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Jose Javier G Quezadaeuan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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intranidal temperature and body size of Africanized Honey Bees under heatwaves hymenoptera apidae
2020Co-Authors: Vianey Pootbaez, Ruben Medinahernandez, Salvador Medinaperalta, Jose Javier G QuezadaeuanAbstract:It is generally accepted that temperate subspecies of Honey Bees can maintain stable temperatures inside their nests; however, little information is available on the cooling ability of tropical Honey Bees and the effect of high environmental temperatures on individuals. In this study, we registered temperatures in the brood area of strong- and medium-populated colonies of Africanized Honey Bees during heatwaves (maximum environmental temperature 44 °C) between April and May in the tropical Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. To evaluate the effect on colonies, we compared the body size of workers produced under high temperatures in the field and siblings produced at stable 34–35 °C laboratory conditions. We found that in the field, temperatures of the brood nest in both types of colony can increase above 36 °C during the hottest part of the day, especially in less strong colonies. Workers produced in the field were significantly smaller, compared to those reared in the lab at stable temperatures. This is a first study reporting body size reduction in Honey Bees as a consequence of possible thermoregulation disruption during heatwaves. We discuss our results considering potential effects of heat stress to Africanized Honey bee colonies and tropical beekeeping.
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heat stress during development affects immunocompetence in workers queens and drones of Africanized Honey Bees apis mellifera l hymenoptera apidae
2020Co-Authors: Ruben G Medina, Robert J Paxton, S Teresa M Hernandezsotomayor, Cristina Pechjimenez, Luis A Medinamedina, Jose Javier G QuezadaeuanAbstract:Though social insects generally seem to have a reduced individual immunoresponse compared to solitary species, the impact of heat stress on that response has not been studied. In the Honey bee, the effect of heat stress on reproductives (queens and males/drones) may also vary compared to workers, but this is currently unknown. Here, we quantified the activity of an enzyme linked to the immune response in insects and known to be affected by heat stress in solitary species: phenoloxidase (PO), in workers, queens and drones of Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs) experimentally subjected to elevated temperatures during the pupal stage. Additionally, we evaluated this marker in individuals experimentally infected with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Differences in PO activity were found between sexes and castes, with PO activity generally higher in workers and lower in reproductives. Such differences are associated with the likelihood of exposure to infection and the role of different individuals in the colony. Contrary to our expectation, heat stress did not cause an increase in PO activity equally in all classes of individual. Heat stress during the pupal stage significantly decreased the PO activity of AHB queens, but not that of workers or drones, which more frequently engage in extranidal activity. Experimental infection with Metarhizium anisopliae reduced PO activity in queens and workers, but increased it in drones. Notably, heat stressed workers lived significantly shorter after infection despite exhibiting greater PO activity than queens or drones. We suggest that this discrepancy may be related to trade-offs among immune response cascades in Honey Bees such as between heat shock proteins and defensin peptides used in microbial defence. Our results provide evidence for complex relationships among humoral immune responses in AHBs and suggest that heat stress could result in a reduced life expectancy of individuals.
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developmental stability age at onset of foraging and longevity of Africanized Honey Bees apis mellifera l under heat stress hymenoptera apidae
2018Co-Authors: Ruben G Medina, Robert J Paxton, Efrain De Luna, Fernando A Fleitesayil, Luis Medina Medina, Jose Javier G QuezadaeuanAbstract:Abstract Beekeeping with the western Honey bee (Apis mellifera) is important in tropical regions but scant information is available on the possible consequences of global warming for tropical beekeeping. We evaluated the effect of heat stress on developmental stability, the age at onset of foraging (AOF) and longevity in Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs) in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, one of the main Honey producing areas in the Neotropics, where high temperatures occur in spring and summer. To do so, we reared worker AHB pupae under a fluctuating temperature regime, simulating current tropical heatwaves, with a high temperature peak of 40.0 °C for 1 h daily across six days, and compared them to control pupae reared at stable temperatures of 34.0–35.5 °C. Heat stress did not markedly affect overall body size, though the forewing of heat-stressed Bees was slightly shorter than controls. However, Bees reared under heat stress showed significantly greater fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in forewing shape. Heat stress also decreased AOF and reduced longevity. Our results show that changes occur in the phenotype and behavior of Honey Bees under heat stress, with potential consequences for colony fitness.
