Survey on the types of nesting of Africanized honeybees in urban areas of semiarid regions and rationalization of swarm capture for the benefit of the community / Levantamento sobre os tipos de nidificação de abelhas africanizadas em áreas urbanas do semiárido e racionalização da captura de enxames em prol da comunidade

Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are abundant and widely adaptable insects that spread rapidly in tropical environments. However, their strong defensive instinct can lead to attacks on humans and animals, causing disturbances in cities. This study aimed to evaluate the nesting characteristics of Africanized honeybees in Mossoró, RN, to generate relevant information for the control of the population of these insects and prevent accidents in urban areas in the Brazilian Semiarid. This survey was conducted from April 2015 to March 2018. The following information on swarms was collected from 487 recorded occurrences: date of survey, structure of the bee site, occurrence of nesting, population size, defensiveness of the bees, and presence of queen and drones. Although the swarms reproduced throughout the year, the breeding of queens and drones increased in the rainy season (January-June). Peak swarming occurred in April-September, when there is greater availability of flowers in the region and the average ambient temperature is mild. The swarms adopted a generalist approach when choosing their nesting site, occupying structures such as tires, tree trunks, buckets, sewage, and cardboard boxes. Most swarms were found in open sites (exposed swarms). The Africanized honeybees were more selective when looking for a nest construction site than when looking for a temporary site for landing and resting. The swarms were generally small (up to 20,000 bees) and not very defensive, which facilitated their rescue in populous urban areas.(AU)

As abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.) são insetos prolíferos, apresentam enorme capacidade adaptativa e possuem rápida propagação em condições tropicais, no entanto, devido ao seu forte instinto defensivo, podem causar transtornos nas cidades pelo risco de ataques contra pessoas e animais. Diante disso, este trabalho teve como objetivo, avaliar características das nidificações das abelhas africanizadas em Mossoró-RN, podendo gerar informações relevantes para dar suporte a ações de controle populacional destes insetos e de prevenção à acidentes em áreas urbanas, de cidades no Semiárido Brasileiro. Esta pesquisa foi realizada durante o período de abril de 2015 a março de 2018.A partir de 487 ocorrências registradas, diversas informações foram coletadas sobre os enxames: data, estrutura do local onde as abelhas estavam alojadas, ocorrência de nidificação, tamanho populacional do enxame, defensivida de das abelhas e presença de rainha e zangões. Os enxames investiram em reprodução durante o ano inteiro, contudo, a criação de rainhas e de zangões foi intensificada na estação chuvosa (jan-jun), enquanto o pico de enxameação ocorreu somente entre abril e setembro, época em que há maior disponibilidade de flores na região e quando a média de temperatura ambiental está amena. Os enxames foram generalistas quanto ao local de nidificação, pois ocuparam estruturas diversificadas como pneus, troncos de árvore, baldes, caixas de esgoto e de papelão, entre muitos outros. A maioria dos enxames foram encontrados em locais abertos (enxame exposto). As abelhas africanizadas apresentam maior grau de exigência quando procuram sítio para construção do ninho, ao invés de local provisório apenas para pouso e descanso. Os enxames foram geralmente pequenos (até 20 mil abelhas) e pouco defensivos, fato que facilitou o resgate de abelhas em áreas urbanas populosas.(AU)

Survey on the types of nesting of Africanized honeybees in urban areas of semiarid regions and rationalization of swarm capture for the benefit of the community / Levantamento sobre os tipos de nidificação de abelhas africanizadas em áreas urbanas do semiárido e racionalização da captura de enxames em prol da comunidade

Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are abundant and widely adaptable insects that spread rapidly in tropical environments. However, their strong defensive instinct can lead to attacks on humans and animals, causing disturbances in cities. This study aimed to evaluate the nesting characteristics of Africanized honeybees in Mossoró, RN, to generate relevant information for the control of the population of these insects and prevent accidents in urban areas in the Brazilian Semiarid. This survey was conducted from April 2015 to March 2018. The following information on swarms was collected from 487 recorded occurrences: date of survey, structure of the bee site, occurrence of nesting, population size, defensiveness of the bees, and presence of queen and drones. Although the swarms reproduced throughout the year, the breeding of queens and drones increased in the rainy season (January-June). Peak swarming occurred in April-September, when there is greater availability of flowers in the region and the average ambient temperature is mild. The swarms adopted a generalist approach when choosing their nesting site, occupying structures such as tires, tree trunks, buckets, sewage, and cardboard boxes. Most swarms were found in open sites (exposed swarms). The Africanized honeybees were more selective when looking for a nest construction site than when looking for a temporary site for landing and resting. The swarms were generally small (up to 20,000 bees) and not very defensive, which facilitated their rescue in populous urban areas.

As abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.) são insetos prolíferos, apresentam enorme capacidade adaptativa e possuem rápida propagação em condições tropicais, no entanto, devido ao seu forte instinto defensivo, podem causar transtornos nas cidades pelo risco de ataques contra pessoas e animais. Diante disso, este trabalho teve como objetivo, avaliar características das nidificações das abelhas africanizadas em Mossoró-RN, podendo gerar informações relevantes para dar suporte a ações de controle populacional destes insetos e de prevenção à acidentes em áreas urbanas, de cidades no Semiárido Brasileiro. Esta pesquisa foi realizada durante o período de abril de 2015 a março de 2018.A partir de 487 ocorrências registradas, diversas informações foram coletadas sobre os enxames: data, estrutura do local onde as abelhas estavam alojadas, ocorrência de nidificação, tamanho populacional do enxame, defensivida de das abelhas e presença de rainha e zangões. Os enxames investiram em reprodução durante o ano inteiro, contudo, a criação de rainhas e de zangões foi intensificada na estação chuvosa (jan-jun), enquanto o pico de enxameação ocorreu somente entre abril e setembro, época em que há maior disponibilidade de flores na região e quando a média de temperatura ambiental está amena. Os enxames foram generalistas quanto ao local de nidificação, pois ocuparam estruturas diversificadas como pneus, troncos de árvore, baldes, caixas de esgoto e de papelão, entre muitos outros. A maioria dos enxames foram encontrados em locais abertos (enxame exposto). As abelhas africanizadas apresentam maior grau de exigência quando procuram sítio para construção do ninho, ao invés de local provisório apenas para pouso e descanso. Os enxames foram geralmente pequenos (até 20 mil abelhas) e pouco defensivos, fato que facilitou o resgate de abelhas em áreas urbanas populosas.

Morphometric Identification of Queens, Workers and Intermediates in In Vitro Reared Honey Bees (Apis mellifera).

In vitro rearing is an important and useful tool for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) studies. However, it often results in intercastes between queens and workers, which are normally are not seen in hive-reared bees, except when larvae older than three days are grafted for queen rearing. Morphological classification (queen versus worker or intercastes) of bees produced by this method can be subjective and generally depends on size differences. Here, we propose an alternative method for caste classification of female honey bees reared in vitro, based on weight at emergence, ovariole number, spermatheca size and size and shape, and features of the head, mandible and basitarsus. Morphological measurements were made with both traditional morphometric and geometric morphometrics techniques. The classifications were performed by principal component analysis, using naturally developed queens and workers as controls. First, the analysis included all the characters. Subsequently, a new analysis was made without the information about ovariole number and spermatheca size. Geometric morphometrics was less dependent on ovariole number and spermatheca information for caste and intercaste identification. This is useful, since acquiring information concerning these reproductive structures requires time-consuming dissection and they are not accessible when abdomens have been removed for molecular assays or in dried specimens. Additionally, geometric morphometrics divided intercastes into more discrete phenotype subsets. We conclude that morphometric geometrics are superior to traditional morphometrics techniques for identification and classification of honey bee castes and intermediates.

Thermoregulation in bees with emphasis on Apis mellifera / Termorregulação de abelhas com ênfase em Apis mellifera

Termorregulação é o controle da temperatura em um sistema físico qualquer. Espécies de insetos sociais evoluíram para regular a temperatura dentro do ninho através de uma série de mecanismos que podem ser primários ou secundários. A regulação por mecanismos primários, inclui a seleção local do ninho para otimizar a temperatura interna, ou até mesmo um comportamento simples como a translocação das crias para regiões dentro do próprio ninho, onde as temperaturas são mais favoráveis. Já os mecanismos secundários, incluem as alterações fisiológicas e/ou comportamentais, como o comportamento de aquecer, ou arrefecer os seus ninhos, por exemplo, através de agrupamento e geração de calor metabólico se a intenção for manter a colônia quente, ou abanar as asas se a intenção for conduzir o ar quente para fora da colônia. Se as temperaturas do ninho não são mantidas dentro dos limites específicos da espécie, muitas vezes há consequências indesejáveis, que podem afetar fatores fisiológicos dos indivíduos e assim gerar consequências posteriores na sua vida adulta.(AU)

