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Snake venoms constitute a complex blend of proteins and peptides, with their toxicity and pharmacological effects varying depending on their geographic origin. Naja haje, a venomous snake of significant medical importance in regions like Morocco and North Africa, can inflict severe pain, swelling, and neurotoxic symptoms upon biting. Without prompt medical intervention, these symptoms can rapidly worsen, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. Understanding the venom’s components is crucial for developing effective antivenom therapies. Specific antibodies that target the venom’s toxic elements are essential for neutralising its activity. Therefore, we conducted a proteomic analysis of these elements within Naja haje venom using gel filtration, HPLC, and mass spectrometry. Our findings identified eight fractions, among which fractions 5 and 6 exhibited notable toxicity, with fraction 5 resulting in mortality. Furthermore, we observed a prevalence of 3FTx, a diverse component in Naja venom, alongside short-chain neurotoxins such as short neurotoxin, cytotoxin, and muscarinic toxin-like proteins. Recognising these harmful elements is crucial for developing precise antivenom treatments. This investigation represents the first proteomic analysis of toxic fractions from Naja haje venom in Morocco, providing valuable insights into venom composition and aiding in the development of targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited availability of antivirals for new highly pathogenic strains of virus has become a serious public health. Therefore, news products against these pathogens has become an urgent necessity. Among the multiple sources for news antibiotics and antivirals, insect exudates or their products has become an increasingly frequent option. Insects emerged 350 million years ago and have showed a high adaptability and resistance to the most varied biomes. Their survival for so long, in such different environments, is an indication that they have a very efficient protection against environmental infections, despite not having a developed immune system like mammals. Since the ancient civilizations, the products obtained from the bee have been of great pharmacological importance, being used as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and several other functions. Investigations of biological activity of propolis have been carried out, mainly in the species Apis mellifera, and its product have showed activity against some important viruses. However, for the Meliponini species, known as stingless bees, there are few studies, either on their chemical composition or on their biological activities. The importance of studying these bees is because they come from regions with native forests, and therefore with many species of plants not yet studied, in addition to which they are regions still free of pesticides, which guarantees a greater fidelity of the obtained data. Previous studies by our group with crude hydroalcoholic extract of propolis demonstrated an intense antiviral activity against Herpes, influenza, and rubella viruses. In this work, we chose to use aqueous extracts, which eliminates the presence of other compounds besides those originally present in propolis, in addition to extracting substances different from those obtained in alcoholic extracts. Therefore, this study aimed to identify, isolate and characterize compounds with antiviral effects from aqueous propolis extracts from Scaptotrigona aff postica, in emerging viruses such as zicavirus, chikungunya, and mayaro virus. The evaluation of the antiviral activity of the crude and purified material was performed by reducing infectious foci in VERO cell cultures. The results obtained with crude propolis, indicate a high reduction of zica virus (64×) and mayaro (128×) when was used 10% v/v of propolis. The reduction of chikungunya virus was of 256 fold, even when was used 5% v/v of propolis. The chemical characterization of the compounds present in the extracts was performed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Through the purification of propolis by HPLC and mass spectrometry, it was possible to identify and isolate a peak with antiviral activity. This substance showed activity against all viruses tested. When purified fraction was used, the reduction observed was of 16 fold for zicavirus, 32 fold for mayaro virus and 512 fold for chikungunya virus. Likewise, it was observed that the antiviral response was concentration dependent, being more intense when propolis was added 2 h after the viral infection. Now we are carrying out the chemical characterization of the purified compounds that showed antiviral action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varroosis is a disease that can be observed in all life stages of honey bees and causes serious clinical findings in infested hives. This study aimed to investigate and compare the efficiency of thyme oil, Cinnamomum verum, Melaleuca viridiflora, Syzygium aromaticum essential oils, and amitraz against Varroosis in the field. After the essential oils were dissolved in glycerin, they were impregnated on strips and applied by placing them between frames. Amitraz was applied by fumigation. Positive and phoretic Varroa negative control groups were also included. Treatments were applied once a week for four weeks during the autumn season. The rates of acaricide efficacy and weekly mite count per bottom frame were determined for each of the treatments. According to the results, the highest effectiveness against Varroosis was detected in the amitraz treatment group at 81.3%. The C. verum treatment group had the highest efficacy of all the essential oil treatment groups at 73.5%. The efficacies in thyme oil, M. viridiflora, and S. aromaticum essential oils treatment groups were 71.9%, 71.3%, and 67.4%, respectively. According to the findings of the study, natural extracts can be used instead of chemical drugs in the fight against Varroosis. No toxicity or unnatural death was observed in honey bees throughout the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most animals, the microbiome is key for nutrition and pathogen defence, and is often shaped by diet. Corbiculate bees, including honey bees, bumble bees, and stingless bees, share a core microbiome that has been shaped, at least in part, by the challenges associated with pollen digestion. However, three species of stingless bees deviate from the general rule of bees obtaining their protein exclusively from pollen (obligate pollinivores) and instead consume carrion as their sole protein source (obligate necrophages) or consume both pollen and carrion (facultative necrophages). These three life histories can provide missing insights into microbiome evolution associated with extreme dietary transitions. Here, we investigate, via shotgun metagenomics, the functionality of the microbiome across three bee diet types: obligate pollinivory, obligate necrophagy, and facultative necrophagy. We find distinct differences in microbiome composition and gene functional profiles between the diet types. Obligate necrophages and pollinivores have more specialized microbes, whereas facultative necrophages have a diversity of environmental microbes associated with several dietary niches. Our study suggests that necrophagous bee microbiomes may have evolved to overcome cellular stress and microbial competition associated with carrion. We hypothesize that the microbiome evolved social phenotypes, such as biofilms, that protect the bees from opportunistic pathogens present on carcasses, allowing them to overcome novel nutritional challenges. Whether specific microbes enabled diet shifts or diet shifts occurred first and microbial evolution followed requires further research to disentangle. Nonetheless, we find that necrophagous microbiomes, vertebrate and invertebrate alike, have functional commonalities regardless of their taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bee Apis cerana is widely distributed in Asia and the Indonesian archipelago, including Sumatra. We studied the molecular variations of A. cerana using cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1 and 2 genes (cox1 and cox2) and the cox1/cox2 intergenic spacers (igs) in several altitudes in the six provinces of Sumatra. We explored the haplotype distributions of those three mtDNA markers for A. cerana in the low-, mid-, and highlands of Sumatra. We also analyzed their relationship with A. cerana in Sundaland and Asia using those markers. Our study revealed 12 new haplotypes of A. cerana cox1 in Sumatra, while nine and eight new haplotypes for cox2 and igs, respectively. Apis cerana in North Sumatra, Lampung, and South Sumatra had the three highest haplotype variations. Most of the specific haplotypes of inter-colony A. cerana from Sumatra were found in the lowlands, while most were in the highlands for intra-colony variations. We found low gene flow among populations of A. cerana in Sumatra. One haplotype, Sumatra4 cox2 from North Sumatra, was the same as Java3 haplotype, presumably due to anthropogenic impact. The molecular phylogenetic tree of A. cerana in the Sundaland revealed that A. cerana from Sumatra has a close relationship to those of Borneo compared to Java. