ABSTRACT
Over the last quarter century, increasing honey bee colony losses motivated standardized large-scale surveys of managed honey bees (Apis mellifera), particularly in Europe and the United States. Here we present the first large-scale standardized survey of colony losses of managed honey bees and stingless bees across Latin America. Overall, 1736 beekeepers and 165 meliponiculturists participated in the 2-year survey (2016-2017 and 2017-2018). On average, 30.4% of honey bee colonies and 39.6% of stingless bee colonies were lost per year across the region. Summer losses were higher than winter losses in stingless bees (30.9% and 22.2%, respectively) but not in honey bees (18.8% and 20.6%, respectively). Colony loss increased with operation size during the summer in both honey bees and stingless bees and decreased with operation size during the winter in stingless bees. Furthermore, losses differed significantly between countries and across years for both beekeepers and meliponiculturists. Overall, winter losses of honey bee colonies in Latin America (20.6%) position this region between Europe (12.5%) and the United States (40.4%). These results highlight the magnitude of bee colony losses occurring in the region and suggest difficulties in maintaining overall colony health and economic survival for beekeepers and meliponiculturists.
Subject(s)
Beekeeping , Seasons , Animals , Bees/physiology , Latin AmericaABSTRACT
In Argentina, bee virus studies are still incipient, and there are no studies regarding the climatic effect. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the presence of honeybee viruses in different climatic regions from Argentina. A total of 385 colonies distributed in five Argentinean eco-regions were examined to evaluate the percentage of infestation with Varroa destructor and the presence of seven virus species (Deformed wing virus, DWV; Acute bee paralysis virus, ABPV; Chronic bee paralysis virus, CBPV; Black queen cell virus, BQCV; Kashmer bee virus, KBV; Israeli acute bee paralysis virus, IAPV; and Sacbrood bee virus, SBV) after honey yield. Two viruses, KBV and IAPV, were not detected. The other five viruses were found in different prevalences: DWV (35%), ABPV (21.5%), BQCV (8.0%), CBPV (2.2%), and SBV (1.1%). We found double and triple viral associations in approximately 25% of the sampled colonies. The mean V. destructor infestation in the colonies prior to the acaricide treatment was 7.12% ± 8.7%. The knowledge of the prevalence of these viruses in the region and their relation with the mite and other possible influencing factors is important for preventing colony losses. Further studies are necessary to identify the risk factors associated with virus presence and its relationship with other pathogens such as V. destructor.
En Argentina, los estudios sobre prevalencia de virus en abejas continúan siendo incipientes y no existen reportes acerca de cómo inciden sobre dicha prevalencia las variables climáticas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar y comparar la presencia de virus en abejas melíferas en diferentes regiones agroecológicas de Argentina. A tal fin se evaluaron 385 colmenas distribuidas en 5 regiones agroecológicas de las provincias de Chaco y Santa Fe; en ellas se analizó el porcentaje de infestación con Varroa destructor (ácaro patógeno de abejas) y la presencia de 7 especies de virus (DWV, virus de las alas deformadas; ABPV, virus de la parálisis aguda de la abeja; CBPV, virus de la parálisis crónica de la abeja; BQCV, virus de celda negra de la reina; KBV, virus de la abeja de Cachemira; IAPV, virus israelí de la parálisis aguda y SBV, virus de la cría ensacada). luego de la cosecha de miel. Dos virus (KBV y IAPV) no fueron detectados. Las otras 5 especies de virus se encontraron con prevalencias variables: DWV (35%), ABPV (21,5%), BQCV (8%), CBPV (2,2%) y SBV (1,1%). Fue posible identificar la presencia de 3 y hasta 3 virus simultáneamente en el 25% de las colmenas evaluadas. El promedio de infestación por V. destructor en las colmenas luego de la cosecha de miel y antes del tratamiento con acaricidas fue de 7,12% (±8,7). Conocer la prevalencia de virus en las diferentes regiones agroecológicas y su relación con la presencia del ácaro V. destructor e identificar otros posibles factores que podrían influir en su presencia es relevante para definir estrategias que reduzcan la mortandad de colmenas. Es necesario realizar estudios adicionales para identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a la presencia de virus en las colmenas y su relación con otros patógenos, como V. destructor.
Subject(s)
Animals , Viruses , Bees , Varroidae , Argentina , Viruses/isolation & purification , Bees/microbiology , Bees/virology , PrevalenceABSTRACT
In Argentina, bee virus studies are still incipient, and there are no studies regarding the climatic effect. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the presence of honeybee viruses in different climatic regions from Argentina. A total of 385 colonies distributed in five Argentinean eco-regions were examined to evaluate the percentage of infestation with Varroa destructor and the presence of seven virus species (Deformed wing virus, DWV; Acute bee paralysis virus, ABPV; Chronic bee paralysis virus, CBPV; Black queen cell virus, BQCV; Kashmer bee virus, KBV; Israeli acute bee paralysis virus, IAPV; and Sacbrood bee virus, SBV) after honey yield. Two viruses, KBV and IAPV, were not detected. The other five viruses were found in different prevalences: DWV (35%), ABPV (21.5%), BQCV (8.0%), CBPV (2.2%), and SBV (1.1%). We found double and triple viral associations in approximately 25% of the sampled colonies. The mean V. destructor infestation in the colonies prior to the acaricide treatment was 7.12%±8.7%. The knowledge of the prevalence of these viruses in the region and their relation with the mite and other possible influencing factors is important for preventing colony losses. Further studies are necessary to identify the risk factors associated with virus presence and its relationship with other pathogens such as V. destructor.
Subject(s)
Bees , Varroidae , Viruses , Animals , Argentina , Bees/microbiology , Bees/virology , Prevalence , Viruses/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
A total of 361 colonies from 59 apiaries located in two temperate and three subtropical eco-regions were examined during the post-harvest period to determine distribution and prevalence of Nosema spp. Apiaries from subtropical eco-regions showed a lower spore count than those from temperate eco-regions. Pure N. ceranae and co-infection were detected in apiaries from all regions. In contrast, pure N. apis infection was exclusively observed in the subtropical study region. The predominant detection of N. apis in a subtropical region joining a southern temperate region where mainly co-infected apiaries were identified is in contrast to previous reports.