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pollination services of Africanized Honey Bees and native melipona beecheii to buzz pollinated annatto bixa orellana l in the neotropics
2017Co-Authors: Aristeo Caro, Humberto Moovalle, Rita Alfaro, Jose Javier G QuezadaeuanAbstract:Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs) are the predominant flower visitors of many plants in the neotropics, although little evidence is available on their efficiency as pollinators on native crops. Annatto (Bixa orellana) is a buzz-pollinated neotropical tree. We compared the pollination service provided by AHBs and native Melipona beecheii (Mb) to annatto in the Yucatan. As a result of the different abilities of both species to sonicate, a prediction of the present study is that AHBs on individual visits would result in less efficient pollinators on this crop. A higher frequency of AHBs on flowers (73.8%) compared with Mb (21.3%) was found. However, AHBs deposited significantly less pollen on the stigma and produced less fruits, with fewer seeds and weight, than Mb. A higher pollination index efficiency was obtained for Mb (0.9) compared with AHBs (0.6). AHBs did not sonicate annatto and gleaned the pollen released after Mb visits, which suggests that they act as commensals of the latter. By acting as commensals, AHBs, despite their high abundance, appear to marginally contribute to the pollination of annatto. Studies conducted under scenarios with a differential abundance of AHBs and efficient sonicating species are necessary to test this hypothesis on annatto and other buzz-pollinated plants in the neotropics.
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contribution of native Bees and Africanized Honey Bees hymenoptera apoidea to solanaceae crop pollination in tropical mexico
2009Co-Authors: O Maciasmacias, J Chuc, P Anconaxiu, O Cauich, Jose Javier G QuezadaeuanAbstract:In the tropics the contribution of Bees as pollinators of important eco- nomic indigenous crops remains largely undocumented. We studied the diversity of bee species visiting indigenous tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) and habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) in subtropical Yucatan, Mexico. The contribution of two native Bees, Exomalopsis (E) and Augochloropsis (AG) was compared with that of the introduced Africanized Apis mellif- era (HB) for pollinating unvisited flowers in both crops. Apis mellifera and stingless Bees were dominant in habanero pepper but solitary bee species were important visitors of tomato. In spite of both crops being autogamic, there was a significant contribution of native Bees for polli- nation of both tomato and habanero pepper. The comparison of fruit weight, number of seeds, and a pollination index based on the latter showed that E and AG were more effective pollinators compared to HB in both crops (ca. Spear's index of ca. 0.7 vs. 0.35 respectively). In tomato, a further evaluation of the contribution to pollination provided by the three bee species was made using the rate of visits to flowers. Although E and AG were the most efficient pollinators at single flower visits in tomato, none of the three species (including HB) were able to provide single visits to all flowers per unit time to the crop. Our results underline the importance of maintaining diverse assemblages and abun- dant populations of bee species that can synergically contribute to the productivity of tomato and hot pepper in the Neotropics. J. Appl. Entomol.