Thermoregulation is the temperature control in a physical any system. Social insect species have evolved to regulate the temperature inside the nest through a number of mechanisms that can be primary or secondary. The primary mechanisms of regulation, includes such mechanisms as nest site selection to optimize internal nest temperature, or simple behavior such as brood translocation to regions within a nest where temperatures are most favorable. As for the secondary mechanisms include physiological and / or behavioral, as the behavior of heating or cooling the nests, for example, by clustering and generation of metabolic heat if the intention is to keep the colony warm, shake or wings if the intention is to lead the hot air out of the colony. If the temperature of the nest are not maintained within the specified limits of the species, there are often unintended consequences that may affect physiological factors of individuals and thus generate consequences later in their adult life.(AU)

Thermoregulation in bees with emphasis on Apis mellifera / Termorregulação de abelhas com ênfase em Apis mellifera

Termorregulação é o controle da temperatura em um sistema físico qualquer. Espécies de insetos sociais evoluíram para regular a temperatura dentro do ninho através de uma série de mecanismos que podem ser primários ou secundários. A regulação por mecanismos primários, inclui a seleção local do ninho para otimizar a temperatura interna, ou até mesmo um comportamento simples como a translocação das crias para regiões dentro do próprio ninho, onde as temperaturas são mais favoráveis. Já os mecanismos secundários, incluem as alterações fisiológicas e/ou comportamentais, como o comportamento de aquecer, ou arrefecer os seus ninhos, por exemplo, através de agrupamento e geração de calor metabólico se a intenção for manter a colônia quente, ou abanar as asas se a intenção for conduzir o ar quente para fora da colônia. Se as temperaturas do ninho não são mantidas dentro dos limites específicos da espécie, muitas vezes há consequências indesejáveis, que podem afetar fatores fisiológicos dos indivíduos e assim gerar consequências posteriores na sua vida adulta.

Thermoregulation is the temperature control in a physical any system. Social insect species have evolved to regulate the temperature inside the nest through a number of mechanisms that can be primary or secondary. The primary mechanisms of regulation, includes such mechanisms as nest site selection to optimize internal nest temperature, or simple behavior such as brood translocation to regions within a nest where temperatures are most favorable. As for the secondary mechanisms include physiological and / or behavioral, as the behavior of heating or cooling the nests, for example, by clustering and generation of metabolic heat if the intention is to keep the colony warm, shake or wings if the intention is to lead the hot air out of the colony. If the temperature of the nest are not maintained within the specified limits of the species, there are often unintended consequences that may affect physiological factors of individuals and thus generate consequences later in their adult life.

Hygienic Behavior of Africanized Honey Bees Apis mellifera Directed towards Brood in Old and New Combs during Diurnal and Nocturnal Periods.

Hygienic behavior in honey bees, Apis mellifera, is measured by determining the rate at which the bees uncap and remove dead sealed brood. We analyzed individual behavior of house-cleaning Africanized honey bees in order to focus on some poorly understood aspects of hygienic behavior. Two observation hives, each with approximately 3,000 individually marked bees, were used in this study. The efficiency of hygienic behavior was evaluated in hygienic and non-hygienic strains of bees using two types of combs (new and old), as well as at different periods of the day (night and day). We also recorded the age of workers that performed this task of removing dead brood. In both strains, the workers that performed tasks related to hygienic behavior were within the same age cohort; we found no influence of age on the amount of time dedicated to the task, independent of the type of comb or period of the day. The total time from perforation of the cell capping until the dead brood had been completely removed, and was significantly shorter during daytime than at night. Hygienic behavior directed towards dead brood in new combs was also significantly more efficient (faster) than for brood in old combs. The type of comb had significantly more effect than did the time of day. We conclude that the type of comb and time of day should be taken into consideration when evaluating hygienic behavior in honey bees.

