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Li L, Wu L, Xu Y, Liu F, Zhao H. Three odorant-binding proteins of small hive beetles, Aethina tumida, participate in the response of bee colony volatiles. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134905. [PMID: 39173797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Aethina tumida (small hive beetle, SHB) is a rapidly spreading invasive parasite of bee colonies. The olfactory system plays a key role in insect behavior, and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in the first step of the olfactory signal transduction pathway and the detection of host volatiles. However, the olfactory mechanism of OBPs in SHB-localized bee colonies is unclear. In this study, electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral bioassay showed that only three compounds (2-heptanone, ocimene, and ethyl palmitate) from bee colonies triggered high electrophysiological and behavioral responses. Three antenna-specific OBP genes (OBP6, OBP11, and OBP19) were identified, and they were significantly expressed on adult days 6-7. Furthermore, by combining RNA interference (RNAi) with EAG, olfactometer bioassay, competitive fluorescence binding assays, and molecular docking, we found that these three OBP genes were involved in the recognition of 2-heptanone and ethyl palmitate, and AtumOBP6 is also involved in the recognition of ocimene. These data indicate that AtumOBP6, AtumOBP11, and AtumOBP19 play an important role in the olfactory response to bee colony volatiles. Our results provide new insights into the functions of the OBP families in A. tumida and help to explore more potential target genes for environmentally friendly pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangbin Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong, China
| | - Lixian Wu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong, China
| | - Yajing Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongxia Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong, China.
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2
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Wu T, Choi YS, Kim DW, Wei X, Kang Y, Han B, Yang S, Gao J, Dai P. Interactive effects of chlorothalonil and Varroa destructor on Apis mellifera during adult stage. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 204:106107. [PMID: 39277411 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.106107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
The interaction between environmental factors affecting honey bees is of growing concern due to their potential synergistic effects on bee health. Our study investigated the interactive impact of Varroa destructor and chlorothalonil on workers' survival, fat body morphology, and the expression of gene associated with detoxification, immunity, and nutrition metabolism during their adult stage. We found that both chlorothalonil and V. destructor significantly decreased workers' survival rates, with a synergistic effect observed when bees were exposed to both stressors simultaneously. Morphological analysis of fat body revealed significant alterations in trophocytes, particularly a reduction in vacuoles and granules after Day 12, coinciding with the transition of the bees from nursing to other in-hive work tasks. Gene expression analysis showed significant changes in detoxification, immunity, and nutrition metabolism over time. Detoxification genes, such as CYP9Q2, CYP9Q3, and GST-D1, were downregulated in response to stressor exposure, indicating a potential impairment in detoxification processes. Immune-related genes, including defensin-1, Dorsal-1, and Kayak, exhibited an initially upregulation followed by varied expression patterns, suggesting a complex immune response to stressors. Nutrition metabolism genes, such as hex 70a, AmIlp2, VGMC, AmFABP, and AmPTL, displayed dynamic expression changes, reflecting alterations in nutrient utilization and energy metabolism in response to stressors. Overall, these findings highlight the interactive and dynamic effects of environmental stressor on honey bees, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying honey bee decline. These results emphasize the need to consider the interactions between multiple stressors in honey bee research and to develop management strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on bee populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yong Soo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaoping Wei
- Modern Agricultural Development Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Yuxin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Pingli Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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3
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Wojtacka J. The Chemical Residues in Secondary Beekeeping Products of Environmental Origin. Molecules 2024; 29:3968. [PMID: 39203046 PMCID: PMC11357314 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural products of bee origin, despite their complex composition and difficulties in standardization, have been of high interest among scientists representing various disciplines from basic sciences to industrial and practical implementation. As long as their use is monitored and they do not impact human health, they can be considered valuable sources of many chemical compounds and are potentially useful in medicine, food processing, nutrition, etc. However, apart from honey, the general turnover of bee products lacks precise and detailed legal requirements ensuring their quality. The different residues in these products constitute a problem, which has been reported in numerous studies. All products derived from beekeeping are made by bees, but they are also influenced by the environment. Such a dual pathway requires detailed surveillance of hazards stemming from outside and inside the apiary. This should be ensured via harmonized requirements arising from the binding legal acts, especially in international and intercontinental trade zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Wojtacka
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland
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4
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Rangel J. Systems theory: A novel approach for understanding how stressors affect honey bee health 'all at once'. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R498-R501. [PMID: 38772337 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
A new study showcases the usefulness of systems theory and network analyses for understanding how dozens of stressors can act concomitantly to affect managed honey bee health. Interestingly, the most influential stressors are not those currently being addressed by beekeepers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Rangel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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5