Lionel Segui Gonçalves - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Acceptance rate of Africanized Honey bee larvae in hives maintained in the shade and under full sunlight in Northeast Brazil
2016Co-Authors: Ricardo Gonçalves Santos, Daiana Da Silva Sombra, Herica Girlane Tertulino Domingos, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:In the Semiarid region of Northeast Brazil, adverse environmental conditions such as high radiation and temperature affect the balance of homeostasis of the colonies of Africanized Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.). This research aimed to evaluate the rate of acceptance of Africanized Honey Bees larvae (Important stage of process of queen-rearing) in hives installed in the shade and under full sunlight in the semiarid climate of Northeastern Brazil. 10 colonies of HoneyBees (5 in the shade and 5 under full sunlight) were orphaned and prepared with young workers and food, having standardized biomass (equal population conditions) to receive frames containing 60-100 queen cell cups with larvae up to 24 hour-old. The acceptance percentage of transferred or grafted larvae to each colony was measured 72 hours after carrying out transfers and means were compared by the Student’s t-test at 5% probability. The colonies under shade conditions showed acceptance rate of 68.82 ± 17.03%, significantly higher (P = 0.0044) than the colonies subjected to direct sunlight with only 52.13 ± 16.29%. Thus, for the production of queens and royal jelly of Africanized HoneyBees in the semiarid climate of Northeast Brazil, it is strongly recommended the installation of apiaries in shady locations
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hygienic behavior of Africanized Honey Bees apis mellifera directed towards brood in old and new combs during diurnal and nocturnal periods
2013Co-Authors: R A Pereira, Michelle Manfrini Morais, Tiago Mauricio Francoy, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:Hygienic behavior in Honey Bees, Apis mellifera, is measured by determining the rate at which the Bees uncap and remove dead sealed brood. We analyzed individual behavior of house-cleaning Africanized Honey Bees in order to focus on some poorly understood aspects of hygienic behavior. Two observation hives, each with approximately 3,000 individually marked Bees, were used in this study. The efficiency of hygienic behavior was evaluated in hygienic and non-hygienic strains of Bees using two types of combs (new and old), as well as at different periods of the day (night and day). We also recorded the age of workers that performed this task of removing dead brood. In both strains, the workers that performed tasks related to hygienic behavior were within the same age cohort; we found no influence of age on the amount of time dedicated to the task, independent of the type of comb or period of the day. The total time from perforation of the cell capping until the dead brood had been completely removed, and was significantly shorter during daytime than at night. Hygienic behavior directed towards dead brood in new combs was also significantly more efficient (faster) than for brood in old combs. The type of comb had significantly more effect than did the time of day. We conclude that the type of comb and time of day should be taken into consideration when evaluating hygienic behavior in Honey Bees.
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Africanized Honey Bees are efficient at detecting uncapping and removing dead brood
2009Co-Authors: Michelle Manfrini Morais, Tiago Mauricio Francoy, David De Jong, R A Pereira, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:The hygienic behavior of Honey Bees is based on a two-step process, including uncapping and removing diseased, dead, damaged, or parasitized brood inside the cell. We evaluated during periods of 1 h the time that hygienic and non-hygienic colonies of Africanized Honey Bees spend to detect, uncap and remove pin-killed brood using comb inserts with transparent walls placed in observation hives. We observed that hygienic colonies are significantly faster in detecting, uncapping and removing dead brood in the cells (P < 0.001).
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identification of Africanized Honey Bees through wing morphometrics two fast and efficient procedures
2008Co-Authors: Tiago Mauricio Francoy, David De Jong, Dieter Wittmann, Martin Drauschke, Stefan Muller, Volker Steinhage, Marcela A F Bezerralaure, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:Currently available morphometric and genetic techniques that can accurately identify African- ized Honey Bees are both costly and time consuming. We tested two new morphometric techniques (ABIS - Automatic Bee Identification System and geometric morphometrics analysis) on samples consisting of digital images of five worker forewings per colony. These were collected from 394 colonies of Africanized Bees from all over Brazil and from colonies of African Bees, Apis mellifera scutellata (n = 14), and Euro- pean Bees, A. m. ligustica (n = 10), A. m. mellifera (n = 15), and A. m. carnica (n=15) from the Ruttner collection in Oberursel, Germany (preserved specimens). Both methods required less than five minutes per sample, giving more than 99% correct identifications. There was just one misidentification (based on ge- ometric morphometrics analysis) of Africanized Bees compared with European subspecies, which would be the principal concern in newly-colonized areas, such as the southern USA. These new techniques are inexpensive, fast and precise. Africanized Honey bee / morphometrics / geometric morphometrics analysis / ABIS / Apis mellifera / automatic identification
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Is the number of antennal plate organs (sensilla placodea) greater in hygienic than in non-hygienic Africanized Honey Bees?