A iniciativa brasileira de polinizadores e os avanços atuais para a compreensão do papel dos polinizadores como produtores de serviços ambientais / The brazilian pollinators initiative and the advances for the comprehension of the role of pollinators as ecosystem services providers

Este artigo trata da organização dos elaboradores de políticas para a Ciência, cientistas e administradores em torno dos produtores de serviços ambientais, os polinizadores, e o impacto de seu declínio na produção de alimento e na agricultura sustentável. O serviço realizado pelos polinizadores, considerado como um tema transversal na Biodiversidade Agrícola pela Convenção da Diversidade Biológica (CBD) desde 2000, foi o motivo da aprovação da Iniciativa Internacional dos Polinizadores (IPI), visando à conservação e uso sustentado de polinizadores; outras iniciativas regionais paralelas surgiram em várias partes do mundo; seus objetivos são aqui apresentados, assim como o envolvimento de órgãos governamentais de apoio ao desenvolvimento da Ciência na implementação do tema. O Global Environmental Facility (GEF), mecanismo financeiro da CBD, aprovou recentemente um projeto global baseado nos moldes propostos pela IPI, sob a facilitação da FAO, para países em desenvolvimento. No Brasil, além das iniciativas governamentais lideradas pelo ponto focal da Iniciativa Brasileira dos Polinizadores, IBP, outras surgiram como iniciativaspioneiras de NGOs e de cientistas, seguindo as diretrizes da IPI e de outras iniciativas globais. Os avanços surgiram após reuniões especializadas e discussões com especialistas internacionais, muitas com liderança brasileira e suporte de nossas agências financiadoras, assim como de órgãos internacionais e do Ministério do Meio Ambiente. Este é um tema importante para um país biodiverso como o Brasil; o papel dos polinizadores na segurança alimentar também é discutido.

This article concerns the organization of Science policy makers, scientists and managers around the role of pollinators as ecosystem services providers and the impact of their decline on food production and sustainable agriculture. Considered as a transversal issue in agricultural biodiversity by the Convention of Biological Diversity since 2000, a global initiative concerning the use and conservation of pollinators (IPI) was proposed and local initiativesdeveloped in several parts of the world; their objectives are mentioned here. The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) recently approved a global project around this issue for developing countries, under FAO facilitation. Nevertheless, in Brazil, besides governmental initiatives led by the focal point of the Brazilian Pollinators Initiative, BPI, others were established by scientists, funding agencies and NGOs, following the framework of the IPI. Advances were achieved through meetings and general international discussions with the Brazilian leadership and support by Brazilian and international funding agencies as well as by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment. This is a very important issue for a biodiverse country as Brazil; the role of pollinators in food security is also discussed.

Evaluation of the time of uncapping and removing dead brood from cells by hygienic and non-hygienic honey bees.

Most research on hygienic behavior has recorded the time taken by the colony to remove an experimental amount of dead brood, usually after one or two days. We evaluated the time that hygienic (H) and non-hygienic (NH) honey bees take to uncap and remove dead brood in observation hives after the brood was killed using the pin-killing assay. Four experimental colonies were selected as the extreme cases among 108 original colonies. Thirty brood cells were perforated with a pin in two H and two NH colonies and observations were made after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 24 h. Different stages of uncapping and removing were recorded. Differences in uncapping and removal between H and NH colonies were significant for all comparisons made at the different times after perforation. Using observation hives one obtains a better and faster discrimination between H and NH colonies than in full size colonies. It is possible to differentiate H and NH within a few hours after perforating the cells.

Is the number of antennal plate organs (sensilla placodea) greater in hygienic than in non-hygienic Africanized honey bees?

Hygienic behavior is a desirable trait in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), as hygienic bees quickly remove diseased brood, interrupting the infectious cycle. Hygienic lines of honey bees appear to be more sensitive to the odors of dead and diseased honey bee brood, and Africanized honey bees are generally more hygienic than are European honey bees. We compared the number of sensilla placodea, antennal sensory structures involved in the perception of odor, in 10 bees from each of six hygienic and four non-hygienic colonies of Africanized honey bees. The sensilla placodea of three of the terminal segments (flagellomeres) of the right antenna of each bee were counted with a scanning electron microscope. There were no significant differences in the mean numbers of sensilla placodea between the hygienic and non-hygienic bees, though the variance was higher in the hygienic group. Flagellomere 4 had significantly more sensilla placodea than flagellomeres 6 and 8. However, there was no significant difference between the other two flagellomeres. As hygienic bees are capable of identifying dead, injured, or infested brood inside a capped brood cell, sensilla placodea probably have an important role in enabling worker bees to sense sick brood. However, we did not find greater numbers of this sensory structure in the antennae of hygienic, compared to non-hygienic Africanized honey bees.