Beekeeping: Science updates

  Science updates: Homeostasis & honey bee brood nursing & pollen supply   The division of labor and task partitioning among adult bees is another key aspect of homeostasis. The authors explain that the task selection of individual worker bees is influenced by factors such as age, experience, and the colony's current needs. They also describe the spatial organization of the colony's combs, which is optimized for energy savings and efficient brood nursing.   The flow of nutrients within the colony is a complex network involving the exchange of nectar, honey, and pollen-derived jelly among bees and between bees and larvae. The authors discuss how this nutrient flow not only sustains the colony but also serves as a communication channel for regulating workload balance.   The regulation of nutrient stores, particularly pollen, is demand-driven. The authors note that while honey is stored in excess for overwintering, pollen reserves are managed to ...

  Science updates: Water collection & water storage in honey bee colonies   The authors explore how water collectors are activated, suggesting that they respond to increased begging for fluid or personal thirst. The study also demonstrates that water collectors can adapt their behavior to not only meet the colony's immediate water needs but also to store water in their crops and combs, providing a buffer against future water stress.   Experiments conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment with observation hives showed that colonies deprived of water during broodnest hyperthermia experienced a rise in broodnest temperature, indicating the critical role of water in nest thermoregulation. The study also found that the number of water collectors and the rate of water collection increased gradually after the onset of heat stress, suggesting that colonies have a reserve of cooling fluids.   The research highlights the importance of water collectio...

  Science updates: Food alternatives & honey bees   The study investigates the factors influencing risk-prone feeding behavior in honey bees, specifically examining whether the absence of food alternatives or the bees' energy budget drives their willingness to consume unpalatable or noxious substances. The research was carried out on late-fall and winter honey bees, focusing on their survival rates after ingesting various mixtures of sucrose solution with noxious substances like quinine, salicin, and NaCl.   The findings indicate that honey bees prefer pure sucrose solution over mixtures containing noxious substances, regardless of their energy budget. However, when presented with a single feeding option and limited escape possibilities, bees consumed previously rejected mixtures, suggesting a state of "feeding helplessness." This behavior implies that bees may accept less desirable food when no better options are available, which could have implications f...

  Science updates: Short-term hyperthermia & adult honeybees   The study finds that hyperthermia applied during the larval stage significantly reduces sucrose responsiveness in adult bees, particularly when treatment occurs early or late in larval development. Despite this reduction, the treatment does not negatively impact foraging behavior, as measured by radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Interestingly, hyperthermia treatment, especially when applied early in larval development, can increase the lifespan of worker bees.   The researchers suggest that while hyperthermia is an effective method for controlling Varroa destructor, it may have unintended consequences on the sensory responsiveness of honeybees, which could potentially affect their foraging decisions and learning performance. They recommend further research to determine the optimal timing for hyperthermia treatment to minimize these side effects while maximizing its benefits for ...