2003Co-Authors: Kátia Peres Gramacho, Lionel Segui Gonçalves, Antonio Carlos Stort, Adriana Backx NoronhaAbstract:Hygienic behavior is a desirable trait in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.), as hygienic Bees quickly remove diseased brood, interrupting the infectious cycle. Hygienic lines of Honey Bees appear to be more sensitive to the odors of dead and diseased Honey bee brood, and Africanized Honey Bees are generally more hygienic than are European Honey Bees. We compared the number of sensilla placodea, antennal sensory structures involved in the perception of odor, in 10 Bees from each of six hygienic and four non-hygienic colonies of Africanized Honey Bees. The sensilla placodea of three of the terminal segments (flagellomeres) of the right antenna of each bee were counted with a scanning electron microscope. There were no significant differences in the mean numbers of sensilla placodea between the hygienic and non-hygienic Bees, though the variance was higher in the hygienic group. Flagellomere 4 had significantly more sensilla placodea than flagellomeres 6 and 8. However, there was no significant difference between the other two flagellomeres. As hygienic Bees are capable of identifying dead, injured, or infested brood inside a capped brood cell, sensilla placodea probably have an important role in enabling worker Bees to sense sick brood. However, we did not find greater numbers of this sensory structure in the antennae of hygienic, compared to non-hygienic Africanized Honey Bees.
Rafael A Calderon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Behaviour of the Varroa destructor mite in worker brood cells of Africanized Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
2017Co-Authors: Rafael A Calderon, Natalia Fallas, Marianyela RamírezAbstract:The behaviour of the Varroa destructor mite was studied in worker brood cells of Africanized Honey Bees. Four colonies located in Barreal de Heredia were used. Two of the colonies were selected to allow the queen to lay eggs in the artificial cells, while the other two were used to collect adult mites. Once the cell is sealed, it is artificially infested with a mite and placed in an incubator with controled temperature and humidity. The larva as well as the mite’s activities within the cell are observed and recorded using a micro-camera, which sends the signal to long-duration recording equipment. Parameters evaluated for each mite include feeding and defecation behavior, periods of inactivity, and reproductive analysis. The feeding behavior of the V. destructor mite varied between the larval and pupal stages. The varroa mite fed 6.5 times per day during the larval stage and showed no preference for a feeding site, while it fed 3.4 times per day during the pupal stage and used a particular feeding site. It is determined that the varroa mite shows a preference for defecation during the first days of observation. Most of the infested cells have one fecal accumulation site of 0.3 mm diameter in the posterior part of the cell and it was the favorite resting site for the mite, where it spent 67.1 min per day (n = 20). Longitudinal displacements were observed in 25.0% (n = 28) of the analyzed bee larva. Turning movements around the cell, from the bottom to the top, were carried out by these larva, with a total time of 874.9 ± 262.2 min per day (n = 7). Most of the mites analyzed did not reproduce (85.7%) and those that did produced mainly immature brood (10.7%)
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comparison of the reproductive ability and mortality of the varroa destructor mite in worker and drone brood cells in Africanized Honey Bees of costa rica
2015Co-Authors: Rafael A Calderon, S Urena, Servicio Nacional De Salud Animal, Luis A Sanchez, Rolando CalderonAbstract:The reproduction of the mite Varroa destructor was studied in worker and drone brood cells of Africanized Honey Bees. In addition, the mortality of mite offspring was evaluated, particularly male absence or mortality. The study was conducted from March to December 2010, using 15 colonies located at Barreal de Heredia and Ciudad Colon, San Jose. A total of 388 worker cells and 403 drone cells naturally infested by an adult male mite were examined. Mite reproduction was studied using the following parameters: fertility, fecundity, production of viable female offspring, production of immature offspring, production of only female or only male