore mitigating foraging paralysis. Consequently, foraging activity, pollen income, brood production and worker body weight were higher in protected colonies which in turn showed greater winter survivorship than those that were unprotected, especially at sites with intermediate to high levels of predation. The predation of V. velutina affects foraging activity, breeding, body weight and colony survivorship of Apis mellifera. Electric harps contribute significantly to mitigate the impact of this invasive hornet on apiaries; however, they should be deployed in tandem with additional measures to preserve honey bee colony stocks, such as facilitating access to food sources for colonies during the periods of highest predation pressure. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary phytochemicals alter hypopharyngeal gland size in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) workers

Honey bees are the most efficient pollinators of several important fruits, nuts and vegetables and are indispensable for the profitable production of these crops. Health and performance of honey bee colonies have been declining for decades due to a combination of factors including poor nutrition, agrochemicals, pests and diseases. Bees depend on a diversity of plants for nutrition as pollen is the predominant protein and lipid source, and nectar, the source of carbohydrates for larval development. Additionally, pollen and nectar also contain small amounts of plant secondary metabolites or phytochemicals that are primarily plant defense compounds. Bees have coevolved to benefit from these compounds as seen by the improved longevity, pathogen tolerance and gut microbiome abundance in worker bees whose diets were supplemented with select phytochemicals. Here we investigate the impact of four phytochemicals, known to benefit bees, – caffeine, kaempferol, gallic acid and p-coumaric acid, on hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) size of nurse bees. Newly emerged bees were provided with 25 ppm of each of the four phytochemicals in 20% (w/v) sucrose solution and the size of HPGs were measured after a 10 d period. Bees that received p-coumaric acid or kaempferol showed a significant increase in HPG size. A significant decrease in HPG size was seen in bees receiving caffeine or gallic acid. The implication of our findings on worker bee ontogeny, transitioning from nurses to foragers and relevance to foraging related competencies are discussed. It is critical that bees have access to phytochemicals to ensure colony health and performance. Such access could be through natural habitats that provide a diversity of pollen and nectar sources or through dietary supplements for bee colonies.

Testing the ability of chitosan nanoparticles to improve development and performance of honey bee colonies during early spring

AbstractChitosan has shown promising results in improving bee health. The experiments of this study investigated the effects of using chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs) on honey bee colonies. CHNPs were added into the bee feed at three concentrations: 10, 30, and 60 ppm (i.e. CHNPs 10, CHNPs 30, and CHNPs 60). The effects of these treatments on activities and performance of bee colonies were compared during early spring in addition to a control group without CHNPs. The survival experiment supported the safety of these concentrations of CHNPs to bees. The data from the apiary showed the superior results of CHNPs 30 and CHNPs 60 on comb building, hygienic behavior, stored food, and colony strength significantly than CHNPs 10 and the control group. No significant variations generally were found between CHNPs 30 and CHNPs 60 as well as between CHNPs 10 and the control group in the measured parameters. The mean numbers of dead bees in front of beehive entrances supported the absence of negative effects of CHNPs on bee colonies. The study emphasized the role of chitosan nanoparticles in enhancing performance and activities of bee colonies especially with CHNPs 30 and CHNPs 60 after winter season.

The type of protein supplement or substitute and its location from brood affect honeybee colony performance

The type of protein supplement or substitute and its location from brood affect honeybee colony performance

Effects of different artificial diets on commercial honey bee colony performance, health biomarkers, and gut microbiota

