Aspects concerning the bionomics of the parasitic honey bee brood mite, Varroa
jacobsoni Oudemans were investigated. Mite mortality is great during the winter season
when the host colony is not rearing brood, appearing to be independent of the mortality of
its host. In winter period, no significant association between the...
Behavioral responses of Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, and Apis mellifera to the ectoparasitic mite, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, were compared using two laboratory bioassays: cohorts of 50 caged worker bees and individual-caged worker bees, all of unknown ages. For the group bioassays, ten T. mercedesae were placed on the bodies of bees...
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are responsible for approximately $17 billion in crop production per year in the United States, and are arguably the most important pollinators in the nation. The future of crop pollination and production is threatened by widespread national honey bee colony losses, which have averaged approximately 30%...
Mating flight records are presented for males (drones) of the Asian dwarf honeybee species
Apis florea. These include observations on longevity, mortality and inclusive flight records for a cohort of
known-aged males. Averages for flight performance show the flights/lifetime to be 15.3 (± 11.8 SD); the
number of flight days,...
Multiple stressors are currently threatening honey bee health, including pests and pathogens. Among honey bee pathogens, Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian found parasitizing the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) relatively recently. Honey bee colonies are fed pollen or protein substitute during pollen dearth to boost colony growth and immunity against...
Honey bees are important pollinators for many agricultural systems throughout the world. However, recent honey bee declines have caused great alarm, drawing attention to the vulnerability of worldwide agriculture to pollinator loss. These declines are often attributed to a combination of pests, pathogens, viruses, chemicals, and a lack of proper...
The Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae, has been introduced to North America in an effort to control the invasive plant Jacobaea vulgaris. The Cinnabar moth is the main host of Nosema tyriae. When infection levels are high, N. tyriae can shorten the lifespan and affect reproduction of the Cinnabar moths. The...