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French SK, Pepinelli M, Conflitti IM, Jamieson A, Higo H, Common J, Walsh EM, Bixby M, Guarna MM, Pernal SF, Hoover SE, Currie RW, Giovenazzo P, Guzman-Novoa E, Borges D, Foster LJ, Zayed A. Honey bee stressor networks are complex and dependent on crop and region. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1893-1903.e3. [PMID: 38636513 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees play a major role in crop pollination but have experienced declining health throughout most of the globe. Despite decades of research on key honey bee stressors (e.g., parasitic Varroa destructor mites and viruses), researchers cannot fully explain or predict colony mortality, potentially because it is caused by exposure to multiple interacting stressors in the field. Understanding which honey bee stressors co-occur and have the potential to interact is therefore of profound importance. Here, we used the emerging field of systems theory to characterize the stressor networks found in honey bee colonies after they were placed in fields containing economically valuable crops across Canada. Honey bee stressor networks were often highly complex, with hundreds of potential interactions between stressors. Their placement in crops for the pollination season generally exposed colonies to more complex stressor networks, with an average of 23 stressors and 307 interactions. We discovered that the most influential stressors in a network-those that substantively impacted network architecture-are not currently addressed by beekeepers. Finally, the stressor networks showed substantial divergence among crop systems from different regions, which is consistent with the knowledge that some crops (e.g., highbush blueberry) are traditionally riskier to honey bees than others. Our approach sheds light on the stressor networks that honey bees encounter in the field and underscores the importance of considering interactions among stressors. Clearly, addressing and managing these issues will require solutions that are tailored to specific crops and regions and their associated stressor networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K French
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Mateus Pepinelli
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Ida M Conflitti
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Aidan Jamieson
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Julia Common
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Walsh
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, 100038 Township Road 720, Beaverlodge, AB T0H0C0, Canada
| | - Miriam Bixby
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, 100038 Township Road 720, Beaverlodge, AB T0H0C0, Canada; University of Victoria, Department of Computer Science, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P5C2, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, 100038 Township Road 720, Beaverlodge, AB T0H0C0, Canada
| | - Shelley E Hoover
- University of Lethbridge, Department of Biological Sciences, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Robert W Currie
- University of Manitoba, Department of Entomology, 12 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T2N2, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Université Laval, Département de biologie, 1045, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
- University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Daniel Borges
- Ontario Beekeepers' Association, Technology Transfer Program, 185-5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, ON N1H6J2, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada.
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6
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Bartlett LJ, Alparslan S, Bruckner S, Delaney DA, Menz JF, Williams GR, Delaplane KS. Neonicotinoid exposure increases Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) mite parasitism severity in honey bee colonies and is not mitigated by increased colony genetic diversity. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2024; 24:20. [PMID: 38805648 PMCID: PMC11132139 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieae056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Agrochemical exposure is a major contributor to ecological declines worldwide, including the loss of crucial pollinator species. In addition to direct toxicity, field-relevant doses of pesticides can increase species' vulnerabilities to other stressors, including parasites. Experimental field demonstrations of potential interactive effects of pesticides and additional stressors are rare, as are tests of mechanisms via which pollinators tolerate pesticides. Here, we controlled honey bee colony exposure to field-relevant concentrations of 2 neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin and thiamethoxam) in pollen and simultaneously manipulated intracolony genetic heterogeneity. We showed that exposure increased rates of Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) parasitism and that while increased genetic heterogeneity overall improved survivability, it did not reduce the negative effect size of neonicotinoid exposure. This study is, to our knowledge, the first experimental field demonstration of how neonicotinoid exposure can increase V. destructor populations in honey bees and also demonstrates that colony genetic diversity cannot mitigate the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis J Bartlett
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Suleyman Alparslan
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Selina Bruckner
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Deborah A Delaney
- Department of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 27695-7613, USA
| | - John F Menz
- Department of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 27695-7613, USA
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Keith S Delaplane
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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7
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Domingues CEC, Šimenc L, Toplak I, de Graaf DC, De Smet L, Verbeke W, Peelman L, Ansaloni LS, Gregorc A. Eggs sampling as an effective tool for identifying the incidence of viruses in honey bees involved in artificial queen rearing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9612. [PMID: 38671077 PMCID: PMC11053070 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60135-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) plays an essential role in crop pollination, environment diversity, and the production of honey bee products. However, the health of individual honey bees and their colonies is under pressure due to multiple stressors, including viruses as a significant threat to bees. Monitoring various virus infections could be a crucial selection tool during queen rearing. In the present study, samples from all developmental stages (eggs, larvae, pupae, and queens) were screened for the incidence of seven viruses during queen rearing in Slovenia. The screening of a total of 108 samples from five queen breeders was performed by the RT-qPCR assays. The results showed that the highest incidence was observed for black queen cell virus (BQCV), Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3), deformed wing virus B (DWV-B), and sacbrood virus (SBV). The highest viral load was detected in queens (6.07 log10 copies/queen) and larvae (5.50 log10 copies/larva) for BQCV, followed by SBV in larvae (5.47 log10 copies/larva). When comparing all the honey bee developmental stages, the eggs exhibited general screening for virus incidence and load in queen mother colonies. The results suggest that analyzing eggs is a good indicator of resilience to virus infection during queen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio E C Domingues
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia.
