This short article presents loss rates of honey bee colonies over winter 2017/18 from 36 countries, including 33 in Europe, from data collected using the standardized COLOSS questionnaire. The 25,363 beekeepers supplying data passing consistency checks in total wintered 544,879 colonies, and reported 26,379 (4.8%, 95% CI 4.7-5.0%) colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 54,525 (10.0%, 95% CI 9.8-10.2%) dead colonies after winter and another 8,220 colonies (1.5%, 95% CI 1.4-1.6%) lost through natural disaster. This gave an overall loss rate of 16.4% (95% CI 16.1-16.6%) of honey bee colonies during winter 2017/18, but this varied greatly from 2.0 to 32.8% between countries. The included map shows relative risks of winter loss at regional level. The analysis using the total data-set confirmed findings from earlier surveys that smaller beekeeping operations with at most 50 colonies suffer significantly higher losses than larger operations (p < .001). Beekeepers migrating their colonies had significantly lower losses than those not migrating (p < .001), a different finding from previous research. Evaluation of six different forage sources as potential risk factors for colony loss indicated that intensive foraging on any of five of these plant sources (Orchards, Oilseed Rape, Maize, Heather and Autumn Forage Crops) was associated with significantly higher winter losses. This finding requires further study and explanation. A table is included giving detailed results of loss rates and the impact of the tested forage sources for each country and overall.

This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological quality of 11 samples of locally produced honey harvested from bee colonies across different regions of Algeria. Honeys analyzed are characterized by their different floral origins. Want germs are total aerobic mesophilic flora, total coliforms, anaerobic bacteria Sulfito-Drive (clostridium), yeasts and moulds. Water content, pH, the concentration of hydroxymethylfurfural and sucrose content were also measured. For the physicochemical properties, most of the samples meet the requirements of Codex Alimentarius. Microbiological results showed that there is heterogeneity in the load of microorganisms sampled. Honeys have a low microbial profile. Total coliforms and clostridium were not detected in any sample. For counting the total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMF), two local and imported samples have a concentration greater than the standard TAMF. Yeasts and moulds were also present but at low levels, and figures in all but three samples were below the norm.

We present the complete mitochondrial genome of honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera sahariensis (Apidae) belonging to the African lineage. The assembled circular genome has a length of 16,569 bp which comprises 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and AT rich region.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

American foulbrood disease (AFB) is considered one of the most virulent bacterial diseases of honeybee (Apis mellifera); it has a vital negative impact on the beekeeping industry worldwide. This disease is caused by a spore forming bacterium Peanibacillus larvae that affects honeybee larvae. This work includes the screening of several alternative antibiotics efficacy to AFB disease. The sensitivity of Peanibacillus larvae to seven antibiotics was investigated using disk diffusion methods (Kirby Bauer disk diffusion). The tested compounds are approved by the US - Food and Drug Administration for agricultures uses. The most active antibiotics were Novobiocin and Florfenicol followed by Oxytetracycline and Tylosin. Erythromycin and Tilmicosin had intermediate activity; Lincomycin was recorded as the lowest active antibiotic against P.larvae. The result showed that Oxytetracycline resistance is still not a problem in Jordan, unlike in the USA and some other regions. To avoid any further problems in the spread of antibiotics-resistance, it is recommended that beekeepers have to establish methods for early detection of AFB, the application of antibiotics in inadequate doses with technical supervision and using of different alternative antibiotics such as Tylosin. Further studies are needed to determine the fate of Oxytetracycline and Tylosin residues in honey under field conditions at the recommended doses for field trial, whoever we do not recommend the prophylactic use of antibiotics whereas we recommend the treatment only in diseased colonies with high honey bee population. يعتبر عفن الحضنة الأمريكي واحد من أهم الممرضات البكتيرية التي تصيب نحل العسل مسببة خسائر كبرى لقطاع تربية النحل على الصعيد العالمي. وتعتبر سبورات بكتيريا (Peanibacillus larvae) السبب الرئيس وراء إصابة يرقات النحل بهذا المرض. في هذه الدراسة تم مسح تأثير سبعة المضادات الحيوية بإستخدام طريقة قرص الإنتشار (Kirby Bauer disk diffusion). وتعتبر المضادات المستخدمة هي تلك المعتمدة من خلال مؤسسة الغذاء والدواء الأمريكية ومعتمدة للاستعمال في القطاع الزراعي. وقد تبين أن مضادات (Novobiocin) و(Florfenicol) متبوعة بـ (Oxytetracycline) ثم (Tylosin). في حين كان كل من (Erythromycin) و(Tilmicosin) محدودة الفاعلية، وكان المضاد الحيوي (Lincomycin) الأقل فاعلية. وبذلك تبين أن (Oxytetracycline) لا يزال فاعل ولم تتشكل لدى البكتيريا مناعة ضدة بعكس الحالة الحاصلة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وبعض الأقاليم الأخرى.