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bee genus Pasites Jurine (Nomadinae: Ammobatini) is recorded from Vietnam for the first time. A new species, Pasites vuquang Tran, Engel, and Nguyen, n. sp., is described and illustrated based on two females and one male collected from Vu Quang National Park, central Vietnam. Its potential host is Pseudapis (Pseudapis) siamensis Cockerell (Halictidae: Nomiinae). An identification key is provided to the species of Asian Pasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varroa mites, notorious for parasitizing honeybees, are generally classified as Varroidae. Their extremely modified morphologies and behaviors have led to debates regarding their phylogenetic position and classification as an independent family. In this study, two different datasets were employed to reconstruct the phylogenies of Varroa mites and related Laelapidae species: (1) 9257 bp from the whole 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of 24 taxa, (2) 3158 bp from 113 taxa using Sanger sequencing of four nuclear loci. Both mitochondrial and nuclear analyses consistently place Varroa mites within the Laelapidae. Here we propose to place Varroa mites in the subfamily Varroinae stat. nov., which represents a highly morphologically adapted group within the Laelapidae. Ancestral state reconstructions reveal that bee-associated lifestyles evolved independently at least three times within Laelapidae, with most phoretic traits originating from free-living ancestors. Our revised classification and evolutionary analyses will provide new insight into understanding the Varroa mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the identity and prevalence of parasitoid dipterans associated with bumble bees (Bombus spp.) in southern South America are little known. Between 2009 and 2017, a total of 2978 bumble bees were individually collected in 63 localities from 11 provinces of the country. After dissections, the presence of parasitoids was observed in the native bumble bees Bombus pauloensis, B. bellicosus, B. opifex, and B. brasiliensis, plus in the exotic invasive species B. terrestris. A combination of both morphological and molecular analysis based on the COI gene allowed the isolation of two species of Physocephala (Conopidae) and one of Helicobia (Sarcophagidae), expanding their host range and geographic distribution. The second instar larva of Helicobia aurescens is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a time of increasing threats to bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus), it is important to understand their ecology and distribution. As experts are limited in resources to conduct field surveys, there is potential for community scientists to help. The Bumble Bee Watch (BBW) community science program involves volunteers taking photos of bumble bees in Canada and the USA and submitting them, along with geographic and optional plant information, to a website or through an app. Taxon experts then verify the bee species identification. The Bumble Bees of North America database (BBNA) stores data (no photographs) collected and identified by more traditional scientific methods over the same range. Here we compared BBW data to BBNA data over all years and just 2010–2020 to understand the scientific contribution of community scientists to the state of the knowledge about native bumble bees. We found that BBW had similar geographic and species coverage as BBNA. It had records from all 63 provinces, states, and territories where bumble bees occur (including four more than BBNA in 2010–2020), and represented 41 of the 48 species in BBNA (with ten more species than BBNA in 2010–2020). While BBW contributed only 8.50% of records overall, it contributed 25.06% of all records over 2010–2020. BBW confirmed the persistence of species and identified new locations of species, both inside and outside of the previously known extent of occurrences. BBW also contributed a wealth of ecological information, such as unique plant genera and species data for almost all the bee species. Thus, while BBW had fewer bee records than the BBNA database overall, it helped to fill in data gaps and provided novel information, complementing the traditional methods. This community science program is valuable in helping to inform conservation management for bumble bee species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees use grooming to defend against the devastating parasite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman. We observed the grooming responses of individual bees from colonies previously chosen for high- and low-grooming behavior using a combination of mite mortality and mite damage. Our aim was to gain insight into specific aspects of grooming behavior to compare if high-grooming bees could discriminate between a standardized stimulus (chalk dust) and a stimulus of live Varroa mites and if bees from high-grooming colonies had greater sensitivity across different body regions than bees from low-grooming colonies. We hypothesized that individuals from high-grooming colonies would be more sensitive to both stimuli than bees from low-grooming colonies across different body regions and that bees would have a greater response to Varroa than a standardized irritant (chalk dust). Individuals from high-grooming colonies responded with longer bouts of intense grooming when either stimulus was applied to the head or thorax, compared to sham-stimulated controls, while bees from low-grooming colonies showed no differences between stimulated and sham-stimulated bees. Further, high-grooming bees from colonies with high mite damage exhibited greater grooming to Varroa than high-grooming colonies with only moderate mite damage rates. This study provides new insights into Varroa -specific aspects of grooming, showing that although a standardized stimulus (chalk dust) may be used to assess general grooming ability in individual bee grooming assays, it does not capture the same range of responses as a stimulus of Varroa. Thus, continuing to use Varroa mites in grooming assays should help select colonies with more precise sensitivity to Varroa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bee parasites remain a critical challenge to management and conservation. Because managed honey bees are maintained in colonies kept in apiaries across landscapes, the study of honey bee parasites allows the investigation of spatial principles in parasite ecology and evolution. We used a controlled field experiment to study the relationship between population growth rate and virulence (colony survival) of the parasite Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman). We used a nested design of 10 patches (apiaries) of 14 colonies to examine the spatial scale at which Varroa population growth matters for colony survival. We tracked Varroa population size and colony survival across a full year and found that Varroa populations that grow faster in their host colonies during the spring and summer led to larger Varroa populations across the whole apiary (patch) and higher rates of neighboring colony loss. Crucially, this increased colony loss risk manifested at the patch scale, with mortality risk being related to spatial adjacency to colonies with fast-growing Varroa strains rather than with Varroa growth rate in the colony itself. Thus, within-colony population growth predicts whole-apiary virulence, demonstrating the need to consider multiple scales when investigating parasite growth-virulence relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) is one of the greatest stressors of Apis mellifera (L.) honey bee colonies. When Varroa infestations reach damaging levels during fall, rapid control is necessary to minimize damage to colonies. We performed a field trial in the US Southeast to determine if a combination of registered treatments (Apivar, amitraz-based; and Apiguard, thymol-based) could provide rapid and effective control of Varroa. We compared colonies that received this combination treatment against colonies that received amitraz-based positive control treatments: (i) Apivar alone; or (ii) amitraz emulsifiable concentrate ("amitraz EC"). While not registered, amitraz EC is used by beekeepers in the United States in part because it is thought to control Varroa more rapidly and effectively than registered products. Based on measurements of Varroa infestation rates of colonies after 21 days of treatment, we found that the combination treatment controlled Varroa nearly as rapidly as the amitraz EC treatment: this or other combinations could be useful for Varroa management. At the end of the 42-day trial, colonies in the amitraz EC group had higher bee populations than those in the Apivar group, which suggests that rapid control helps reduce Varroa damage. Colonies in the combination group had lower bee populations than those in the amitraz EC group, which indicates that the combination treatment needs to be optimized to avoid damage to colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees are the main pollinators of terrestrial ecosystems and, among them, we can highlight oil-collecting bees, which show different morphological and behavioral adaptations associated with plants that offer this floral resource. Floral oils are used in provisioning, building, and lining the brood cell and nests. The genus Epicharis has a neotropical distribution and females are closely associated with plants of the Malpighiaceae family, with the highest number of records in species of the genus Byrsonima. However, due to the strong seasonality of adult activity and solitary behavior, knowledge about important floral resources to Epicharis bees is still scarce. In order to identify important resource sources for a widely distributed species, the current work aimed to analyze the pollen spectrum of Epicharis flava Friese in an urban area in the Atlantic Forest domain. For this, females of E. flava were captured during five days while visiting flowers of Byrsonima sericea DC. (Malpighiaceae) in an urban area, and the pollen load in their scopae was submitted to acetolysis processing for further analysis under the microscope. In total, 71 pollen types were found, with emphasis on Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Malpighiaceae, considered sources of nectar, pollen, and floral oils. This study made it possible, through the analysis of pollen in the scopae, to identify a list of potentially important species for the maintenance of E. flava populations. This information is necessary for the management of urban green areas, aiming at increasing biodiversity. In addition, these data can serve as a base for further research on oil-collecting bees in the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high overwinter mortalities in the honey bee population of Apis mellifera have been linked to immunocompromised individuals