The Modified Pharaoh Approach: Stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive

Greco, Mark; Hoffmann, Dorothee; Dollin, Anne; Duncan, Michael; Spooner-Hart, Robert; Neumann, Peter

doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2591

Cited by 2 publications

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References 6 publications

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“…There are a few reports of SHB in stingless bee colonies of Dactylurina staudingerii in Africa (Mutsaers, 2006) or Austroplebeia australis (Halcroft et al, 2011) and Trigona carbonaria in Australia (Greco et al, 2009). These stingless bees are not present in the risk assessment area but there are no harmonised import requirements.…”

Section: Hostsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on the risk of entry of Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. in the EU

2013

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Small hive beetle (SHB) and Tropilaelaps are bee diseases considered exotic in the EU. SHB is a flying coleopteran that can be attracted to the odours of bees and bee products. In addition, SHB can survive and reproduce on a variety of ripe fruits. Tropilaelaps is an ectoparasite that does not survive long without honey bee brood and cannot fly by itself. The methodology used to assess the risk of entry of these pests in this scientific opinion was adapted from a pest risk assessment for entry used in the field of plant health. A qualitative risk assessment was performed taking into account current legislation but excluding the implementation of risk reduction options. This approach allowed the assessment of the worst case scenario for each risk factor. The risk pathways with a high risk of pest entry are 'import of bee products (use in apiculture)' for SHB and 'accidental import of bees' (unintended presence of bees in a non-bee consignment) for both pests. The other risk pathways are associated with a moderate or low risk of SHB or Tropilaelaps entry into the risk assessment area. Risk reduction options were assessed separately from the risk assessment. Examples of risk reduction options with a high effectiveness and a high technical feasibility are the use of health certificates to guarantee pest freedom of consignments and keeping consignments without honey bee brood. Options with a high effectiveness and technical feasibility were identified in all risk pathways except 'accidental import of bees' and 'dispersal of the pest via natural means and/or flight'. The AHAW Panel identified the need for validated rapid detection methods and for handling and sampling of imported bees in insect-proof environments. Education and training could help to monitor the pest distribution and to prevent pest entry by improving awareness, skills and expertise.

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Section: Hostsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on the risk of entry of Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. in the EU

2013

EFS2

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“…Notably, odors that were emitted by cerumen obtained from the stingless bee species Meliponula ferruginea (black) and Plebeina hildbrandti were avoided by both sexes of the beetle, suggesting that they may contain repellents. Cerumen is a mixture of pure plant resins and bee secretions molded into protective sheaths in the brood and food chambers in most meliponine bees (Greco et al, 2009). It is known to possess anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antipredatory properties (Patricio et al, 2002;Lehmberg et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supplemental Information 6: Chemicals Identified From the Volatiles Released by Intact Apis Mellifera and Meliponula

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Previous studies have shown that natural honeybee and bumble bee colonies are hosts of the small hive beetle (SHB) Aethina tumida, a pest of honeybee colonies in various regions of the world. Recent studies also reported the presence of SHBs in colonies of certain meliponine bee species. In this study, we investigated whether SHBs detect odors of African meliponine bees and their hive matrix components. We also compared the chemical profiles of the honeybee Apis mellifera scutellata and meliponine bee odors in order to identify common potential semiochemicals between the two bee species. We used dual-choice olfactometric assays to test the responses of adult male and female SHBs to intact colony odors from six meliponine bee species, namely Hypotrigona gribodoi, Meliponula ferruginea (black), M. ferruginea (reddish-brown), Plebeina hildbrandti, M. bocandei and M. lendiliana and their hive matrix components including pot honey, pot pollen, cerumen (involucrum) and propolis (batumen). We found that female SHBs responded more strongly to odors from intact colonies, pot honey and pollen from five out of the six species tested than male beetles. Chemical analysis identified several common components in colony odors emitted by both honeybees and a representative meliponine bee species, M. ferruginea (black). In particular, nine of these common components previously have been shown in honeybee volatiles to be semiochemicals for the SHB, suggesting that African meliponine bees can also serve as potential alternate hosts for the beetle. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of domesticating African meliponine bees in man-made hives for the pollination of crops.

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The Modified Pharaoh Approach: Stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive

Abstract: Social insect colonies usually live in nests, which are often invaded by parasitic species 1 .Workers from these colonies use different defence strategies to combat invaders 1 .

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Scientific Opinion on the risk of entry of Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. in the EU

Scientific Opinion on the risk of entry of Aethina tumida and Tropilaelaps spp. in the EU

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