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: Varroa control (natural treatments)   The effects of natural treatments, such as cinnamon and oregano essential oils (EOs) and a mixed fruit cocktail juice, on varroa mite infestation levels and overall honey bee colony health were investigated. The research aimed to address the decline in honey bee populations due to various factors including parasites, bacteria, viruses, and the use of pesticides. The study was conducted in a 20-hive experimental apiary, where colonies were divided into treatment and control groups. While the varroa mite infestation affected all colonies, no significant differences in mite infestation levels, population density, and honey yield were observed between the treatment and control groups. The study also detected viral (DWV, CBPV, and BQCV), fungal (Nosema ceranae), and bacterial (Melissococcus plutonius) pathogens in both symptomatic and asymptomatic colonies.   The study highlighted the importance of exploring na...

  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 ...