The strength of the honey bee colony and the quality concerning brood production, number of worker bees and honey yield depend substantially upon the characteristics of the queen. Reproductive and productive capacities of the colony, as two important physiological qualities can depend a great deal on the age of the queen. Over the years, the laying ratio of queens could decrease depending on the age; therefore colonies headed by one-year-old queens have proven to be more efficient considering colony population and honey production than ones with older queens. Nosema ceranae infection is a possible reason for the decrease in reproductive capacities and the reduction in the honey production of infected colonies. With the help of numerous pheromones, the queen can preserve colony homeostasis, however exhausted by N. ceranae infection she might compromise the renewal of worker population. The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of N. ceranae on reproduction and productivity of honey bee colonies headed by queens of different age. Experiment was conducted on 27 honey bee colonies equalized with regard to brood, food source, number of worker bees and Nosema infection. In the three year investigation period (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012), Nosema detection, identification and spore load per each colony, as well as parameters of colony reproduction (such as uncapped and capped brood area, queen egg-laying rate and colony strength) and productivity (the total extracted honey and the winter honey stores) were recorded. Concerning the influence of the age of the queens on followed parameters we compared one, two and three-years old queens and found significantly higher reproductive and productive values in favour of younger ones. Significant differences regarding the effects of N. ceranae infection on productive and reproductive characteristics could be explained with a higher capacity of one year old queens to compensate the effects of Nosema infection; a capacity which gradually declines in the second and the third year. Nosema ceranae y la edad de la reina influyen en la reproducción y la productividad de las colonias de abejas de la miel Resumen La fuerza de la colonia de abejas y la calidad en relación con la producción de cría, el número de abejas obreras y la producción de miel dependen sustancialmente de las características de la reina. La capacidad reproductiva y productiva de la colonia, son importantes cualidades fisiológicas que dependen en gran medida de la edad de la reina. Con los años, la proporción de puesta de las reinas podría disminuir en función de la edad; por lo tanto, las colonias gobernadas por reinas de un año de edad, han demostrado ser más eficaces en función de la población de la colonia y la producción de miel que las que tienen reinas mayores. La infección por Nosema ceranae es una razón probable de Downloaded by [New York University] at 01:45 31 May 2015 546 Simeunovic et al. F (2010) Sudden deaths and colony population decline in Greek honey bee colonies. Journal of Invertebrate Pa...
Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) conservation in Serbia is under an in situ program, but additional efforts are needed to ensure the development of this animal’s genetic resources biodiversity. This research aims to describe challenges and possible strategies for sustainable water buffalo milk production. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics of buffalo milk and buffalo dairy products (cheese, butter, and kajmak) were determined. Furthermore, amino and fatty acids composition and the related health lipid indices (atherogenic and thrombogenic) were assessed. The findings support the fact that buffalo milk is a reliable source of high-quality nutrients (dry matter: 16.10%, fat: 6.02%, protein: 4.61%). Leucine, lysine, and valine content were found to be high in buffalo milk and cheese. A substantial quantity of non-essential glutamic and aspartic amino acids was observed in milk, as well as glutamic acid and tyrosine in cheese. It was established that milk protein of buffalo cheese had a favorable proportion of essential and non-essential amino acids (61.76%/38.24%). The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in fatty acid profiles among the three dairy products for saturated short-chain, n-3, and n-6 fatty acids. Conversely, no significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in monounsaturated fatty acids content. Kajmak showed the most favorable anti-atherogenic and anti-thrombogenic properties due to lower saturated and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid content. These results confirmed that buffalo milk could be successfully used in producing high-quality traditional dairy products with added value and beneficial characteristics from the aspect of a healthy diet. Furthermore, it could actively contribute to the promotion of sustainable production of buffaloes and strengthen the agricultural production of rural areas and their heritage.
Protection of honey bees is of great economic importance because of their role in pollination. Crucial steps towards this goal are epidemiological surveys of pathogens connected with honey bee losses. In this study deformed wing virus (DWV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and sacbrood virus (SBV) were investigated in colonies of different strength located in five regions of Serbia. The relationship between colony strength and virus occurrence/infection intensity were assessed as well as the genetic relationship between virus sequences from Serbia and worldwide. Real-time RT-PCR analyses detected at least one virus in 87.33% of colonies. Single infection was found in 28.67% colonies (21.33%, 4.00%, 2.67% and 0.67% in cases of DWV, ABPV, SBV and CBPV, respectively). In the majority of colonies (58.66%) more than one virus was found. The most prevalent was DWV (74%), followed by ABPV, SBV and CBPV (49.30%, 24.00% and 6.70%, respectively). Except for DWV, the prevalence of the remaining three viruses significantly varied between the regions. No significant differences were found between colony strength and either (i) the prevalence of DWV, ABPV, SBV, CBPV and their combinations, or (ii) DWV infection levels. The sequences of honey bee viruses obtained from bees in Serbia were 93–99% identical with those deposited in GenBank.
The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is one of the most wide-spread parasites of the honey bee, which is increasing its resistence to traditional synthetic acaricides more and more with each year. New regulations on quality of the European Union ban the presence of residue in bee products, which rules out the use of chemical means in the course of the honey harvest. The concept of ecologic control of Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies implies the complementary use of adequate biotechnical and biophysical measures and treatments using preparations based on etheric oils and organic acids. The combination of these treatments according to the presented strategy makes it possible to keep varroasis under control
The aim of this work was the investigation on the efficacy of pulverised sugar dusting on knocking-down Varroa destructor mites and the influence of the dynamics of the treatment on the degree of infestation in honey bee colonies. Two methods were deployed to measure the degree of infestation of bee colonies with V. destructor mites: the sugar shake method and the technique which involves mesh bottom boards equipped with sticky inserts. The research was carried out on 30 strong honey bee colonies in three successive years. The results proved that dusting with pulverised sugar (particle diameter below 40 μm) influenced the fall of V. destructor in comparison with both their fall off prior to the treatment and the negative control. The most discernible effects on the mite fall and the decline in their population in the hives was obtained with dustings repeated at threeday intervals. To conclude, the dynamics of the treatment affected the degree of infestation in bee colonies. However, the efficacy of sugar dusting was significantly lower in comparison with the one of flumethrin (positive control). Thus, in spite of considerable favourable effects on the decline in the degree of infestation with mites, by no means may dusting with pulverised sugar be advised to beekeepers as the one and only means of bee protection against V. destructor. The use of the technique which involves mesh bottom boards equipped with sticky inserts proved more efficacious and sensitive in the judgment of the degree of infestation of bee colonies in comparison with the sugar shake method, which includes dusting 300 bees with 40 g of pulverised sugar (particle diameter below 40 μm)
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