experiencing nutritional limitations. Larval nutrition plays a crucial role in determining the successful development of adults, making them more susceptible to bacterial diseases when undernourished. One of the main intracellular signalling pathways in the larval immune system against bacterial diseases is the Toll receptor signalling pathway, which activates antimicrobial peptides like defensin. Inadequate nutrition also disrupts the redox balance on A. mellifera individuals, with superoxide dismutase and catalase being the key components of their antioxidant system. Vitellogenin is associated with the mobilization of nutrients in early A. mellifera bee stages. Considering that Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the second most significant by‐product of the brewing industry, it may serve as a valuable raw material. We investigated the impact of feeding larvae with live S. cerevisiae cells on the relative expression of their main immune and antioxidant‐related genes. To assess gene expression, we conducted RT‐qPCR, using RNA extracted from ten larvae per treatment on the seventh day when the feeding trial concluded. Importantly, the presence of S. cerevisiae did not affect larval survival compared to the control group. However, the relative expression of immune‐related gene toll18W and antioxidant‐related gene sod in larvae fed with live S. cerevisiae cells was significantly higher than in larvae that were not fed with them. This suggests that the inclusion of S. cerevisiae in their diet may provide larvae with a nutritional advantage. Additionally, the vitellogenin (vg) gene expression increased in treated larvae compared to the control group, potentially facilitating their access to nutrients and, consequently, enhancing their ability to cope with nutritional stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature aff ects the distribution and success of Apis mellifera subspecies. To survive high temperatures in their natural habitats, unique adaptive traits have been evolved by various A. mellifera subspecies. A. mellifera jemenitica is a subtropical subspecies that is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the most thermotolerant A. mellifera subspecies and the only subspecies that can successfully survive long summers with daily temperatures exceeding 45°C in the Arabian Peninsula. In hot, dry conditions and short seasons, A. m. jemenitica can successfully establish its colonies. In this article, the diff erent morphological, behavioural and physiological aspects of the thermal adaptation of A. m. jemenitica, which are its size, pigmentation, brood cell size, seasonal cycle, foraging behaviour, heat shock proteins and life genes are discussed. These aspects account for how A. m. jemenitica can withstand and survive the high summer temperatures on the Arabian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Stingless bees are generally found in tropical countries, including Indonesia. In West Sumatra, stingless bees are known as Galo-galo, consist of several species with different characteristics; however, the properties of honey produced by stingless bees have not yet been explored. This study aimed to determine the physicochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities as well as the microbiota profile of stingless bee honey from the bee species Heterotrigona itama, Geniotrigona thoracica, Tetrigona melanoleuca, and Tetrigona binghami that are intensively developed in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Honey produced by the stingless bee species H. itama, G. thoracica, T. melanoleuca, and T. binghami originating in West Sumatra was examined in the present study. The physicochemical properties (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl technique), total phenols (Folin-- Ciocalteu method), antimicrobial activity (Agar-Well diffusion test), total lactic acid bacteria, and microbiota diversity were measured in stingless bee honey samples. Results: Stingless bee species significantly affected the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, antimicrobial activity, and total lactic acid bacteria (p = 0.05), except for the crude fiber content. The carbohydrate profiles of honey produced by H. itama and T. binghami were dominated by monosaccharides, whereas those of honey from T. melanoleuca and G. thoracica were dominated by disaccharides. In terms of antioxidant activity (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] value), there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between honey from H. itama, T. melanoleuca, and T. binghami, but there were significant differences (p > 0.05) between honey from G. thoracica. The honey of G. thoracica and T. melanoleuca had the highest total phenolic content (65.65 ± 14.00 and 69.78 ± 8.06, respectively). In addition, honey from the four stingless bee species showed antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. From the principal co-ordinate analysis (PCoA) results, it can be concluded that the microbiota profiles of the four stingless bee honey samples differed. Conclusion: The results showed that honey from H. itama, G. thoracica, T. melanoleuca, and T. binghami has different physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and microbiota diversity. By knowing the content of this stingless bee honey, the results of this study can be used as information that this stingless bee honey has the potential as a functional food that is beneficial for health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline of insect pollinators is a global concern, and the use of pesticides has been identified as a potential cause for it. Glyphosate‐based herbicides (GBHs) are the world's most used pesticides, but until recent years they have been claimed to be safe for non‐target organisms, such as pollinators. Using controlled arena experiments, we investigated the effects on the learning and long‐term memory of buff‐tailed bumblebees, Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), of a single field‐realistic dose of glyphosate, both in its pure form and as a commercial herbicide (Roundup Gold) containing the active ingredient (a.i.) glyphosate and other co‐formulants. We found that glyphosate in its pure form caused deterioration in the learning ability of bumblebees in a 10‐color discrimination experiment; the glyphosate‐treated bees discriminated colors over 10% worse than the untreated control bees. However, the commercially used GBH (Roundup Gold) had no observable effect on the learning ability of the bumblebees, despite the fact that this herbicide contained the same amount of glyphosate as its pure form. These findings shed light on the potential risks associated with agrochemicals previously considered safe for pollinators and emphasize the need for comprehensive risk assessments of pesticides, including evaluations of cognitive functions in pollinators. Therefore, we propose that future pesticide testing should incorporate broader assessments to ensure the safety of pollinators in agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects heavily rely on the olfactory system for food, mating, and predator evasion. However, the caste-related olfactory differences in Apis cerana, a eusocial insect, remain unclear. To explore the peripheral and primary center of the olfactory system link to the caste dimorphism in A. cerana, transcriptome and immunohistochemistry studies on the odorant receptors (ORs) and architecture of antennal lobes (ALs) were performed on different castes. Through transcriptomesis, we found more olfactory receptor genes in queens and workers than in drones, which were further validated by RT-qPCR, indicating caste dimorphism. Meanwhile, ALs structure, including volume, surface area, and the number of glomeruli, demonstrated a close association with caste dimorphism. Particularly, drones had more macroglomeruli possibly for pheromone recognition. Interestingly, we found that the number of ORs and glomeruli ratio was nearly 1:1. Also, the ORs expression distribution pattern was very similar to the distribution of glomeruli volume. Our results suggest the existence of concurrent plasticity in both the peripheral olfactory system and ALs among different castes of A. cerana, highlighting the role of the olfactory system in labor division in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylocopa nigrocincta Smith, 1854, and Xylocopa suspecta Moure & Camargo, 1988, are two nominal species within the subgenus Neoxylocopa and have a sympatric geographic distribution in South America. While X. nigrocincta is recognized by the presence of reddish metasomatic bands, X. suspecta is entirely black. Although morphologically distinct in terms of metasomal band colour, other morphological characters suggest that both species could be the same evolutionary entity and therefore synonymous. The aim of this research was to review both nigrocincta and suspecta morphotypes using an integrative approach (morphological and molecular) to evaluate if they are truly two different evolutionary lineages. Females of both species were obtained from field collections and museums, representing a large part of their morphotype distribution. Additional diagnostic characters of the external morphology were investigated, such as metasomal band colour, metasomal punctuation, wing colours, and apical regions of the basitibial plate. Mitochondrial gene sequences (COI and CytB) were used for phylogenetic reconstructions. Our results showed that both nigrocincta and suspecta morphotypes are undistinguished based on morphology, although the metasomal band colour, together with the geographic distribution, revealed the presence of three distinct morphogroups, including an intermediate one with a variable number of reddish bands. Nonetheless, the three morphogroups are not supported by molecular data and therefore represent intra-specific variations. In conclusion, our results do not support the hypothesis that the two nominal species are distinct evolutionary lineages, and we propose a synonym between X. nigrocincta and