| | - Laura Šimenc
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ivan Toplak
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lina De Smet
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Verbeke
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Peelman
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Leticia S Ansaloni
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia
| | - Aleš Gregorc
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia
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8
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Graham KK, McArt S, Isaacs R. High pesticide exposure and risk to bees in pollinator plantings adjacent to conventionally managed blueberry fields. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171248. [PMID: 38402956 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Wildflower plantings adjacent to agricultural fields provide diverse floral resources and nesting sites for wild bees. However, their proximity to pest control activities in the crop may result in pesticide exposure if pesticides drift into pollinator plantings. To quantify pesticide residues in pollinator plantings, we sampled flowers and soil from pollinator plantings and compared them to samples from unenhanced field margins and crop row middles. At conventionally managed farms, flowers from pollinator plantings had similar exposure profiles to those from unenhanced field margins or crop row middles, with multiple pesticides and high and similar risk quotient (RQ) values (with pollinator planting RQ: 3.9; without pollinator planting RQ: 4.0). Whereas samples from unsprayed sites had significantly lower risk (RQ: 0.005). Soil samples had overall low risk to bees. Additionally, we placed bumble bee colonies (Bombus impatiens) in field margins of crop fields with and without pollinator plantings and measured residues in bee-collected pollen. Pesticide exposure was similar in pollen from sites with or without pollinator plantings, and risk was generally high (with pollinator planting RQ: 0.5; without pollinator planting RQ: 1.1) and not significant between the two field types. Risk was lower at sites where there was no pesticide activity (RQ: 0.3), but again there was no significant difference between management types. The insecticide phosmet, which is used on blueberry farms for control of Drosophila suzukii, accounted for the majority of elevated risk. Additionally, analysis of pollen collected by bumble bees found no significant difference in floral species richness between sites with or without pollinator plantings. Our results suggest that pollinator plantings do not reduce pesticide risk and do not increase pollen diversity collected by B. impatiens, further highlighting the need to reduce exposure through enhanced IPM adoption, drift mitigation, and removal of attractive flowering weeds prior to insecticide applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey K Graham
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 202 CIPS, 578 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1410 N 800 E, Logan, UT 84341, USA.