BackgroundHoney bee colonies managed for agricultural pollination are highly dependent on human inputs, especially for disease control and supplemental nutrition. Hives are routinely fed artificial “pollen substitute” diets to compensate for insufficient nutritional forage in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different artificial diets in a northern California, US commercial beekeeping operation from August through February. This time period represents an extended forage dearth when supplemental nutrition is used to stimulate late winter colony growth prior to almond pollination in the early spring. A total of 144 honey bee colonies were divided into 8 feeding groups that were replicated at three apiary sites. Feeding groups received commercial diets (Global, Ultra Bee, Bulk Soft, MegaBee, AP23, Healthy Bees), a beekeeper-formulated diet (Homebrew), or a sugar negative control. Diets were analyzed for macronutrient and amino acid content then evaluated with respect to honey bee colony population size, average bee weight, nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota abundance, and pathogen levels.ResultsReplicated at three apiary sites, two pollen-containing diets (Global and Homebrew) produced the largest colonies and the heaviest bees per colony. Two diets (Bulk Soft and AP23) that did not contain pollen led to significantly larger colonies than a sugar negative control diet. Diet macronutrient content was not correlated with colony size or health biomarkers. The sum of dietary essential amino acid deficiencies relative to leucine content were correlated with average bee weight in November and colony size used for almond pollination in February. Nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota, and pathogen levels were influenced by apiary site, which overrode some diet effects. Regarding microbiota, diet had a significant impact on the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Gilliamella and trended towards effects on other prominent bee gut taxa.ConclusionsMultiple colony and individual bee measures are necessary to test diet efficacy since honey bee nutritional responses are complex to evaluate. Balancing essential amino acid content relative to leucine instead of tryptophan may improve diet protein efficiency ratios. Optimization of bee diets could improve feed sustainability and agricultural pollination efficiency by supporting larger, healthier honey bee colonies.

The impact of honey bee colony performance over crop production besides farmer welfare

Despite extensive curiosity in pollinators’ place in nutriment manufacturing, their impact upon agriculturalists’ advantage, that determines their subsistence as well as land-utilization options, remains unclear. While typical pollinator assistances were usually assumed, even within the same area, here was the potential for substantial longitudinal difference amongst yield kinds notwithstanding changes, as well as between pollinator management strategies. It examined effectiveness of honey bee colony used for pollination service, which includes disease management and non-natural winter feeding, impacts flowers visitation, farmer benefit, and fruit output (Patagonia) (Patagonia). Flower visitation rates were 130.5 percent higher in high-quality apple colonies compared in conventional colonies resulting in a 70.5 percent increase in agricultural revenue. Colony uniformity only impacted fruit weight, varieties and increase in farmer income to the same degree as the apple. It discovered no, in contrast to previous reports, showing the vulnerability method. Our research found that simple improvements leased honey bee colony would increase visitation rates, increasing and thus increasing agriculturalists’ incomes outpacing availability of honey bee colonies, our findings indicate practises intended to enhancing cluster efficiency could be able to help address this possible colony number shortfall. Apis Mellifera is the only pollinator. With the reported decrease of bees the globe, situation like this may tragically develop.

Honey bee colony performance affected by crop diversity and farmland structure: a modeling framework.

Forage availability has been suggested as one driver of the observed decline in honey bees. However, little is known about the effects of its spatiotemporal variation on colony success. We present a modeling framework for assessing honey bee colony viability in cropping systems. Based on two real farmland structures, we developed a landscape generator to design cropping systems varying in crop species identity, diversity, and relative abundance. The landscape scenarios generated were evaluated using the existing honey bee colony model BEEHAVE, which links foraging to in-hive dynamics. We thereby explored how different cropping systems determine spatiotemporal forage availability and, in turn, honey bee colony viability (e.g., time to extinction, TTE) and resilience (indicated by, e.g., brood mortality). To assess overall colony viability, we developed metrics, PH and PP, which quantified how much nectar and pollen provided by a cropping system per year was converted into a colony's adult worker population. Both crop species identity and diversity determined the temporal continuity in nectar and pollen supply and thus colony viability. Overall farmland structure and relative crop abundance were less important, but details mattered. For monocultures and for four-crop species systems composed of cereals, oilseed rape, maize, and sunflower, PH and PP were below the viability threshold. Such cropping systems showed frequent, badly timed, and prolonged forage gaps leading to detrimental cascading effects on life stages and in-hive work force, which critically reduced colony resilience. Four-crop systems composed of rye-grass-dandelion pasture, trefoil-grass pasture, sunflower, and phacelia ensured continuous nectar and pollen supply resulting in TTE > 5yr, and PH (269.5kg) and PP (108kg) being above viability thresholds for 5 yr. Overall, trefoil-grass pasture, oilseed rape, buckwheat, and phacelia improved the temporal continuity in forage supply and colony's viability. Our results are hypothetical as they are obtained from simplified landscape settings, but they nevertheless match empirical observations, in particular the viability threshold. Our framework can be used to assess the effects of cropping systems on honey bee viability and to develop land-use strategies that help maintain pollination services by avoiding prolonged and badly timed forage gaps.