offspring, and no reproduction at all. Fertility of V. destructor infesting worker brood was 88.9% and average fecundity was 3.2 descendants per mite. On the other hand, mite fertility in drone brood was 93.1% and average fecundity was 4.0 descendants per mite. In worker cells, 37.6% of mites produced viable female offspring, 14.7% non-viable female offspring, 4.6% immature offspring and 32.0% offspring of only one sex. Of the mites that reproduced in drone brood, 64.8% produced viable female offspring, 5.2% non-viable offspring, 1.0% immature offspring, and 22.1% offspring of only one sex. In addition, in worker cells high mortality was observed in the mobile protonymph (66.4%), immobile protonymph (45.2%), mobile deutonymph, and adult male (23.9%). Male absence or mortality was determined in 40.0% of the worker cells with reproduction. In drone brood, mite mortality was recorded mainly in the mobile protonymph (78.4%) and immobile protonymph (42.6%). Male absence or mortality was determined in 21.3% of the drone cells with reproduction. Mite fertility was similar in both worker and drone brood. Nevertheless, the number of viable females produced per mite was higher in drone brood compared to worker brood. On the other hand, male absence or mortality was significantly higher in worker cells. This indicates that reproduction of the V. destructor mite was more successful with drone brood, which makes it more suitable for mite reproduction.
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Observation of Varroa destructor behavior in capped worker brood of Africanized Honey Bees
2012Co-Authors: Rafael A Calderon, Luis A Sanchez, Guisella Chaves, Rolando CalderonAbstract:The behavioral activity of Varroa destructor was observed using transparent cells. Mite oviposition started at 45.0 ± 25.0 h post capping, followed by the next eggs laid at regular 27.3 ± 2.0 h intervals. On the prepupa, mites were found to feed often and there was no preference for a specific segment as a feeding site. During the pupal stage the mite fed less often and almost always at the same point. Varroa showed a preference for defecation in the posterior part of the cell. A significant association was observed between the position of the feeding point in the pupa and the defecation site on the cell wall. Displacement behavior was observed in 71 % of the infested bee larvae and a major change in the free space available for varroa in the cell occurred when the prepupa molted into a pupa.
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reproduction of varroa destructor and offspring mortality in worker and drone brood cells of Africanized Honey Bees
2012Co-Authors: Rafael A Calderon, S Urena, J W Van VeenAbstract:Varroa destructor is known to be the most serious parasite of Apis mellifera worldwide. In order to reproduce varroa females enter worker or drone brood shortly before the cell is sealed. From March to December 2008, the reproductive rate and offspring mortality (mature and immature stages), focusing on male absence and male mortality of V. destructor, was investigated in naturally infested worker and drone brood of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) in Costa Rica. Data were obtained from 388 to 403 single infested worker and drone brood cells, respectively. Mite fertility in worker and drone brood cells was 88.9 and 93.1%, respectively. There was no difference between the groups (X2 = 3.6, P = 0.06). However, one of the most significant differences in mite reproduction was the higher percentage of mites producing viable offspring in drone cells (64.8%) compared to worker cells (37.6%) (X2 = 57.2, P < 0.05). A greater proportion of mites in worker brood cells produced non-viable female offspring. Mite offspring mortality in both worker and drone cells was high in the protonymph stage (mobile and immobile). A significant finding was the high rate of male mortality. The worker and drone brood revealed that 23.9 and 6.9%, respectively, of the adult male offspring was found dead. If the absence (missing) of the male and adult male mortality are taken together the percentage of cells increased to 40.0 and 21.3% in worker and drone cells, respectively (X2 = 28.8, P < 0.05). The absence of the male or male mortality in a considerable number of worker cells naturally infested with varroa is the major factor in our study which reduces the production of viable daughters in AHB colonies in Costa Rica.