| | - Scott McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 4129 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Rufus Isaacs
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 202 CIPS, 578 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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9
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Malladi S, Sukkar D, Bonnefoy A, Falla-Angel J, Laval-Gilly P. Imidacloprid and acetamiprid synergistically downregulate spaetzle and myD88 of the Toll pathway in haemocytes of the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 104:104323. [PMID: 37995888 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Pollinator health has been of critical concern over the last few decades. The prevalence of the honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), changing climate, and the rise of vector-borne honeybee diseases by Varroa destructor, have played a major role in the rapid decline of global honeybee populations. Honeybees are environmentally and economically significant actors in biodiversity. The impact of agricultural practices, such as pesticide use, has exacerbated the negative effects on honeybees. We demonstrate the synergistic effect of cocktails of the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and acetamiprid on honeybee haemocytes. Two genes responsible for critical immune responses, spaetzle and myD88, are consistently dysregulated following exposure to either neonicotinoid alone or as a mixture with or without an immune challenge. The 2018 ban of neonicotinoids in Europe, followed by the 2020 reauthorisation of imidacloprid in France and the current consideration to reinstate acetamiprid underscores the need to evaluate their cumulative impact on honeybee health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dani Sukkar
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LSE, F-54000 Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, IUT Thionville-Yutz, Plateforme de Recherche, Transfert de Technologie et Innovation (PRTI), 57970 Yutz, France
| | - Antoine Bonnefoy
- Université de Lorraine, IUT Thionville-Yutz, Plateforme de Recherche, Transfert de Technologie et Innovation (PRTI), 57970 Yutz, France
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10
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Urueña Á, Blasco-Lavilla N, De la Rúa P. Sulfoxaflor effects depend on the interaction with other pesticides and Nosema ceranae infection in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115427. [PMID: 37666201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees health is compromised by many factors such as the use of agrochemicals in agriculture and the various diseases that can affect them. Multiple studies have shown that these factors can interact, producing a synergistic effect that can compromise the viability of honey bees. This study analyses the interactions between different pesticides and the microsporidium Nosema ceranae and their effect on immune and detoxification gene expression, sugar consumption and mortality in the Iberian western honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis). For this purpose, workers were infected with N. ceranae and subjected to a sugar-water diet with field concentrations of the pesticides sulfoxaflor, azoxystrobin and glyphosate. Increased sugar intake and altered immune and cytochrome P450 gene expression were observed in workers exposed to sulfoxaflor and infected with N. ceranae. None of the pesticides affected Nosema spore production in honey bee gut. Of the three pesticides tested (alone or in combination) only sulfoxaflor increased mortality in honey bees. Taken together, our results suggest that the effects of sulfoxaflor were attenuated in contact with other pesticides, and that Nosema infection leads to increase sugar intake in sulfoxaflor-exposed bees. Overall, this underlines the importance of studying the interaction between different stressors to understand their overall impact not only on honey bee but also on wild bees health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Urueña
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Nuria Blasco-Lavilla
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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11
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Pent K, Naudi S, Raimets R, Jürison M, Liiskmann E, Karise R. Overlapping exposure effects of pathogen and dimethoate on honeybee ( Apis mellifera Linnaeus) metabolic rate and longevity. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1198070. [PMID: 37346484 PMCID: PMC10279948 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1198070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Declines in honeybee abundance have been observed worldwide during last decades. This is partly due to plant protection agents used in intensive farming, landscaping and infrastructure maintenance. Another type of factors negatively affecting honeybees is the spread of diseases caused by different pathogens and pests. Lately, more focus has been paid to the interactions between different overlapping stressors affecting honeybee health, the combination of these often being more detrimental compared to individual stressors. The most widely used stress-evaluating methods take into account lethal- or motorial changes of the individuals or colonies. Comparatively little honeybee research has examined changes in initial recovery potential and physiological symptoms of toxification. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of Nosema apis and N. ceranae (according to a newer classification Vairimorpha apis and V. ceranae), the common causes of nosemosis in the honeybee Apis mellifera L., with the insecticide dimethoate. Methods: In this study, honeybee mortality and metabolic rate were used to assess the combined effects interactions of Nosema ssp. and dimethoate. Results: Our results showed that exposure to the low concentration of either dimethoate, either one or both species of Nosema ssp as single factors or in the combination had no significant effect on honeybee metabolic rate. The mortality increased with the two Nosema spp., as well as with infection by N. ceranae alone. The effect of dimethoate was observed only in combination with N. apis infection, which alone had no effect on individual honeybee mortality. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the overlapping exposure to a non-lethal concentration of a pesticide and a pathogen can be hidden by stronger stressor but become observable with milder stressors.