X. suspecta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on a kleptoparasitic bee, Melecta chinensis, which is not well‐known in the Republic of Korea. We provided a detailed morphological illustration of the adult bees and their nesting biological characteristics with distributional data. Additionally, the complete mitochondrial genome of the species is presented for the first time, and its phylogenetic position within the family Apidae is estimated. As a result, we could suggest a full redescription of M. chinenesis for identification and a newly reported potential flower host for it. In addition, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of M. chinensis is revealed as 15,489 base pairs (bp) long, with 35 eukaryotic mitochondrial genes (13PCGs, 2 rRNAs, and 20 tRNAs) and a 706 bp AT‐rich region. The overall base composition is 75.82% AT and 24.18% GC. The 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs) started with a typical ATN codon (ATA in nine genes and ATG in four genes) and terminated with TNN (TAN in 10 genes and TTT in one gene) or ANN (AAC in one gene and ATT in one gene). The phylogenetic results based on 13 PCGs showed that M. chinensis is distantly positioned to bumble bees (Bombus) and honey bees (Apis) but closely related to a stingless bee, Frieseomelitta varia, within the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in bumble bee species range and abundances are documented across multiple continents and have prompted the need for research to aid species recovery and conservation. The rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is the first federally listed bumble bee species in North America. We conducted a range-wide population genetics study of B. affinis from across all extant conservation units to inform conservation efforts. To understand the species' vulnerability and help establish recovery targets, we examined population structure, patterns of genetic diversity, and population differentiation. Additionally, we conducted a site-level analysis of colony abundance to inform prioritizing areas for conservation, translocation, and other recovery actions. We find substantial evidence of population structuring along an east-to-west gradient. Putative populations show evidence of isolation by distance, high inbreeding coefficients, and a range-wide male diploidy rate of ~15%. Our results suggest the Appalachians represent a genetically distinct cluster with high levels of private alleles and substantial differentiation from the rest of the extant range. Site-level analyses suggest low colony abundance estimates for B. affinis compared to similar datasets of stable, co-occurring species. These results lend genetic support to trends from observational studies, suggesting that B. affinis has undergone a recent decline and exhibit substantial spatial structure. The low colony abundances observed here suggest caution in overinterpreting the stability of populations even where B. affinis is reliably detected interannually. These results help delineate informed management units, provide context for the potential risks of translocation programs, and help set clear recovery targets for this and other threatened bumble bee species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important agricultural crop around the world, and previous studies suggest that honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) can be a component for optimizing soybean production through pollination. Determining when bees are present in soybean fields is critical for assessing pollination activity and identifying periods when bees are absent so that bee-toxic pesticides may be applied. There are currently several methods for detecting pollinator activity, but these existing methods have substantial limitations, including the bias of pan trappings against large bees and the limited duration of observation possible using manual techniques. This study aimed to develop a new method for detecting honey bees in soybean fields using bioacoustics monitoring. Microphones were placed in soybean fields to record the audible wingbeats of foraging bees. Foraging activity was identified using the wingbeat frequency of honey bees (234 ± 14 Hz) through a combination of algorithmic and manual approaches. A total of 243 honey bees were detected over 10 days of recording in 4 soybean fields. Bee activity was significantly greater in blooming fields than in non-blooming fields. Temperature had no significant effect on bee activity, but bee activity differed significantly between soybean varieties, suggesting that soybean attractiveness to honey bees is heavily dependent on varietal characteristics. Refinement of bioacoustics methods, particularly through the incorporation of machine learning, could provide a practical tool for measuring the activity of honey bees and other flying insects in soybeans as well as other crops and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-horn bee genus Tetralonia consists of 35 Western Palaearctic species that are associated mostly with the family Asteraceae as host plants. A minority of the species are, however, exclusively associated with other host plants that have particularly large pollen grains, such as those in the plant families Caprifoliaceae, Malvaceae, and Onagraceae. This work presents a taxonomic account and morphological description of the assemblages of Tetralonia species with atypical (non-Asteraceae) host plants. It includes a key to the pollinosa-group, which contains most of the species, a description of three regionally restricted new species, namely T. eoacinctella Dorchin sp. nov., T. epilobii Dorchin sp. nov., and T. stellipilis Dorchin sp. nov., a lectotype designation for Eucera cinctella Saunders, 1908 [=Tetralonia cinctella (Saunders, 1908)], and a neotype designation for Apis malvae Rossi, 1790 [=Tetralonia malvae (Rossi, 1790)]. In addition, the name Eucera macroglossa Illiger, 1806 is confirmed as a synonym of Apis malvae Rossi, 1790; Tetralonia macroglossa ssp. xanthopyga Alfken, 1936 is officially placed in synonymy with Apis malvae Rossi, 1790; and Macrocera confusa Pérez, 1902 is listed as a doubtful synonym of Tetralonia scabiosae Mocsàry, 1879 (syn. nov.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rare bee genus Habrophorula Lieftinck, 1974 is recorded for the first time from Vietnam. The genus is represented by a new species, Habrophorula belladeceptrix Tran, Engel & Nguyen, sp. nov., from Cao Bang Province and can be most easily confused with H. nigripes Wu from China. The species is most easily differentiated by the unique form of the male terminalia but can also be distinguished by differences in integumental and setal coloration. A revised key is provided to the species of the genus. Females of the new species were collected at flowers of Saurauia roxburghii Wall. and Saurauia napaulensis DC. (Actinidiaceae); males were collected at flowers of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakes contain three types of phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-inhibitory proteins in their blood, PLIα, β, and γ, which protect them from their own venom, PLA2. PLIβ is the snake ortholog of leucine-rich α2 glycoprotein (LRG). Since autologous cytochrome c (Cyt c) serves as an endogenous ligand for LRG, in this study, we purified snake LRGs from various snake serum samples using Cyt c affinity chromatography. All purified snake LRGs were found to be dimers linked by disulfide bonds. Laticauda semifasciata and Naja kaouthia LRGs showed no inhibitory activity against L. semifasciata PLA2 and weak inhibitory activity against Gloydius brevicauda basic PLA2. Elaphe climacophora PLIβ had weaker inhibitory activity against G. brevicauda basic PLA2 than G. brevicauda and Elaphe quadrivirgata PLIs, which are abundant in blood and known to neutralize G. brevicauda basic PLA2. Protobothrops flavoviridis LRG showed no inhibitory activity against basic venom PLA2, PL-X, or G. brevicauda basic PLA2. Binding analysis of P. flavoviridis LRG using surface plasmon resonance showed very strong binding to snake Cyt c, followed by that to horse Cyt c, weak binding to yeast Cyt c, and no binding to P. flavoviridis PL-X or BPI/II. We also deduced the amino acid sequences of L. semifasciata and P. flavoviridis LRG by means of cDNA sequencing and compared them with those of other known sequences of PLIs and LRGs. This study concluded that snake LRG can potentially inhibit basic PLA2, but, whether it actually functions as a PLA2-inhibitory protein, PLIβ, depends on the snake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stingless bees are a unique resource to Afrotropical ecosystems where they pollinate crops and natural vegetation, and produce honey which has medicinal powers. Studies on African stingless bees are limited partly due to difficulties in identifying them in the field. This study aimed to explore the use of nest characteristics as a simplified technique to discriminate Tanzanian stingless bee species. A total of 49 nests belonging to eight stingless bee species were studied in 15 locations. Qualitative and quantitative data on nesting sites, nest cavities, and architecture of nest entrances, brood rearing area and food storage area were collected and analyzed by comparison of means, hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA). We found that, differences in nest characteristics among stingless bee species reflected adaptations which enhanced various functions including insulation, ventilation, defense and survival. Four of the studied species were clearly separated on the dendrogram generated by Gower's distance and PCA plot based on quantitative data of nest architecture. Qualitative data assisted the distinction of two other species which had similar nest architecture. The findings of this study suggest that nest characteristics can facilitate identification of stingless bee species in the field. We propose the development of taxonomic tools based on key nest characteristics to provide a practical and user-friendly approach which even personnel who lack