Insect and Pesticide Research

Effect of formic acid treatment on Apis mellifera foraging behavior as assayed using nanopore metabarcoding technologies

This study uses nanopore metabarcoding to show that formic acid treatment affects Apis mellifera foraging preferences, with control hives foraging from more plant genera.

Adjuvants to improve efficacy of miticides in managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to control Varroa destructor

This study evaluates the efficacy of oxalic acid and other miticides combined with adjuvants in reducing Varroa destructor mites in honey bee colonies.

Honey bees are resilient to the long-term presence of alcohol in their diet

This study examines the effects of low-level ethanol exposure on honey bees over 14 days, finding no significant performance differences but elevated trehalose levels in ethanol-exposed bees.

Meta-analysis and experimental evidence reveal no impact of Nosema ceranae infection on honeybee carbohydrate consumption

Neurotranscriptomic profiling of DWV-infected honey bee foragers with different cognitive abilities

The paper examines the transcriptomic response in honey bee mushroom bodies infected with DWV, finding immune gene upregulation and lncRNA-driven gene regulatory networks, with no correlation between DWV load and cognitive function.

Everything, everywhere, all at once - Surveillance and molecular epidemiology reveal Melissococcus plutonius is endemic among Michigan, US beekeeping operations of all sizes and present in some honey bee colonies year-round

This study uses surveillance and molecular epidemiology to show Melissococcus plutonius is widespread in Michigan beekeeping operations and present year-round, with seasonal infection peaks and genetic diversity within hives.

A staged approach using ants as test organism in ecotoxicology

The paper proposes a staged ecotoxicology testing approach using ants and evaluates its feasibility with neonicotinoid exposure across different colony levels.

Minimal overlaps in responses to insecticides between pollinator species

The paper shows that pollinator species have minimal overlap in molecular responses to insecticides, with species-level differences outweighing chemical differences.

Managed honey bee colony losses and causes during the active beekeeping season 2022/2023 in nine Sub-Saharan African countries

This study reports honey bee colony loss rates and risk factors in nine Sub-Saharan African countries during 2022/2023, highlighting theft, drought, and pests as major causes.

BroodScan: A Honeybee Brood Scanner Technology

BroodScan tracks honeybee brood development and Varroa destructor life cycle using non-invasive imaging within active hives.

Ecology and pathogenicity for honey bee brood of recently described Paenibacillus melissococcoides and comparison with Paenibacillus dendritiformis, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus

This study investigates the pathogenicity of Paenibacillus species toward honey bee brood, finding that P. melissococcoides is an emerging pathogen associated with European foulbrood.

Comparative Virome Profiling and Discovery of Novel Viruses in Managed and Wild Bees using RNA-seq

The paper compares viromes of managed and wild bees using RNA-seq, identifying known pathogens and novel viruses in both species.

Amitraz Toxicity in Resistant Varroa Mites Can Be Increased by Inhibiting ABCB1 Transporters

The paper shows that inhibiting ABCB1 transporters increases amitraz toxicity in resistant Varroa mites, suggesting potential for developing synergists to enhance miticide efficacy.

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) beehives have no impact on honey bee (Apis mellifera) overwintering colony survival or detoxification enzyme expression

This study finds no impact of western red cedar hive boxes on honey bee overwintering survival or detoxification enzyme expression compared to pine boxes.

Short-term persistence of foliar insecticides and fungicides in pumpkin plants and their pollinators

This study examines the persistence of foliar-applied pesticides in pumpkin plants and pollinators, finding insecticides in plant tissues and bees, with some detected in pollen and nectar up to seven days post-application.

Honey bee egg composition changes seasonally and after acute maternal virus infection

This study examines how viral infections affect honey bee egg composition, finding that experimental infections alter proteomic profiles, while natural infections do not, with seasonal factors playing a significant role.

A scientific note on "Rapid brood decapping" - a method for assessment of honey bee (Apis mellifera) brood infestation with Tropilaelaps mercedesae

The paper introduces a new method for detecting Tropilaelaps mercedesae in honey bee brood using wax strips to observe mites after decapping sealed cells.

Acute and chronic pesticide exposure trigger fundamentally different molecular responses in bumble bee brains

This study compares acute and chronic pesticide exposure effects on bumble bee brains, finding distinct gene expression patterns and highlighting exposure mode's critical role in pesticide impact.

Food supplementation with molybdenum complexes improves honey bee health

This study shows that supplementing honey bees with molybdenum complexes improves their health, reduces mite infestation, and increases honey production.

Global distribution of honeybee gut microbiome and pesticide-driven adaptations in opportunistic microbial species

The paper analyzes honeybee gut microbiome variation across regions and pesticide effects using metagenomics and co-abundance networks, finding stable core taxa and pesticide-induced functional shifts.

Virus infection of honey bee queens alters lipid profiles and indirectly suppresses a retinue pheromone component via reducing ovary mass

This study shows that virus infection in honey bee queens reduces methyl oleate, a pheromone component, by decreasing ovary mass and altering lipid profiles, potentially triggering worker supersedure.

Imidacloprid decreases the total energy production in western honeybees even though, in sublethal doses, it increased the values of six of the nine compounds in the respiratory and citric cycle

The paper examines how imidacloprid affects energy production in honeybees, finding that sublethal doses increase six compounds in the respiratory and citric acid cycles but decrease ATP and acetyl-CoA, indicating impaired energy metabolism.

Sequence-based genome-wide association studies reveal the polygenic architecture of Varroa destructor resistance in Western honey bees Apis mellifera

This study performs genome-wide association analysis on honey bee colonies to identify genetic markers linked to Varroa destructor resistance, revealing a polygenic architecture and supporting genomic selection strategies.

A neonicotinoid pesticide causes tissue-specific gene expression changes in bumble bees

This study shows that neonicotinoid pesticide exposure causes tissue-specific gene expression changes in bumble bees, affecting core functions in different organs.

Assessment of the levels of resistance of Tropilaelaps mercedesae to a variety of synthetic miticide.

This study assesses Tropilaelaps mercedesae resistance to synthetic miticides and finds resistance to all tested chemicals except Amitraz, which showed 64% efficacy.

Essential sterols from engineered yeast prevent honeybee colony population decline

This paper shows that engineered yeast producing essential sterols can improve honeybee colony health and brood rearing when added to pollen substitutes.

Sublethal pesticide exposure decreases mating and disrupts chemical signaling in a beneficial pollinator

This study shows that sublethal imidacloprid exposure reduces mating success in bumble bees by disrupting semiochemical production and perception.

Adult honey bee queens consume pollen and nectar

This study shows adult honey bee queens consume pollen and nectar, in addition to royal jelly, challenging previous assumptions about their diet and feeding behavior.

Pollen foraging mediates exposure to dichotomous stressor syndromes in honey bees

This study shows that honey bee foraging preferences influence exposure to different stressor syndromes, with diverse foraging linked to pathogens and limited foraging linked to xenobiotics.

A honey bee-associated virus remains infectious and quantifiable in postmortem hosts

This study shows that IAPV remains infectious and quantifiable in postmortem honey bees for at least 48 hours.