Beekeeping: Science updates

  Science updates: Effect of Hive Color on Colony Performance     The research investigates how the color of beehives might influence the internal temperature and, consequently, the performance of honey bee colonies. The study was conducted in Van, Türkiye, between June 27 and July 26, with data recorded every 59 minutes using data recorders placed inside hives of three different color combinations: white, blue, and blue with white covers.   The results showed that the white hives had the lowest average temperature compared to the blue hives and the blue hives with white covers, both during the day and the hottest hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The one-way variance analysis indicated a statistically significant difference among the groups (p<0.001), suggesting that hive color significantly affects internal temperature.     The study highlights the importance of temperature regulation within honey bee colonies for brood production and ...

  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: Edible antiviral therapeutics for bees The document titled "Green biomanufacturing of edible antiviral therapeutics for managed pollinators" presents a study on the development of an antiviral platform for bees using an edible cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973. The research aims to address the significant declines in managed bee populations due to RNA viruses, which pose a threat to global food security. By engineering the cyanobacterial biomass to induce RNA interference (RNAi) immune responses in bees, the study demonstrates the potential to suppress viral infection and improve survival in honey bees.   The research highlights the importance of pollination in maintaining biodiversity and agricultural crop production, emphasizing the critical role of bees, both managed and wild, in this ecosystem service. The study's findings offer a sustainable and versatile therapeutic approach that can be directly incorporated into suppl...