scientific expertise can use to discriminate stingless bee species. Such tools would contribute to the advancement of stingless bee management, research and extension services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multitrophic relationships between plants, pollinators, florivores and spiders that predate floral visitors influence plant reproductive success, and some plant characteristics influence the choices of these animals. The aim of this study was to integrate the global data on these multitrophic relationships and answer the following questions. How are the studies distributed by biomes? What are the groups of plants, pollinators, florivores, spiders and prey recorded? What plant features explain the presence of florivores and spiders? What is the effect of spiders on fruit set? A systematic literature review was carried out to extract the necessary information. The most frequently observed families of plants, pollinators, florivores, spiders and prey were, respectively, herbaceous Asteraceae, Apidae (bees), Chrysomelidae (beetles), Thomisidae (spiders) and Bombyliidae (flies). The choice of flowers by florivores was explained by floral longevity. The choice of flowers by spiders was explained by life-form, symmetry, shape, pollination unit (more frequent in isolated flowers than in inflorescences) and resource (nectar). Spiders had a neutral general effect on fruit set, indicating that the study scale influenced the result. An important knowledge gap concerns the influence of florivores on fruit set. Studies that follow standardized methodologies are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in floral visitors' diversity and community composition have been reported to affect coffee production, which optimal growing conditions are cool to warm tropical climates found in the coffee belt. However, few studies have focused on understanding how insects' foraging behaviour (e.g., contact with floral reproductive organs) relates with coffee production. Thus, it is important to consider floral visitors' foraging behaviour, as this can influence the transfer of conspecific pollen required for plant fertilisation, the efficiency of floral visitors and improve the pollination service provided. Here, we assessed how foraging behaviour of honeybees and stingless bees affects coffee fruit set and fruit weight in conventional and agroecological managed crops. We quantified local floral resources and recorded diversity, abundance and behaviour of floral visitors at eight pairs of sites with agroecological and conventional management systems to assess how foraging behaviour of honeybees and stingless bees affects coffee fruit set and fruit weight in both types of managed crops. We found that the managed honeybee Apis mellifera and three wild bees Tetragonisca angustula, Scaptotrigona mexicana and Partamona bilineata are the principal floral visitors of coffee crops in Guatemala, whose total abundance but not richness was higher in agroecological areas. Regarding their behaviours, we observed that the average number of flowers visited by P. bilineata and its behaviour of touching the nectaries of coffee flowers were positively related to fruit set, while only the percentage of A. mellifera carrying pollen was positively related with fruit weight, suggesting that although A. mellifera is found in large quantities, wild bees are also efficient pollinators of coffee in the region. Our findings also suggest that in other tropical regions where coffee is grown and honeybees have been observed as a primary pollinator, wild bees may play an important role when considering their behaviour. In the same way, coffee farms in Guatemala are a representation of the diversity of agroecosystems found worldwide, and thus, the study of foraging behaviour of managed and wild bees and the conservation of wild bee species in different coffee agroecosystems should be emphasised to improve the production of coffee and other cash crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the whole-genome sequence of the Arabian honeybee (Apis mellifera jemenetica). Seven A. m. jemenetica samples were sequenced representing three distinct subpopulations. Generated sequence reads were mapped to the reference honeybee Apis mellifera genome (Amel_HAv3.1). Data revealed genome-wide patterns of genetic variation which can be useful in the characterization and assessment of positive selection of the Arabian honeybee using different genetic markers. In total, 75.16 Gb of clean bases were generated, and the GC content of samples ranged between 31.9 and 35.3%. The effective reference genome size is 223,937,270 bp. The mapping rate of samples varied from 88.97% to 96.19%, and the effective mapping depth was between 41.80 and 48.84X. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among sequenced individuals ranged between 2379499 and 2396116 with respect to the reference A. mellifera genome (Amel_HAv3.1), and 2% of the SNPs were nonsynonymous. Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) detected 1097962–1109829 InDels and 10090–11962 structural variations (SV) from which 22.1 to 33.8% were in the form of deletions. Copy number variation (CNV) ranged between 550 and 2824, and 45–91% of them were downregulated. These variations among interbreeding individuals or groups of the same species may reflect an adaptive environmental response and fitness among different subpopulations and can be very useful for subspecies characterization, conservation, and selection of the Arabian honeybee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature affects the distribution and success of Apis mellifera subspecies. To survive high temperatures in their natural habitats, unique adaptive traits have been evolved by various A. mellifera subspecies. A. mellifera jemenitica is a sub-tropical subspecies that is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the most thermotolerant A. mellifera subspecies and the only subspecies that can successfully survive long summers with daily temperatures exceeding 45°C in the Arabian Peninsula. In hot, dry conditions and short seasons, A. m. jemenitica can successfully establish its colonies. In this article, the different morphological, behavioural and physiological aspects of the thermal adaptation of A. m. jemenitica, which are its size, pigmentation, brood cell size, seasonal cycle, foraging behaviour, heat shock proteins and life genes are discussed. These aspects account for how A. m. jemenitica can withstand and survive the high summer temperatures on the Arabian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apis cerana cerana exhibits a prominent biological trait known as comb gnawing. In this study, gnawed combs from colonies during different seasons were collected, investigating the comb age and locations of gnawing. Patterns of comb gnawing were recorded, and the effects of 2 factors, namely, comb type and season, on the mass of wax residues and the gnawed surface area were measured. The results revealed that A. c. cerana predominantly gnaws combs that have been used for over 6 months, with gnawing concentrated in the brood-rearing area. In the first 3 seasons, significantly higher masses of wax residues and larger gnawed surface areas were found in greater wax moth larvae (GWML)-infested combs compared to newly built and old combs. Also, there were significantly higher masses and areas gnawed by A. c. cerana in old combs compared to newly built combs in all 4 seasons. Compared to other seasons, it exhibited significantly higher masses and areas resulting from comb-gnawing in newly built or old combs in winter. However, there were no significant differences in the masses of wax residues and surface areas gnawed in GWML-infested combs across the first 3 seasons. In conclusion, this study documented the impact of comb type and season on the comb-gnawing behavior of A. c. cerana , contributing to beekeeping management practices and the current understanding of bee biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among South American countries, Paraguay is one of the least studied in terms of its fauna and flora. Although its small mammal fauna, including sigmodontine rodents (Cricetidae), is becoming better known, their ectoparasites are scarcely known. As part of a study on the effects of habitat fragmentation in the Interior Atlantic Forest in eastern Paraguay, multiple dimensions of terrestrial small mammals in three major reserves were surveyed. The aim of this study is to identify the ectoparasites collected on the most abundant rodents and to describe, visualize and quantify the parasite-host relationships. Ectoparasites obtained by brushing the fur of the rodents were preserved in vials with 96% ethanol. Mites were then fixed, cleared with lactophenol, and mounted between slides with Hoyer’s medium for identification with optical microscopes. Mites (Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) were the only ectoparasites collected (n = 189), from rodents (n = 22) identified as Hylaeamys megacephalus, Oligoryzomys nigripes, Akodon montensis, and A. paranaensis. Mites identified on rodent hosts varied from Androlaelaps fahrenholzi and Gigantolaelaps oudemansi on H. megacephalus; A. fahrenholzi, Gigantolaelaps wolffsohni, Mysolaelaps parvispinosus and Laelaps paulistanensis on O. nigripes; A. fahrenholzi and Androlaelaps misionalis on A. montensis; and Androlaelaps sp., and A. fahrenholzi on A. paranaensis. Except for A. fahrenholzi, the remaining laelapid species herein reported constitute the first records for Paraguay. However, these parasite-host relationships have been documented in neighboring countries. Thus, the results obtained herein are valuable as they improve the knowledge of the fauna in Paraguay and contribute to the knowledge mite-host specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tarsiger indicus (Vieillot, 1817), the White-browed Bush Robin, is a small passerine bird widely distributed in Asian countries. Here, we successfully sequenced its mitogenome using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) for