Beekeeping: Science updates

  Science updates: Winter mortality & temperature variations and Varroa mites   The study examines the causal relationship between honey bee (Apis mellifera) winter mortality and environmental factors such as temperature variations and Varroa mite density. The research, conducted in a Central European apiary from 1991 to 2023, reveals consistent mortality patterns across years, with four distinct clusters of year-specific mortality trajectories identified. However, no significant differences were found in seasonal temperatures or Varroa destructor density among these clusters .   The study employs generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) to analyze individual bee mortality rates and structural equation models (SEM) to explore the causal network linking environmental conditions to bee mortality and honey production.   The results indicate that increased winter mortality is associated with lower winter temperatures and higher autumn infestations of ...

  Science updates: Acetylsalicylic Acid, & Echinacea Extract, & Vitamin C & honey bees   The study investigates the effects of acetylsalicylic acid, Echinacea purpurea extract, and vitamin C on honey bee survival, immunity, and performance during the winter season. The research   involved laboratory and field tests to assess the impact of these substances when mixed with sugar syrup on bees' tolerance to low temperatures and pathogens.   The laboratory experiments revealed that vitamin C and Echinacea purpurea extract significantly enhanced bees' recovery time after exposure to low temperatures and improved survival rates after narcosis. These substances also led to higher hemocyte counts, indicating a boost in the bees' immune system. In contrast, acetylsalicylic acid and the control group showed less promising results.   Field experiments demonstrated that colonies fed with sugar syrup supplemented with vitamin C or Echinacea purpur...

  Science updates: Honey bees & effects of nutrition & queen age   The study investigates the impact of nutrition and queen age on the health and performance of honey bee colonies overwintering in a southern climate. The research, which spanned from July to January in the Imperial Valley of California, involved 252 commercial colonies across three apiary sites. The colonies were divided into groups with either young or old queens and were fed either artificial diet or a mixture of artificial diet and natural pollen.   Key findings include: 1.      Colonies with young queens produced significantly more brood than those with old queens, with a 24-25% increase in brood production in November and January. 2.      Supplemental feeding with natural pollen led to a non-significant increase in brood production compared to artificial feed alone. 3.      The expression of vitellogenin (vg) and its...

  Science updates: Supplementary feeding & pollens & autumn & honey bees   The study investigates the impact of feeding honey bees with various pollen types on colony performance, wintering ability, and in vitro longevity. The research was conducted on 48 honey bee colonies divided into six groups, including a control, syrup, mixed pollen, Cistus creticus pollen (Pink rock-rose), Papaver somniferum pollen (Opium poppy), and commercial bee cake group. The study was motivated by the need for proper nutrition to ensure the survival and development of honey bee colonies, especially during autumn when natural pollen sources are limited.   The findings revealed that the group fed with P. somniferum pollen exhibited the highest performance in terms of the number of bee frames, brood area, and wintering ability, with a survival rate of 92.19%. This group also had the longest in vitro longevity at 23 days. The effect of nutritional differences on survival w...