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12
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Manley R, Doublet V, Wright ON, Doyle T, Refoy I, Hedges S, Pascall D, Carvell C, Brown MJF, Wilfert L. Conservation measures or hotspots of disease transmission? Agri-environment schemes can reduce disease prevalence in pollinator communities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220004. [PMID: 36744563 PMCID: PMC9900712 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects are under pressure from agricultural intensification. To protect pollinators, conservation measures such as the EU agri-environment schemes (AES) promote planting wildflowers along fields. However, this can potentially alter disease ecology by serving as transmission hubs or by diluting infections. We tested this by measuring plant-pollinator interactions and virus infections (DWV-A, DWV-B and ABPV) across pollinator communities in agricultural landscapes over a year. AES had a direct effect on DWV-B, reducing prevalence and load in honeybees, with a tentative general dilution effect on load in early summer. DWV-A prevalence was reduced both under AES and with increasing niche overlap between competent hosts, likely via a dilution effect. By contrast, AES had no impact on ABPV, its prevalence driven by the proportion of bumblebees in the community. Epidemiological differences were also reflected in the virus phylogenies, with DWV-B showing recent rapid expansion, while DWV-A and ABPV showed slower growth rates and geographical population structure. Phylogenies indicate that all three viruses freely circulate across their host populations. Our study illustrates how complex interactions between environmental, ecological and evolutionary factors may influence wildlife disease dynamics. Supporting pollinator nutrition can mitigate the transmission of important bee diseases, providing an unexpected boost to pollinator conservation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Manley
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Vincent Doublet
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Owen N. Wright
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Toby Doyle
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Isobel Refoy
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Sophie Hedges
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - David Pascall
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Claire Carvell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Mark J. F. Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Lena Wilfert
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
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13
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Bruckner S, Straub L, Neumann P, Williams GR. Negative but antagonistic effects of neonicotinoid insecticides and ectoparasitic mites Varroa destructor on Apis mellifera honey bee food glands. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137535. [PMID: 36521752 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Collaborative brood care by workers is essential for the functionality of eusocial Apis mellifera honey bee colonies. The hypopharyngeal food glands of workers play a crucial role in this context. Even though there is consensus that ubiquitous ectoparasitic mites Varroa destructor and widespread insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are major stressors for honey bee health, their impact alone and in combination on the feeding glands of workers is poorly understood. Here, we show that combined exposure to V. destructor and neonicotinoids antagonistically interacted on hypopharyngeal gland size, yet they did not interact on emergence body mass or survival. While the observed effects of the antagonistic interaction were less negative than expected based on the sum of the individual effects, hypopharyngeal gland size was still significantly reduced. Alone, V. destructor parasitism negatively affected emergence body mass, survival, and hypopharyngeal gland size, whereas neonicotinoid exposure reduced hypopharyngeal gland size only. Since size is associated with hypopharyngeal gland functionality, a reduction could result in inadequate brood care. As cooperative brood care is a cornerstone of eusociality, smaller glands could have adverse down-stream effects on inclusive fitness of honey bee colonies. Therefore, our findings highlight the need to further study how ubiquitous stressors like V. destructor and neonicotinoids interact to affect honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selina Bruckner
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 301 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3097, Liebefeld, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3097, Liebefeld, Switzerland.
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3097, Liebefeld, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3097, Liebefeld, Switzerland.
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 301 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
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14
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Global honeybee health decline factors and potential conservation techniques. Food Secur 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01346-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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15
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Insolia L, Molinari R, Rogers SR, Williams GR, Chiaromonte F, Calovi M. Honey bee colony loss linked to parasites, pesticides and extreme weather across the United States. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20787. [PMID: 36456591 PMCID: PMC9714769 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24946-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony loss is a widespread phenomenon with important economic and biological implications, whose drivers are still an open matter of investigation. We contribute to this line of research through a large-scale, multi-variable study combining multiple publicly accessible data sources. Specifically, we analyzed quarterly data covering the contiguous United States for the years 2015-2021, and combined open data on honey bee colony status and stressors, weather data, and land use. The different spatio-temporal resolutions of these data are addressed through an up-scaling approach that generates additional statistical features which capture more complex distributional characteristics and significantly improve modeling performance. Treating this expanded feature set with state-of-the-art feature selection methods, we obtained findings that, nation-wide, are in line with the current knowledge on the aggravating roles of Varroa destructor and pesticides in colony loss. Moreover, we found that extreme temperature and precipitation events, even when controlling for other factors, significantly impact colony loss. Overall, our results reveal the complexity of biotic and abiotic factors affecting managed honey bee colonies across the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Insolia
- Institute of Economics & EMbeDS, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, 56127, Italy.,Geneva School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Molinari
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Auburn University, Auburn, 36849, AL, USA
| | | | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, 36849, AL, USA
| | - Francesca Chiaromonte
- Institute of Economics & EMbeDS, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, 56127, Italy.,Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA
| | - Martina Calovi
- Department of Geography, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, 7491, Norway.
