No abstract

The honeybee is one of the most valuable insect pollinators, playing a key role in pollinating wild vegetation and agricultural crops, with significant contribution to the world's food production. Although honeybees have long been studied as model for social evolution, honeybee biology at the molecular level remained poorly understood until the year 2006. With the availability of the honeybee genome sequence and technological advancements in protein separation, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics, aspects of honeybee biology such as developmental biology, physiology, behavior, neurobiology, and immunology have been explored to new depths at molecular and biochemical levels. This Review comprehensively summarizes the recent progress in honeybee biology using proteomics to study developmental physiology, task transition, and physiological changes in some of the organs, tissues, and cells based on achievements from the authors' laboratory in this field. The research advances of honeybee proteomics provide new insights for understanding of honeybee biology and future research directions.

Sawflies were collected in Ethiopia during 2010-2013. Three species represent new records for the country: Arge deckerti Koch, 2005, Athalia excisa Koch, 2006 and Xenapates nigrifrons Koch, 2012. Arge flavifrons Mocsáry, 1909, syn. n. and A. transvaalensis Cameron, 1911, syn. n. are subjective synonyms of A. micheli (Buysson, 1900) that is re-described here. Athalia fumosa Gribodo, 1879 sp. rev. is recognized as a valid species and is removed from synonymy with A. scioensis Gribodo, 1879. Distega braunsi Enslin, 1911 syn. n. and D. brunniventris Enslin, 1913 syn. n. are subjective synonyms of D. montium Konow, 1907. Pseudoneacidiophora Koch, 1998 is a new junior synonym of Kivua Forsius, 1934 (syn. n.), resulting in the new combination Kivua pleuritica (comb. n.) for Athalia pleuritica Forsius, 1927. Kivua camerunensis nom. n. is proposed for P. bicolor Koch, 1998 (preoccupied in Kivua by K. bicolor (Pasteels, 1949) (Bicrista bicolor Pasteels)), the second species formerly included in Pseudoneacidiophora. The female of Distega abyssinica Pasteels, 1955 is described for the first time. An annotated and illustrated list including six distribution maps is given for Ethiopian sawflies. It is composed of 34 species belonging to the genus Arge (Argidae), and seven genera of Tenthredinidae: Athalia (Athaliinae), Kivua, Neacidiophora, Xenapates (Allantinae), Distega, Trisodontophyes (Blennocampinae), and Dulophanes (Selandriinae). Some ecological aspects of Athalia species are discussed, especially for the most abundantly collected A. vollenhoveni Gribodo, 1879.

No abstract

Several types of feeder have been used by beekeepers for feeding their colonies with sugar syrup during dearth periods. However, each feeder type has its benefits and drawbacks both for the bees and beekeepers. The effects of different feeder types on honeybee colonies well-being and their conveniences for feeding by the beekeepers were investigated. Time required to feed a colony, amount of feed consumed, number of dead bees during feeding, number of dead bees in/on the feeder when removed, disturbance and convenience based on technicians' opinion were compared. Accordingly, significantly (p<0.000) shortest time (40.45 sec) was obtained for top feeder than bucket (71.25 sec) and frame (137.80 sec) feeders. Likewise, significantly (p<0.001) less number of dead bees (2.50) were observed while feeding a colony using top feeder as compared to bucket and frame feeders in which 5.45 and 11.00 dead bees were recorded under hive stand, respectively. Moreover, no dead bee was recorded on the top surface of top feeder compared to frame feeder in which 1.60 dead bees were counted. However, feeder type did not affect the amount of sugar syrup consumed and colony survival during the experiment. Regarding bee technicians' opinion, top feeder is highly convenient to feed colonies with a minimum colony disturbance and reaction. Thus, the current results indicate that feeding colonies using top feeder is less time consuming, inflicts less damage to the bees, and more convenient feeding method for the beekeeper.