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Reproductive biology of Varroa destructor in Africanized Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
2010Co-Authors: Rafael A Calderon, J W Van Veen, M. J. Sommeijer, L. A. SanchezAbstract:Since its first contact with Apis mellifera , the population dynamics of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor varies from one region to another. In many regions of the world, apiculture has come to depend on the use of acaricides, because of the extensive damage caused by varroa to bee colonies. At present, the mite is considered to contribute to the recent decline of Honey bee colonies in North America and Europe. Because in tropical climates worker brood rearing and varroa reproduction occurs all year round, it could be expected that here the impact of the parasite will be even more devastating. Yet, this has not been the case in tropical areas of South America. In Brazil, varroa was introduced more than 30 years ago and got established at low levels of infestation, without causing apparent damage to apiculture with Africanized Honey Bees (AHB). The tolerance of AHB to varroa is apparently attributable, at least in part, to resistance in the Bees. The low fertility of this parasite in Africanized worker brood and the grooming and hygienic behavior of the Bees are referred as important factors in keeping mite infestation low in the colonies. It has also been suggested that the type of mite influences the level of tolerance in a Honey bee population. The Korea haplotype is predominant in unbalanced host-parasite systems, as exist in Europe, whereas in stable systems, as in Brazil, the Japan haplotype used to predominate. However, the patterns of varroa genetic variation have changed in Brazil. All recently sampled mites were of the Korea haplotype, regardless whether the mites had reproduced or not. The fertile mites on AHB in Brazil significantly increased from 56% in the 1980s to 86% in recent years. Nevertheless, despite the increased fertility, no increase in mite infestation rates in the colonies has been detected so far. A comprehensive literature review of varroa reproduction data, focusing on fertility and production of viable female mites, was conducted to provide insight into the Africanized bee host-parasite relationship.
Tiago Mauricio Francoy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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wing morphometrics reveals the migration patterns of Africanized Honey Bees in northeast brazil
2018Co-Authors: Caroline Julio Moretti, Claudineia Pereira Costa, Tiago Mauricio FrancoyAbstract:Climatic differences can directly affect the population structure of organisms. The Northeastern Brazilian covers an area of about 1.5 million square kilometres, in which the semi-arid part corresponds to approximately 60%. It is probably the most vulnerable region to climatic variations in Brazil. Here, we investigated the variability of Africanized Honey Bees in different localities from Northeast Brazil during the dry season and the influence of drought periods in morphological variation among populations. Analyses were carried out with data collected by traditional and geometric morphometrics of Bees sampled during the dry season and showed a subtle morphological variation in agreement to the climatic pattern. Furthermore, once we added samples collected during the rainy season, we observed a change in its pattern, with a very different result from the same population sampled during drought periods. The geometric morphometrics results emphasized that samples collected during the rainy season in Mossoro would be more similar to Bees from humid coastal areas. These results probably reflect the probable dispersion pattern of these Bees between humid coastal and semi-arid areas.
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nosema ceranae has been present in brazil for more than three decades infecting Africanized Honey Bees
2013Co-Authors: Erica Weinstein Teixeira, Dejair Message, Lubiane Guimaraes Dos Santos, Maria Luisa Teles Marques Florencio Alves, Aroni Sattler, Marta Fonseca Martins, Marina Lopes Grassisella, Tiago Mauricio FrancoyAbstract:Until the mid-1990s, the only microsporidium known to infect Bees of the genus Apis was Nosema apis. A second species, Nosema ceranae, was first identified in 1996 from Asian Honey Bees; it is postulated that this parasite was transmitted from the Asian Honey bee, Apis cerana, to the European Honey bee, Apis mellifera. Currently, N. ceranae is found on all continents and has often been associated with Honey bee colony collapse and other reports of high bee losses. Samples of Africanized drones collected in 1979, preserved in alcohol, were analyzed by light microscopy to count spores and were subjected to DNA extraction, after which duplex PCR was conducted. All molecular analyses (triplicate) indicated that the drones were infected with both N. ceranae and N. apis. PCR products were sequenced and matched to sequences reported in the GenBank (Acc. Nos. JQ639316.1 and JQ639301.1). The venation pattern of the wings of these males was compared to those of the current population living in the same area and with the pattern of drones collected in 1968 from Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, from a location close to where African swarms first escaped in 1956. The morphometric results indicated that the population collected in 1979 was significantly different from the current living population, confirming its antiquity. Considering that the use of molecular tools for identifying Nosema species is relatively recent, it is possible that previous reports of infections (which used only light microscopy, without ultrastructural analysis) wrongly identified N. ceranae as N. apis. Although we can conclude that N. ceranae has been affecting Africanized HoneyBees in Brazil for at least 34 years, the impact of this pathogen remains unclear.