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16
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Burgess BJ, Jackson MC, Murrell DJ. Are experiment sample sizes adequate to detect biologically important interactions between multiple stressors? Ecol Evol 2022. [PMID: 36177120 DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.21.453207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
As most ecosystems are being challenged by multiple, co-occurring stressors, an important challenge is to understand and predict how stressors interact to affect biological responses. A popular approach is to design factorial experiments that measure biological responses to pairs of stressors and compare the observed response to a null model expectation. Unfortunately, we believe experiment sample sizes are inadequate to detect most non-null stressor interaction responses, greatly hindering progress. Using both real and simulated data, we show sample sizes typical of many experiments (<6) can (i) only detect very large deviations from the additive null model, implying many important non-null stressor-pair interactions are being missed, and (ii) potentially lead to mostly statistical outliers being reported. Computer code that simulates data under either additive or multiplicative null models is provided to estimate statistical power for user-defined responses and sample sizes, and we recommend this is used to aid experimental design and interpretation of results. We suspect that most experiments may require 20 or more replicates per treatment to have adequate power to detect nonadditive. However, estimates of power need to be made while considering the smallest interaction of interest, i.e., the lower limit for a biologically important interaction, which is likely to be system-specific, meaning a general guide is unavailable. We discuss ways in which the smallest interaction of interest can be chosen, and how sample sizes can be increased. Our main analyses relate to the additive null model, but we show similar problems occur for the multiplicative null model, and we encourage similar investigations into the statistical power of other null models and inference methods. Without knowledge of the detection abilities of the statistical tools at hand or the definition of the smallest meaningful interaction, we will undoubtedly continue to miss important ecosystem stressor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Burgess
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London London UK
- RTI Health Solutions Didsbury, Manchester UK
| | | | - David J Murrell
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London London UK
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17
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Straub L, Strobl V, Bruckner S, Camenzind DW, Van Oystaeyen A, Wäckers F, Williams GR, Neumann P. Buffered fitness components: Antagonism between malnutrition and an insecticide in bumble bees. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155098. [PMID: 35398139 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Global insect biodiversity declines due to reduced fitness are linked to interactions between environmental stressors. In social insects, inclusive fitness depends on successful mating of reproductives, i.e. males and queens, and efficient collaborative brood care by workers. Therefore, interactive effects between malnutrition and environmental pollution on sperm and feeding glands (hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs)) would provide mechanisms for population declines, unless buffered against due to their fitness relevance. However, while negative effects for bumble bee colony fitness are known, the effects of malnutrition and insecticide exposure singly and in combination on individuals are poorly understood. Here we show, in a fully-crossed laboratory experiment, that malnutrition and insecticide exposure result in neutral or antagonistic interactions for spermatozoa and HPGs of bumble bees, Bombus terrestris, suggesting strong selection to buffer key colony fitness components. No significant effects were observed for mortality and consumption, but significant negative effects were revealed for spermatozoa traits and HPGs. The combined effects on these parameters were not higher than the individual stressor effects, which indicates an antagonistic interaction between both. Despite the clear potential for additive effects, due to the individual stressors impairing muscle quality and neurological control, simultaneous malnutrition and insecticide exposure surprisingly did not reveal an increased impact compared to individual stressors, probably due to key fitness traits being resilient. Our data support that stressor interactions require empirical tests on a case-by-case basis and need to be regarded in context to understand underlying mechanisms and so adequately mitigate the ongoing decline of the entomofauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Selina Bruckner
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Domenic W Camenzind
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
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18
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Straub L, Strobl V, Yañez O, Albrecht M, Brown MJ, Neumann P. Do pesticide and pathogen interactions drive wild bee declines? Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:232-243. [PMID: 35800107 PMCID: PMC9253050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
There is clear evidence for wild insect declines globally. Habitat loss, climate change, pests, pathogens and environmental pollution have all been shown to cause detrimental effects on insects. However, interactive effects between these stressors may be the key to understanding reported declines. Here, we review the literature on pesticide and pathogen interactions for wild bees, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest avenues for future research fostering mitigation of the observed declines. The limited studies available suggest that effects of pesticides most likely override effects of pathogens. Bees feeding on flowers and building sheltered nests, are likely less adapted to toxins compared to other insects, which potential susceptibility is enhanced by the reduced number of genes encoding detoxifying enzymes compared with other insect species. However, to date all 10 studies using a fully-crossed design have been conducted in the laboratory on social bees using Crithidia spp. or Nosema spp., identifying an urgent need to test solitary bees and other pathogens. Similarly, since laboratory studies do not necessarily reflect field conditions, semi-field and field studies are essential if we are to understand these interactions and their potential effects in the real-world. In conclusion, there is a clear need for empirical (semi-)field studies on a range of pesticides, pathogens, and insect species to better understand the pathways and mechanisms underlying their potential interactions, in particular their relevance for insect fitness and population dynamics. Such data are indispensable to drive forward robust modelling of interactive effects in different environmental settings and foster predictive science. This will enable pesticide and pathogen interactions to be put into the context of other stressors more broadly, evaluating their relative importance in driving the observed declines of wild bees and other insects. Ultimately, this will enable the development of more effective mitigation measures to protect bees and the ecosystem services they supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Mark J.F. Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
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19
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Hong W, Chen B, Lu Y, Lu C, Liu S. Using system equalization principle to study the effects of multiple factors to the development of bee colony. Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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20
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El-Seedi HR, Ahmed HR, El-Wahed AAA, Saeed A, Algethami AF, Attia NF, Guo Z, Musharraf SG, Khatib A, Alsharif SM, Naggar YA, Khalifa SAM, Wang K. Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9050199. [PMID: 35622727 PMCID: PMC9146872 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Despite extensive research to identify and study the various ecological stressors such as microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat, and improper beekeeping practices that are claimed to cause these declines, the deep understanding of the observed losses of these important insects is still missing. Honeybees have an innate immune system, which includes physical barriers and cellular and humeral responses to defend against pathogens and parasites. Exposure to various stressors may affect this system and the health of individual bees and colonies. This review summarizes and discusses the composition of the honeybee immune system and the consequences of exposure to stressors, individually or in combinations, on honeybee immune competence. In addition, we discuss the relationship between bee nutrition and immunity. Nutrition and phytochemicals were highlighted as the factors with a high impact on honeybee immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesham R. El-Seedi
- Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, P.O. Box 591, SE 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agriculture and Agri-Products Processing (Jiangsu University), Jiangsu Education Department, Nanjing 210024, China
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32512, Egypt;
- Correspondence: (H.R.E.-S.); (K.W.); Tel.: +46-700-43-43-43 (H.R.E.-S.); +86-10-62596625 (K.W.)
| | - Hanan R. Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32512, Egypt;
| | - Aida A. Abd El-Wahed
- Department of Bee Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12627, Egypt;
| | - Aamer Saeed
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan;
| | - Ahmed F. Algethami
- Al nahal al jwal Foundation Saudi Arabia, P.O. Box 617, Al Jumum, Makkah 21926, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nour F. Attia
- Chemistry Division, National Institute of Standards, 136, Giza 12211, Egypt;
| | - Zhiming Guo
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China;
| | - Syed G. Musharraf
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan;
| | - Alfi Khatib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic Univetsity Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Malaysia;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60155, Indonesia
| | - Sultan M. Alsharif
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Al Madinah 887, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Yahya Al Naggar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt;
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Shaden A. M. Khalifa
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Kai Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- Correspondence: (H.R.E.-S.); (K.W.); Tel.: +46-700-43-43-43 (H.R.E.-S.); +86-10-62596625 (K.W.)
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21
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Holt S, Cremen N, Grassl J, Schmid-Hempel P, Baer B. Genetic Variation in Antimicrobial Activity of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Seminal Fluid. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.755226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees can host a remarkably large number of different parasites and pathogens, and some are known drivers of recent declines in wild and managed bee populations. Here, we studied the interactions between the fungal pathogen Nosema apis and seminal fluid of the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Honey bee seminal fluid contains multiple antimicrobial molecules that kill N. apis spores and we therefore hypothesized that antimicrobial activities of seminal fluid are genetically driven by interactions between honey bee genotype and different N. apis strains/ecotypes, with the virulence of a strain depending on the genotype of their honey bee hosts. Among the antimicrobials, chitinases have been found in honey bee seminal fluid and have the predicted N. apis killing capabilities. We measured chitinase activity in the seminal fluid of eight different colonies. Our results indicate that multiple chitinases are present in seminal fluid, with activity significantly differing between genotypes. We therefore pooled equal numbers of N. apis spores from eight different colonies and exposed subsamples to seminal fluid samples from each of the colonies. We infected males from each colony with seminal fluid exposed spore samples and quantified N. apis infections after 6 days. We found that host colony had a stronger effect compared to seminal fluid treatment, and significantly affected host mortality, infection intensity and parasite prevalence. We also found a significant effect of treatment, as well as a treatment × colony interaction when our data were analyzed ignoring cage as a blocking factor. Our findings provide evidence that N. apis-honey bee interactions are driven by genotypic effects, which could be used in the future for breeding purposes of disease resistant or tolerant honey bee stock.
