Energetic supplementation for maintenance or development of Apis mellifera L. colonies

Abstract

Background: The nutritional requirements of honeybees (Apis mellifera) for their complete development need to be supplied through food sources available in the environment, since honeybees are insects that depend directly on blossoming food sources. However, at certain times a food-supply reduction can promote nutritional stress, thus necessitating food supplementation for maintenance or production stimulus of the colonies. Thus, the determination of optimal energy supplementation can assist in the maintenance and production of colonies. Methods: Twenty Apis mellifera beehives were used (with five beehives per treatment): CTL, control (without feeding); SJ, sugarcane juice; SS, sugar syrup; and IS, inverted sucrose. We evaluated the food consumption, population development, and physiological state (expression of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70a genes) of each colony. Results: The results showed that the supplementation of colonies with sugar syrup resulted in an intermediate consumption level (894.6 ± 291 mL) and better development (384.9 ± 237.3 and 158.3 ± 171.6 cm 2 , sealed and open brood, respectively). Furthermore, this diet ensured that the colonies were in a good physiological state, as bees fed this diet presented the highest relative expression levels of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70a among all the diets tested. Conclusions: Therefore, sugar syrup is concluded to be the best artificial energetic food for use in the supplementation of honeybee colonies.

Inhibitory activities of propolis, nisin, melittin and essential oil compounds on Paenibacillus alvei and Bacillus subtilis

“…Spore suspensions were prepared according to the method proposed by Fan et al [ 41 ], with modifications. Bacillus subtilis and P. alvei were seeded on plates containing sporulation medium [ 10 g of peptone, 3 g of meat extract powder, 5 g of potassium chloride (KCl), 15 g of agar, and 0.2 g of manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) per liter and maintained at 37 °C/10 days]. Subsequently, the colonies were scraped off the surface of the medium using a sterile glass rod and suspended in sterile distilled water.…”

Single-Arm, Multicenter Phase I/II Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Envenomings by Massive Africanized Honey Bee Stings Using the Unique Apilic Antivenom

“…These presented marked defensive and swarming capacities, and easily adapted to different climates and environments. In addition, these capacities made it possible for them to expand throughout Brazil and several other countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States ( 2 – 4 ). When threatened, these honeybees massively attack the target; consequently, the number of accidents involving humans and animals has increased ( 3 , 5 , 6 ).…”

A Novel Apilic Antivenom to Treat Massive, Africanized Honeybee Attacks: A Preclinical Study from the Lethality to Some Biochemical and Pharmacological Activities Neutralization

“…In 1956, a new hybrid bee first appeared in Brazil after a laboratory incident caused by the cross between a European A. mellifera mellifera and A. mellifera scutellata from Africa [ 4 , 5 ]. This hybrid has spread gradually over the years to several American countries, including the United States [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…According to Kadri et al [ 4 ], there is a growing need to quickly and reliably detect these new hybrid Africanized colonies because they are not only extremely defensive, prone to massive attacks and highly invasive, but also within the last 60 years have become the most common genotype across much of the southern United States [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”