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hygienic behavior of Africanized Honey Bees apis mellifera directed towards brood in old and new combs during diurnal and nocturnal periods
2013Co-Authors: R A Pereira, Michelle Manfrini Morais, Tiago Mauricio Francoy, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:Hygienic behavior in Honey Bees, Apis mellifera, is measured by determining the rate at which the Bees uncap and remove dead sealed brood. We analyzed individual behavior of house-cleaning Africanized Honey Bees in order to focus on some poorly understood aspects of hygienic behavior. Two observation hives, each with approximately 3,000 individually marked Bees, were used in this study. The efficiency of hygienic behavior was evaluated in hygienic and non-hygienic strains of Bees using two types of combs (new and old), as well as at different periods of the day (night and day). We also recorded the age of workers that performed this task of removing dead brood. In both strains, the workers that performed tasks related to hygienic behavior were within the same age cohort; we found no influence of age on the amount of time dedicated to the task, independent of the type of comb or period of the day. The total time from perforation of the cell capping until the dead brood had been completely removed, and was significantly shorter during daytime than at night. Hygienic behavior directed towards dead brood in new combs was also significantly more efficient (faster) than for brood in old combs. The type of comb had significantly more effect than did the time of day. We conclude that the type of comb and time of day should be taken into consideration when evaluating hygienic behavior in Honey Bees.
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Africanized Honey Bees are efficient at detecting uncapping and removing dead brood
2009Co-Authors: Michelle Manfrini Morais, Tiago Mauricio Francoy, David De Jong, R A Pereira, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:The hygienic behavior of Honey Bees is based on a two-step process, including uncapping and removing diseased, dead, damaged, or parasitized brood inside the cell. We evaluated during periods of 1 h the time that hygienic and non-hygienic colonies of Africanized Honey Bees spend to detect, uncap and remove pin-killed brood using comb inserts with transparent walls placed in observation hives. We observed that hygienic colonies are significantly faster in detecting, uncapping and removing dead brood in the cells (P < 0.001).