PE 2 × 150 bp sequencing. Combined with other published mitogenomes, we conducted the first comprehensive comparative mitogenome analysis of Muscicapidae birds and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships between Muscicapidae and related groups. The T. indicus mitogenome was 16,723 bp in size, and it possessed the typical avian mitogenome structure and organization. Most PCGs of T. indicus were initiated strictly with the typical start codon ATG, while COX1 and ND2 were started with GTG. RSCU statistics showed that CUA, CGA, and GCC were relatively high frequency in the T. indicus mitogenome. T. cyanurus and T. indicus shared very similar mitogenomic features. All 13 PCGs of Muscicapidae mitogenomes had experienced purifying selection. Specifically, ATP8 had the highest rate of evolution (0.13296), whereas COX1 had the lowest (0.01373). The monophylies of Muscicapidae, Turdidae, and Paradoxornithidae were strongly supported. The clade of ((Muscicapidae + Turdidae) + Sturnidae) in Passeriformes was supported by both Bayesian Inference and Maximum likelihood analyses. The latest taxonomic status of many passerine birds with complex taxonomic histories were also supported. For example, Monticola gularis, T. indicus, and T. cyanurus were allocated to Turdidae in other literature; our phylogenetic topologies clearly supported their membership in Muscicapidae; Paradoxornis heudei, Suthora webbiana, S. nipalensis, and S. fulvifrons were formerly classified into Muscicapidae; we supported their membership in Paradoxornithidae; Culicicapa ceylonensis was originally classified as a member of Muscicapidae; our results are consistent with a position in Stenostiridae. Our study enriches the genetic data of T. indicus and provides new insights into the molecular phylogeny and evolution of passerine birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native stingless bees, Meliponini, are the only social bees that produce honey in addition to honeybees. These bees have been managed in meliponiculture and for crop pollination. In Ecuador, meliponiculture studies are scarce and limited by the lack of species recognition. Traditionally the taxonomic recognition of the species is based on morphological characteristics. In Hymenoptera, the wing shape has proven to be a valuable tool in combination with traditional characters. Due to this, the wing shape was evaluated for discriminating morphospecies in Ecuador’s Amazonian meliponaries. A total of 127 specimens grouped into six genera were analyzed: Melipona (Melikerria) sp., Melipona (Michmelia) sp1., Melipona (Michmelia) sp2., Tetragonisca sp., Paratrigona sp., Nannotrigona sp., Scaura sp., and Plebeia sp. The most significant differences are located at the vein intersection: cubital and cubital 1 (Cu + Cu1), posterior margin of the marginal cell (r and Rs), and basal and posterior marginal cell (M and Rs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beehive deterrents are commonly used to mitigate human–elephant conflict and protect woody vegetation. To ensure hive activity, reduce abscondment risks, and maintain deterrent effectiveness, resident bee colonies require supplementary feeding during periods of low resource availability. However, our study found that ants frequently consume the supplementary feed in open feeders intended for bees. Anoplolepis custodiens was the most numerically dominant species that excluded bees from the feeders, followed by Camponotus and Crematogaster spp. With higher ant abundance, the predicted probability of zero bees being present at feeders increased up to 82%. This competition may undermine the efficacy of beehive deterrents as a conflict mitigation tool. We developed a simple and effective ant exclusion method that raised the overall predicted probability of bees' presence at supplementary feeding stations from 32% to 68%. Our findings suggest that innovative solutions to exclude ants from supplementary feed may improve the implementation and success of this conflict mitigation method across Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in climate and exposure to heat stress are major concerns for agricultural communities as it affects pollinators like bees. Bees from different taxa play a crucial role in plant pollination, and their exposure to heat stress induces the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) to protect their cells. Several studies have analyzed the variations in HSPs expression levels and amino acid sequences. Databases for sequences of HSPs with different molecular weights are currently available. Variations in HSPs expression levels have been noted among individuals belonging to the same or different bee taxa exposed to heat stress. The properties of HSPs could help in understanding these variations. This study utilized bioinformatics and protein analysis tools to investigate the variations in sequences of heat shock proteins 60 (HSP60) and 83 (HSP83) in 18 bee taxa (15 from Family Apidae, 2 from Family Halictidae, and one from Megachilidae). The analysis showed some identical values to bees from genus Apis and Bombus. For HSP60, all bee taxa had high G content (587-602), followed by A (438-444), then C (389-404), and finally T (282-291). For HSP83, all bee taxa had high A content (730-759), followed by G (572-592), then C (406-419), and finally T (415-429). The conserved domains were highly identical in case of HSP60 versus HSP83. The motifs were from one or more protein families with variation among taxa. All proteins showed hydrophilic properties with variable isoelectric points. The study suggested an identical 3-D structure for proteins in all bee taxa. The role of the detected variations in affecting the response of HSPs to stress was discussed. This study paves the way for more investigations on HSPs and encourages the use of bioinformatics and protein analysis tools to explain any observable variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have been interested in honey bee, Apis mellifera L., venom for many years, but the previous studies focused mainly on its pharmacological properties and the factors affecting its production and chemical content were less well evaluated. This research aims to investigate the potential effect of the method of collecting bee venom on its chemical content. To achieve this, brass, steel, aluminium and copper wire conductors were used. This research was carried out at Van YYU Beekeeping Application and Research Centre, where the venom was collected dry on glass plates from 16 Caucasian F1 honey bee colonies. The quantity produced and its composition in terms of melittin, apamin and phospholipase A2 were determined after storage. Duncan and LSD Multiple Comparison tests on the amounts of venom collected using aluminium, copper, steel and brass wires for conducting electricity, revealed it was 21.03 ± 3.50, 15.08 ± 0.32, 22.38 ± 6.35 and 30.35 ± 3.66 mg, respectively. Although these values differed significantly (p < 0.05), the chemical content of the bee venom was the same. The colour of the venom was associated with the material of the electrical conductor used. It was concluded that it would be beneficial to carry out further studies using more colonies along with using residue analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Australians who work outdoors (notably, farmers and graziers) routinely kill venomous snakes. We argue that this attitude is misguided and dangerous. Despite their fearsome reputation, venomous Australian snakes pose little risk to human health (snakes kill an average of less than three people per year in Australia). Also, snakes confer a substantial benefit by consuming agricultural pests such as rodents. We estimate the magnitude of that benefit with data on snake diets, feeding rates and abundances. The most valuable rodent‐controllers are Brownsnakes (genus Pseudonaja), which are rodent‐specialists as adults and are abundant in agroecosystems across much of Australia. We calculate that a free‐living adult Eastern Brownsnake consumes at least 50 mice per year (probably twice that number), and that population densities of Brownsnakes in agricultural areas can exceed 100 per km2. Thus, Brownsnakes remove thousands of mice per square kilometre of farmland per year. That offtake plausibly reduces rodent densities because Brownsnakes take all age classes and both sexes of rodents by hunting in burrows. Tolerating Brownsnakes also would benefit the environment (e.g. less reliance on toxic chemicals) and the health of humans and domestic pets (fewer rodent‐mediated diseases) and counter‐intuitively, might reduce rates of snakebite (because many bites occur when a snake is attacked). In summary, a societal policy of coexisting with highly venomous snakes would confer multiple benefits to Australian farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees are vital to both ecosystems and humans worldwide; supplying a range of key support facilities for the successful breeding of the majority of flowering plants. The aim of this study was to assess the bee species composition in a Sudano‐Guinean savanna zone and determining the impact of a set of environmental parameters influencing this species composition in four habitat types. Sampling was carried using yellow pan traps protocol. A total of 846 bees belonging to 3 families, 25 genera and 52 species were collected. The largest number of bee individuals was found in the Apidae family. The most abundant species was Hypotrigona sp. The highest bee species and number of individuals was recorded in the shrubby savanna. Bee species diversity and abundance were found closely correlated with the plant diversity. Gaining a better understanding of the factors influencing bee community dynamics in the given landscape can provide valuable information for conservation efforts, habitat management and help identifying species which ones could be domesticated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Euglossa dilemma's naturalization in Florida has provided a unique opportunity to study the ecology and biology of an