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22
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Bruckner S, Straub L, Neumann P, Williams GR. Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions Between Varroa destructor Mites and Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Male Apis mellifera Honey Bees. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.756027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pressures from multiple, sometimes interacting, stressors can have negative consequences to important ecosystem-service providing species like the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). The introduced parasite Varroa destructor and the neonicotinoid class of insecticides each represent important, nearly ubiquitous biotic and abiotic stressors to honey bees, respectively. Previous research demonstrated that they can synergistically interact to negatively affect non-reproductive honey bee female workers, but no data exist on how concurrent exposure may affect reproductive honey bee males (drones). This is important, given that the health of reproductive females (queens), possibly because of poor mating, is frequently cited as a major driver of honey bee colony loss. To address this, known age cohorts of drones were obtained from 12 honey bee colonies—seven were exposed to field-relevant concentrations of two neonicotinoids (4.5 ppb thiamethoxam and 1.5 ppb clothianidin) during development via supplementary pollen patties; five colonies received patties not spiked with neonicotinoids. Artificially emerged drones were assessed for natural V. destructor infestation, weighed, and then allocated to the following treatment groups: 1. Control, 2. V. destructor only, 3. Neonicotinoid only, and 4. Combined (both mites and neonicotinoid). Adult drones were maintained in laboratory cages alongside attendant workers (1 drone: 2 worker ratio) until they have reached sexual maturity after 14 days so sperm concentration and viability could be assessed. The data suggest that V. destructor and neonicotinoids interacted synergistically to negatively affect adult drone survival, but that they interacted antagonistically on emergence mass. Although sample sizes were too low to assess the effects of V. destructor and combined exposure on sperm quality, we observed no influence of neonicotinoids on sperm concentration or viability. Our findings highlight the diverse effects of concurrent exposure to stressors on honey bees, and suggest that V. destructor and neonicotinoids can severely affect the number of sexually mature adult drones available for mating.
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23
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Schläppi D, Kettler N, Glauser G, Straub L, Yañez O, Neumann P. Varying impact of neonicotinoid insecticide and acute bee paralysis virus across castes and colonies of black garden ants, Lasius niger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sci Rep 2021; 11:20500. [PMID: 34654848 PMCID: PMC8519937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98406-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pesticides and pathogens are known drivers of declines in global entomofauna. However, interactions between pesticides and viruses, which could range from antagonistic, over additive to synergistic, are poorly understood in ants. Here, we show that in ants the impact of single and combined pesticide and virus stressors can vary across castes and at the colony level. A fully-crossed laboratory assay was used to evaluate interactions between a sublethal dose of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) in black garden ants, Lasius niger. After monitoring colonies over 64 weeks, body mass, neonicotinoid residues and virus titres of workers and queens, as well as worker behavioural activity were measured. ABPV, but not thiamethoxam, reduced activity of workers. Neonicotinoid exposure resulted in reduced body mass of workers, but not of queens. Further, thiamethoxam facilitated ABPV infections in queens, but not in workers. Overall, virus exposure did not compromise detoxification and body mass, but one colony showed high virus titres and worker mortality. Although the data suggest additive effects at the level of individuals and castes, co-exposure with both stressors elicited antagonistic effects on colony size. Our results create demand for long-term holistic risk assessment of individual stressors and their interactions to protect biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schläppi
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Nina Kettler
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
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24
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Straub L, Villamar‐Bouza L, Bruckner S, Chantawannakul P, Kolari E, Maitip J, Vidondo B, Neumann P, Williams GR. Negative effects of neonicotinoids on male honeybee survival, behaviour and physiology in the field. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Swiss Bee Research CentreAgroscope Bern Switzerland
| | | | - Selina Bruckner
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Auburn University Auburn AL USA
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory Department of Biology Faculty of Science Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Environmental Science Research Center Faculty of Science Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
| | - Eleonora Kolari
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Jakkrawut Maitip
- Bee Protection Laboratory Department of Biology Faculty of Science Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok Rayong Thailand
| | - Beatriz Vidondo
- Veterinary Public Health Institute Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Swiss Bee Research CentreAgroscope Bern Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey R. Williams
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Swiss Bee Research CentreAgroscope Bern Switzerland
- Bee Protection Laboratory Department of Biology Faculty of Science Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai Thailand
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