The trade of bumble bees started in the early nineties for pollinator-dependent greenhouse plants. Nowadays, its rearing and transport have received public attention, since managed bees can transfer pathogens to wild bee populations. Therefore, guaranteeing pathogen-free bumble bees is fundamental. The major protein source used in rearing facilities is honey bee-collected pollen. This can carry pathogens, however to date, solid data on the risk of this food source to the health of bumble bees is lacking. Here we performed a large pathogen screening of non-irradiated honey bee-collected pollen to discover particles infective to Bombus terrestris. We identified seven parasites (Apicystis bombi, Ascosphaera apis, Crithidia mellificae, Nosema ceranae, Paenibacillus larvae and two parasites resembling Nosema thomsoni and Microsporidium sp. Oise) and four viruses (CBPV, DWV, IAPV and SBV) in 17 pollen batches from two major European pollen source regions (Spain and Romania). Ascosphaera apis was capable of infecting bumble bees; the larvae showed similar symptoms to chalkbrood disease reported in honey bees. Bumble bee breeding facilities need to be cautious about the potential presence of this disease, which was originally reported in honey bees. Thorough diagnostic and control methods are needed, as risk of spillover to wild bee species is possible.
Sensory structures (sensilla) of insects are present in high number in the antennae are important for perceiving environmental cues. Thus, sensilla play an important role in the localization, discrimination, and acceptance of a possible host by parasitoid insects. The sensilla, classified according to their shape, size, and distribution, may also show sexual dimorphism in insects. The types and distribution of antennal sensilla in female and male parasitoid Trichospilus pupivorus (Ferriere, 1930) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were evaluated. T. pupivorus females had longer antennae than males. Both males and females have ten sensilla types with higher abundance of placoid sensilla in females, which suggest a possible functional dimorphism.
The insecticide chlorantraniliprole is recommended for integrated pest management programmes of caterpillar (Lepidoptera) pest species. This insecticide is considered harmless to parasitoids, but its selectivity may vary with the species of natural enemy, few of which were subjected to testing. Furthermore, in addition to the active ingredient, formulation adjuvants may improve insecticide efficiency, but also its impact on nontargeted organisms. Here the chlorantraniliprole effect and its interaction with adjuvant on the survival and qualitative parameters of progeny of the nontarget parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis (Delvare and LaSalle) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were studied. The treatments used were: chrolantraniliprole (T1), chlorantraniliprole+surfactant (T2), and deionised water (T3, control). Pupae of Diaphania hyalinata Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) were subjected to these treatments for 24 hours and offered to the adult parasitoids. Chlorantraniliprole and chlorantraniliprole+surfactant did not elicit direct toxicity to female parasitoids. However, chlorantraniliprole and its combination with surfactant reduced the head capsule width of the female progeny. This insecticide alone also reduced emergence and the progeny metatibia length. Chlorantraniliprole did not induce mortality of P. elaeisis adults, but its negative impact on the emergence and progeny size of this parasitoid suggests an important sublethal effect to be considered.
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