orchid bee distant from its native region. Prior studies have demonstrated its uniqueness as a highly specialized pollinator of invasive plants in Florida. This study documents its use of 259 plant taxa, 237 species and 22 horticultural forms in 156 genera, and 56 families that it uses for pollen, nectar, resins for its nest construction, and fragrance chemicals needed for its courtship. The presence of the bee in a geographic area distant from its native region has resulted in its use of many novel plants, but, like other studied naturalized bees, most of the plants it uses are native, or closely related to native plants in its native region. Because of the bee's very long tongue, ability to vibrate pollen out of specialized flowers, and facility in collecting fragrance and resin rewards from specialized flowers, it uses a higher proportion of these flowers than flowers with easily collected rewards. The ability of E. dilemma to use a large assemblage of plants, including those in most human habitats and natural communities, has facilitated its spread and colonization. Given E. dilemma's abundance and wide occurrence in subtropical Florida and its use of numerous plant species with flowers with both specialized and generalized pollination systems, it has become a common, and at times, an important pollinator. The Neotropical orchid bee Euglossa dilemma was found to be naturalized in southern Florida in 2003, and, by 2022, it had colonized the southern half of Florida. Observations of the bee's collection of plant resources, primarily flowers, were made from 2003 through to 2022 to document its plant usage and understand the patterns of its plant usage. The bee utilized 259 plant taxa, 237 species, and 22 horticultural forms, in 156 genera and 56 families in 263 total uses. Of 247 taxa of flowers, 120 were visited primarily for nectar, 46 for both nectar and pollen, 60 for pollen, including 42 buzz-pollinated flowers, 15 for fragrance chemicals for the males, and 5 for resin rewards by females for nesting. Fragrance chemicals were also collected by males from the leaves of 12 plant species. These extensive resource use data allowed the following predictions to be made. (1) The bee's presence in Florida, distant from its native region of Mexico and Central America and the geographical ranges of other orchid bees, would result the usage of many new taxa of plants. True, half, 74/148 (50%), of the genera and one third, 16/51(31%), of the plant families of the plants with flowers used by the bee were not previously recorded as being utilized by Euglossine bees. (2) Like other naturalized bees, it would use relatively more plants from its native range or congeners of these plants. True, 113/148 (76%) of genera with species bearing collected floral rewards are native or congeners with species native to the bee's native range. (3) Given the bee's long tongue, ability to buzz pollen from poricidal anthers, and ability to collect and use specialized rewards, it would disproportionately use plants with protected or highly specialized floral rewards. True, 180/247 (72%) utilized species bear rewards which were protected and unavailable to, or of no interest to, most other flower visitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, only Apis mellifera is used in environmental regulation to evaluate the hazard of pesticides to pollinators. The low representativeness of pollinators and bee diversity in this approach may result in insufficient protection for the wild species. This scenario is intensified in tropical environments, where little is known about the effects of pesticides on solitary bees. We aimed to calculate the medium lethal dose (LD50) and medium lethal concentration (LC50) of the insecticide dimethoate in the Neotropical solitary bee Centris analis, a cavity‐nesting, oil‐collecting bee distributed from Brazil to Mexico. Males and females of C. analis were exposed orally to dimethoate for 48 h under laboratory conditions. Lethality was assessed every 24 h until 144 h after the beginning of the test. After the LD50 calculation, we compared the value with available LD50 values in the literature of other bee species using the species sensitivity distribution curve. In 48 h of exposure, males showed an LD50 value 1.33 times lower than females (32.78 and 43.84 ng active ingredient/bee, respectively). Centris analis was more sensitive to dimethoate than the model species A. mellifera and the solitary bee from temperate zones, Osmia lignaria. However, on a body weight basis, C. analis and A. mellifera had similar LD50 values. Ours is the first study that calculated an LD50 for a Neotropical solitary bee. Besides, the results are of crucial importance for a better understanding of the effects of pesticides on the tropical bee fauna and will help to improve the risk assessment of pesticides to bees under tropical conditions, giving attention to wild species, which are commonly neglected. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2758–2767. © 2023 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild pollinators and their microbiota are sensitive to land use changes from anthropogenic activities that disrupt landscape and environmental features. As urbanization and agriculture affect bee habitats, human-led disturbances are driving changes in bee microbiomes, potentially leading to dysbiosis detrimental to bee fitness. This study examines the bacterial, fungal, and plant compositions of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata , and its pollen provisions across an urban–rural divide. We performed metabarcoding of C. calcarata and provisions in Toronto by targeting the 16S rRNA, ITS, and rbcL regions. Despite similar plant composition and diversity across bees and their provisions, there was a greater microbial diversity in pollen provisions than in bees. By characterizing the differences in land use, climate, and pesticide residues that differentiate urban and rural landscapes, we find that urban areas support elevated levels of microbial diversity and more complex networks between microbes and plants than rural areas. However, urban areas may lead to lower relative abundances of known beneficial symbionts and increased levels of pathogens, such as Ascosphaera and Alternaria fungi. Further, rural pollen provisions indicate elevated pesticide residues that may dysregulate symbiosis. As anthropogenic activities continue to alter land use, ever changing environments threaten microbiota crucial in maintaining bee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are one of the elements that lead to the decline in honeybee populations. Honey bee while foraging collect nectar and pollen from various crops, can be exposed to pesticide residues, which may be transported into their colonies and consumed by the larvae. The objective of this study was to evaluate acute toxicity of fipronil and lambda-cyhalothrin, two commonly detected pesticides within beehives, on the larvae of Apis mellifera. The testes chemicals were given to three-day old larvae. Treatments were administered using a micropipette at the bottom of each chosen comb cell. Each treatment included sixty larvae per dosage and the experiment was repeated three times. Larvae were given only acetone in the control treatment. Fipronil and lambda-cyhalothrin were toxic to the larvae of A. mellifera with LD50 values of 0.163 and 0.83 μg/larvae, respectively after seven days of exposure. The maximum mortality of 81.35% was recorded with a dose of 0.38 μg/larvae in Fipronil, whereas in lambda-cyhalothrin, it was 94.23% with a dose of 1.70 μg/larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many predatory mites of the subfamily Hypoaspidinae are important biological control agents of pest organisms. Here, an Illumina HiSeq platform was used to sequence the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Cosmolaelaps hrdyi. The mt genome is a circular molecule of 15,437 bp (GenBank number: OR643715), and a total of 37 genes were identified. The first codon in all 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) is ATN. With the exception of the stop codon of ND3, which was TAG and the incomplete codon of ATP8, the stop codon of the remaining 11 PCGs was TAA. All tRNAs had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, with the exception of trnS1 (AGN). A strong AT nucleotide bias (81.75%) and positive skew in both AT (0.026) and GC (0.252) were observed across the whole mt genome of C. hrdyi. Positive AT skew and GC skew were detected in all genes but the two rRNA genes. A phylogenetic tree of 29 mite species (Dermanyssiae) was constructed using mt genome sequences by the maximum likelihood method. A close relationship between Laelapidae and Varroidae was confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male orchid bees are known pollinators of some vanilla species (Orchidaceae), but there is little direct evidence for the pollination of v. planifolia L., the most important source of commercial vanilla. This study was undertaken to determine if the naturalized orchid bee, Euglossa dilemma Bembé & Eltz (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is a pollinator of V. planifolia in Florida, where the orchid is currently being considered as a potential crop. The flowers of V. planifolia were determined to have no nectar. Fragrance from in situ flowers was analyzed and found to contain principally 1-8 cineole and β-ocimene, compounds known to attract some male orchid bees. Timed watches documented pollen removal by a single female orchid bee, but no male orchid bees visited the flowers. Separate applications of 1-8 cineole, that we found in the flowers, and eugenol, which does not occur in the flowers, were made to flowers and baits, but the male orchid bees came only to flowers and baits with eugenol. Eugenol is a known attractant and principal component of many of the perfumes of the orchid mutualists of male E. dilemma. The rapid and intensive visitation and pollination that male E. dilemma bees exhibit towards their mutualist orchids did not occur, indicating