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identification of Africanized Honey Bees through wing morphometrics two fast and efficient procedures
2008Co-Authors: Tiago Mauricio Francoy, David De Jong, Dieter Wittmann, Martin Drauschke, Stefan Muller, Volker Steinhage, Marcela A F Bezerralaure, Lionel Segui GonçalvesAbstract:Currently available morphometric and genetic techniques that can accurately identify African- ized Honey Bees are both costly and time consuming. We tested two new morphometric techniques (ABIS - Automatic Bee Identification System and geometric morphometrics analysis) on samples consisting of digital images of five worker forewings per colony. These were collected from 394 colonies of Africanized Bees from all over Brazil and from colonies of African Bees, Apis mellifera scutellata (n = 14), and Euro- pean Bees, A. m. ligustica (n = 10), A. m. mellifera (n = 15), and A. m. carnica (n=15) from the Ruttner collection in Oberursel, Germany (preserved specimens). Both methods required less than five minutes per sample, giving more than 99% correct identifications. There was just one misidentification (based on ge- ometric morphometrics analysis) of Africanized Bees compared with European subspecies, which would be the principal concern in newly-colonized areas, such as the southern USA. These new techniques are inexpensive, fast and precise. Africanized Honey bee / morphometrics / geometric morphometrics analysis / ABIS / Apis mellifera / automatic identification
J W Van Veen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a comparison of the reproductive ability of varroa destructor mesostigmata varroidae in worker and drone brood of Africanized Honey Bees apis mellifera
2007Co-Authors: Rafael Calderon, Luis G Zamora, J W Van Veen, Mariela V QuesadaAbstract:Colony infestation by the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor is one of the most serious problems for beekeeping worldwide. In order to reproduce varroa females, enter worker or drone brood shortly before the cell is sealed. To test the hypothesis that, due to the preference of mites to invade drone brood to reproduce, a high proportion of the mite reproduction should occur in drone cells, a comparative study of mite reproductive rate in worker and drone brood of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) was done for 370 mites. After determining the number, developmental stage and sex of the offspring in worker cells, the foundress female mite was immediately transferred into an uninfested drone cell. Mite fertility in single infested worker and drone brood cells was 76.5 and 79.3%, respectively. There was no difference between the groups (X2 = 0.78, P = 0.37). However, one of the most significant differences in mite reproduction was the higher percentage of mites producing viable offspring (cells that contain one live adult male and at least one adult female mite) in drone cells (38.1%) compared to worker cells (13.8%) (X2 = 55.4, P < 0.01). Furthermore, a high level of immature offspring occurred in worker cells and not in drone cells (X2 = 69, P < 0.01). Although no differences were found in the percentage of non-reproducing mites, more than 74% (n = 85) of the mites that did not reproduce in worker brood, produced offspring when they were transferred to drone brood.
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the reproductive rate of varroa destructor in drone brood of Africanized Honey Bees
2007Co-Authors: Rafael A Calderon, Luis G Zamora, J W Van VeenAbstract:SummaryThe reproductive rate of Varroa destructor was measured in drone brood of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) in Costa Rica. One mature female mite was introduced into a drone cell within 6 h of the cell being capped. Data were obtained from 304 artificially singly infested drone cells from six colonies. Fertility of varroa mites (i.e., those that produced any offspring) was 95.1%. Fifty-three percent of the foundress mites produced viable female offspring. The number of potentially mated female offspring produced per foundress was 2.6 ± 1.0. Eight percent of foundresses produced only immature offspring, 26.5% produced only a female offspring and 7.6% produced only a male offspring. In cells with both female and male offspring, the male or the female was found dead in 8.7% of the cases; male mortality was 6.1%. Although varroa fertility in drone brood was significant in AHB colonies, factors that limited mite reproduction were the absence of a male and the mortality of a male in more than 26.0% of the dro...
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the reproductive ability of varroa destructor in worker brood of Africanized and hybrid Honey Bees in costa rica
2003Co-Authors: Rafael Calderon, M. J. Sommeijer, A De Ruijter, J W Van VeenAbstract:SUMMARYFrom February to July 2001, the reproductive ability of Varroa destructor in artificially infested worker brood cells of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) (Apis mellifera) and hybrids (HF1) of AHB X European Honey Bees was investigated in Costa Rica. No significant differences were found between AHB and HF1 in the percentage of fertile foundress mites (AHB = 69.8%, HF1 = 76.5%), the percentage of foundress mites that produced mature female offspring (AHB = 28%, HF1 = 25.4%), the mean number of offspring per foundress (AHB = 3.4, HF1 = 3.5) and the percentage of foundress mites that produced only immature stages (AHB = 17.3%, HF1 = 18.2%). Nevertheless, the percentage of foundress mites that did not reproduce at all tended to be greater in AHB than in HF1 colonies (AHB = 30.2%, HF1 = 23.5%; P = 0.06). In both groups of Bees, the number of fertile mites was higher than that reported in other studies for AHB in Brazil (49–55%). Furthermore, the percentage of non-reproducing mites was greater than the perce...