Beekeeping: Science updates

  Science updates: Tracking Varroa Parasitism Using Cameras     The article explores the use of infrared thermal imaging to detect Varroa destructor parasitism in honey bee (Apis mellifera) broods. The study, conducted over two years at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, involved five beehives each year, using a FLIR E5-XT WIFI handheld infrared camera to create heat maps of capped brood frames.   The authors found that handheld infrared cameras can generate detailed heat maps, effectively distinguishing between cells containing honey, pollen, and brood. They observed a sustained temperature increase in developing honey bee pupae infested with Varroa mites, detectable regardless of the number of mites in the cell. This indicates an advanced thermoregulatory behavior in honey bee colonies, potentially a social fever response to the presence of Varroa mites.   The study identified two heating patterns associated with Varroa...

  Science updates: Genome-wide patterns & honey bees     The research article by Saelao et al. in BMC Genomics (2020) investigates the genetic diversity and differentiation within and among commercial honey bee stocks in the United States. Despite the economic importance of honey bees (Apis mellifera) as pollinators, the population genetics of U.S. honey bee stocks are not well understood. The study used pooled sequencing to analyze eight honey bee stocks, revealing strong genetic similarity among six of them. Two stocks, Pol-line and Hilo, showed significant differentiation, likely due to their closed breeding programs for Varroa mite resistance.   The research identified few stock-specific variants, suggesting potential admixture among the sequenced stocks. Genes and genomic regions associated with disease and parasite resistance, particularly hygienic behavior, were highlighted. The study concludes that there is a high level of admixture in commerc...

  Science updates: Varroa control (Amitraz-Based Product)   The research article investigates the influence of two amitraz-based products, Apivar and Supatraz, on the control of Varroa destructor mite populations in honeybee colonies. The study is conducted in France, using field data and a dynamic model to compare the efficacy of the two products. Results show that while the percentage of efficacy of the two products in the field was not significantly different, Supatraz was found to kill mites faster and decrease 90% of the mite infestation in a shorter period compared to Apivar.   The study also reveals that the daily impact of the two different products on mite population varies, with Supatraz showing a higher daily mortality rate during the first two weeks, requiring a lower efficacy to stabilize the mite population due to its faster release of active ingredients. The comparison of the efficacy of the two products with different characteristics, such as d...

  Science updates: Honey bees can evict drones of low quality   This research paper delves into the evaluation of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies and the eviction of drones of low quality. The study addresses the question of whether non-reproductive workers evaluate the quality of male reproductives, by investigating the response of colonies to immune-challenged drones. The findings reveal that an immune challenge causes changes in the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of drones and reduces their body mass, leading to the selective eviction of small and immune-challenged drones by workers. This study sheds light on a new example of social immunity expressed against adult males and worker involvement in reproductive decisions, emphasizing the additional layer of scrutiny that eusocial males undergo prior to mating, mediated by the non-reproductive worker caste.   Throughout the paper, the authors explore the concept of reproductive quality advertisement ...