V. planifolia is not an orchid mutualist of E. dilemma. During a timed watch, a female worker honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), pollinated a flower by entering it, backing out with pollen on its thorax, then re-entering the flower and exiting without the pollen. Dissection of the flower found pollen on the stigma and the anther cap disarticulated. A female E. dilemma removed pollen from a flower, indicating that she was also a probable pollinator. Morphometric measurements determined there was a good match between the interior dimensions of the tubular lip of the flowers and the thickness of the bodies of both the female orchid bee and honey bee, enabling good contact between the bees and the flowers sexual organs. Season-long fruit set was 0.655%, similar to the 1% or less reported for V. planifolia in its native Mexico range. Although the visitation rates were low, the potential of both the female honey bee and E. dilemma as pollinators of V. planifolia cultivated in screen houses is considered. Managed honey bees for pollination of vanilla appears to have more potential and it could reduce the need for expensive hand pollination, if sufficient pollination rates could be achieved. Las abejas macho de las orquídeas son polinizadores conocidos de algunas especies de vanilla (Orchidaceae), pero hay poca evidencia directa de la polinización de V. planifolia L., la fuente más importante de vainilla comercial. Se realizó este estudio para determinar si la abeja de las orquídeas naturalizada, Euglossa dilemma Bembé & Eltz (Hymenoptera: Apidae), es un polinizador de V. planifolia en la Florida, donde actualmente se considera a la orquídea como un cultivo potencial. Se determinó que las flores de V. planifolia no tenían néctar. Se analizó la fragancia de las flores in situ y se encontró que contenía principalmente de 1 a 8 cineol y β-ocimeno, compuestos que se sabe atraen a algunas abejas orquídeas macho. Relojes cronometrados documentaron la eliminación de polen por parte de una sola abeja orquídea hembra, pero ningún abeja orquídea macho visitó las flores. Se hicieron aplicaciones separadas a las flores y los cebos de 1-8 cineol, que encontramos en las flores, y eugenol, que no se encuentra en las flores, pero las abejas orquídeas macho solo llegaron a flores y cebos con eugenol. El eugenol es un conocido atrayente y componente principal de muchos de los perfumes de las orquídeas mutualistas del macho E. dilemma. La ausencia de visita y polinización rápida e intensiva que las abejas macho de E. dilemma exhiben hacia sus orquídeas mutualistas no ocurrió, lo que indica que V. planifolia no es una orquídea mutualista de E. dilemma. Durante una vigilancia cronometrada, una abeja melífera, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), polinizó una flor entrando en ella, saliendo con polen en su tórax, luego volvió a entrar en la flor y salió sin polen. La disección de la flor encontró polen en el estigma y el casquete de las anteras desarticulado. Una hembra de E. dilemma eliminó el polen de una flor, lo que indica que ella también era una probable polinizadora. Las mediciones morfométricas determinaron que había una buena coincidencia entre las dimensiones interiores del labio tubular de las flores y el grosor de los cuerpos tanto de la abeja orquídea hembra como de la abeja melífera, lo que permitió un buen contacto entre las abejas y los órganos sexuales de las flores. El cuajado de frutos durante toda la temporada fue del 0,655 %, similar al 1 % o menos reportado para V. planifolia en su área de distribución nativa de México. Aunque las tasas de visitas fueron bajas, se considera el potencial de la abeja melífera y de la hembra de E. dilemma como polinizadores de V. planifolia cultivada en invernaderos. Las abejas melíferas manejadas para la polinización de la vainilla parecen tener más potencial y podrían reducir la necesidad de una costosa polinización manual, si se pudieran lograr tasas de polinización suficientes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide applications are often made as tank mixes containing multiple pesticide products and may include spray adjuvants to enhance pesticidal activities. The primary aim of adjuvant products is to increase the spreading and sticking of spray droplets and to increase the penetration of active ingredients through the cuticles of leaves or targeted pests, which can reduce the amount of active ingredient needed for effective pest control. Adjuvants are made up of compounds drawn from the "inert ingredient" list maintained by EPA but are identified as "principal functioning agents" when used in adjuvant products. These inert compounds do not undergo the same testing and risk assessment process that is required of pesticide active ingredients and generally have no mitigation measures that prevent application onto crops during bloom at times of day when bees are foraging. Honey bees (Apis mellifera; Hymenoptera: Apidae) are at an increased risk of exposure to adjuvant tank mixtures while providing agricultural pollination services. Colony losses attributed to pesticide applications thought to have low risk to honey bees have been reported, highlighting the need to better understand the toxicity of adjuvants included in pesticide tank mixtures. This review summarizes current literature on the risks posed to honey bees by agricultural adjuvants and tank mix combinations of adjuvants with pesticides. Based on the current state of knowledge, we make recommendations to pesticide applicators, product manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and researchers regarding adjuvant toxicity to honey bees with the goal of reducing risks that adjuvants pose to honey bees and other beneficial insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees are essential pollinators for several economically important crops. In temperate countries, honey bee colonies face multiple threats during the overwintering period, such as food availability, diseases, and confinement. Beekeepers commonly use chemicals to improve colony health during winter, but these products can have a negative impact on bee health and pathogens can develop resistance to them. Thus, there is a need for further development of alternative treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of one endogenic bacterium (Bombella apis) and 2 commercial probiotic formulas (Bactocell and Levucell) on colony survival, spring development, and Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema) spp. spore count. Probiotic treatments were given in 1: 1 sugar syrup in October 2017 and April 2018, once a week for 2 wk. One experimental group was given Fumagilin-B, the only product approved in Canada to prevent nosemosis, once in October. The administration of 2 commercial probiotics, Bactocell (Pediococcus acidilactici) and Levucell (Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii), led to a significant increase in the number of sealed brood cells in spring. None of the probiotic treatments impacted the honey bee gut load of Vairimorpha spp. spores. The results suggest that beneficial microorganisms can improve spring development and performance of honey bee colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nest-scavenging beetle Aethina tumida remains a persistent problem for beekeepers in parts of the Southeast United States, where warm wet soils allow beetle populations to grow rapidly and overwhelm colonies, especially during the summer dearth. Furthermore, small hive beetle infestation prevents beekeepers from easily provisioning colonies with additional pollen or protein feed (patties), preventing holistic management of honey bee health via improved nutrition, and reducing the economic potential of package and nucleus colony rearing in the Southeast. Here, we demonstrate using both in vitro laboratory trials and a small in vivo field trial that the differential specificity of anthranilic diamide insecticides (specifically, chlorantraniliprole) between bees and beetles allows for the control and prevention of small hive beetle infestation in honey bee colonies even when feeding with large patties. Honey bees show orders of magnitude higher tolerance to chlorantraniliprole compared to small hive beetles, opening new avenues for improving bee health including during spring splits and throughout the summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managed honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apis mellifera Linnaeus) hives require frequent human inputs to maintain colony health and productivity. A variety of plant natural products (PNPs) are delivered via feeding to control diseases and reduce the use of synthetic chemical treatments. However, despite their prevalent use in beekeeping, there is limited information regarding the impact of ingested PNPs on bee health. Here, we tested the effects of different essential oils and propolis extracts on honey bee life span, nutrient assimilation, xenobiotic detoxification, and gut microbiota abundance. Brazilian propolis extract lengthened worker life span, while the other PNPs (Louisiana propolis extract, lemongrass oil, spearmint oil, and thyme oil) exerted variable and dose-dependent effects on life span. Vitellogenin (vg) gene expression was reduced by Brazilian propolis extract at high doses. Expression of CYP6AS1 , a detoxification-related gene, was reduced by low doses of thyme oil. The abundances of 8 core gut microbiota taxa were largely unaffected by host consumption of PNPs. Our results suggest that in addition to propolis's structural and immunomodulatory roles in the colony, it may also exert beneficial health effects when ingested. Thyme oil, a commonly used hive treatment, was toxic at field-realistic dosages, and its use as a feed additive should be viewed with caution until its effects on bee health are more thoroughly investigated. We conclude that the tested propolis extracts, lemongrass oil, and spearmint oil are generally safe for bee consumption, with some apparent health-promoting effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]