Below is a list of Abstracts for the AAA 2024 Conference. To see the Program schedule click here.
Antimicrobial activity of propolis of Indonesian Stingless Bees against Staphylococcus Epidermidis
Treatment of acne vulgaris using the antibiotics erythromycin and clindamycin carries a risk of antibiotic resistance, so alternative treatment is needed, such as propolis. Propolis has various active compounds such as flavonoids which can act as antimicrobials against bacteria. Propolis. currently, it is not known about the antimicrobial effect of Indonesian stingless bee propolis extract against treatment of acne vulgaris using the antibiotics erythromycin and clindamycin carries a risk of antibiotic resistance, so alternative treatment is needed, such as propolis. Propolis has various active compounds such as flavonoids which can act as antimicrobials against bacteria. Currently, it is not known about the effect of Indonesian stingless bee propolis extract against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The broth microdilution test was carried out to see the antimicrobial effect of propolis extract, as well as a positive control in the form of the antibiotic clindamycin against the bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value was obtained from broth microdilution test. The MIC90 of propolis extract is 512 ug/ml and MIC90 for clindamycin is 2 ug/ml. Conclusion Propolis extract from Indonesian Stingless Bees has an antimicrobial effect against S. epidermidis bacteria at a concentration of 512 ug/ml. Keywords: Antibacterial, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Propolis, Staphylococcus epidermidis,
Insect pollination of fruit crops –Challenges and Opportunities
Conserving endangered indigenous, Apis cerana for sustainable beekeeping in Jammu and Kashmir Indigenous honeybee, Apis cerana have been playing a key role in by enhancing agricultural productivity as they are a natural pollinators for a range of fruits and crops. The Apis cerana is very popular among the farmers in rural areas, probably due to the lowest cost of construction of traditional hives (log and wall) via using locally available materials. There are around 12,662 colonies of Apis cerana in traditional hives, out of which 5,150 colonies of Apis cerana are kept in log hives and 7,512 colonies in wall hives. In Jammu region. There is an urgent need for organizing village-based training and building the capacity of local beekeepers as trainers to provide follow-up support. More research is needed to improve the indigenous methods and adapting to modern scientific methods of bee keeping. Creation of research projects at local level focussing with diversity, conservation and sustainable beekeeping. Traditional beekeeping with A. cerana should be encouraged among rural households for increase crop pollination and sustainable development.
Bee Behavior – Foraging activities of honeybees
The biological bases of wanting have been characterized in mammals, but whether an equivalent wanting system exists in insects remains unknown. We focused on honeybees, which perform intensive foraging activities for satisfying colony needs, and asked if foragers leave the hive driven by specific expectations about reward, and recollect these expectations during their waggle dances. We monitored foraging and dance behavior, and simultaneously quantified and interfered with biogenic-amine signaling in the bee brain. We show that a dopamine-dependent wanting system is activated transiently in the bee brain by increased appetite and individual recollection of profitable food sources, both en route to the goal and after following dances. The activation of food wanting system could also occur under individual appetitive needs. To address this possibility, we studied if starvation of individual foragers isolated in the laboratory resulted in an enhancement of dopamine levels in their brains. The results showed that enhancing starvation results in an increase of dopamine brain titers consistent with an enhanced activation of an individual wanting system. We then tested if manipulating dopamine levels would affect subsequent learning of olfactory cues predicting food. We finally found that the artificial increase of dopamine signaling enhanced not only the bees’ appetitive responses to sucrose but also their appetitive learning and memory retrieval, consistently with a driving role for dopamine in an individual wanting system. Our results thus show that insects share with mammals common neural mechanisms for encoding wanting of stimuli with positive hedonic value.
Lipidomic features of honey bee and colony health during limited supplementary feeding
Lipidomic features of honey bee and colony health during limited supplementary feeding The primary sources of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids to individual bees is dependent on the availability of nectar and pollen. In times of malnutrition, bee metabolism access fat body reserves to maintain their nutritional health. However, the precise mechanisms of this process and its implications at the colony level remain poorly understood. To investigate the impact of different nutritional on honey bees, and the effects of nutrition on colony health and performance we used molecular analyses of energy production and lipid (fats) metabolism in bees exposed to starvation, sugar feeding, and sugar + pollen feeding. Our findings showed that nutritional stress might triggered a shift from utilisation of sugar as the main energy source to lipids in the bees fat body. We hypothesize that stored lipids become accessible through a process where unsaturations alter lipid structure. We identified the alteration of three proteins involved in this process, which could lead to the development of a diagnostic assays to measure nutritional health in bees. While nutritional stress manifested at both the colony and physiological levels of individual bees in starving and sugar-fed hives, only starved hives exhibited long-term effects on honey production. Colony productivity is more complex than food availability and generational effects of nutritional health will need to be investigated further.
Bee Health Nutrition
One of the most critical factors for bee health is nutrition, which plays a vital role in honey bee productivity and quality. When nutritional requirements are not met, malnutrition and starvation can adversely affect the health of the entire colony, leading to long-term productivity consequences. Even under optimal conditions following starvation, colonies appear to struggle to recover their productivity, indicating a disruption of overall colony health. Recovery may be hindered due to a disruption of the honey bee gut microbiome or of the colony as a whole. Beekeepers in the field mitigate the effects of starvation by replacing queens and/or capped brood frames from a healthy colony. In doing so, they may inadvertently transfer the correct mixture of gut/hive microbes to the affected colony, aiding it during stress. In this study, we explore the effects of starvation on the honey bee gut microbiome and the potential for microbial recovery through the transfer of healthy capped brood frames or cultured microbes. Using deep sequencing of the 16S gene, we monitor bacterial gut community dynamics and the consequences on nurse bees and colony health. Our findings may contribute to the development of optimal supplementary feeding strategies for promoting honey bee health through improved nutrition. Developing optimal strategies for promoting honey bee nutrition and gut health is essential for sustaining honey bee populations and providing pollination services in an environment with increasing floral food scarcity.
Hive Stress implications
Honey bees face escalating threats, notably from floral resource degradation and chronic pesticide exposure. The properties of hive products such as honey and bee bread and microbial communities in the hive both affect and are affected by bee health. Examining samples from both healthy hives and stressed hives from a single apiary with access to the same floral resources, we profiled the antimicrobial activity and chemical properties of honey and bee bread and determined the bacterial and fungal microbiome of the bee gut and the hive environment. Our findings revealed substantial disparities in antimicrobial efficacy, with honey and bee bread from healthy hives exhibiting heightened antimicrobial activity against fungal and bacterial hive pathogens. Healthy hives additionally demonstrated increased phenolics and antioxidant content in hive products, with differences in the plant genera of pollen samples suggesting a link to differential foraging behavior. Finally, stressed hives exhibited a more diverse bacterial and fungal microbiome in hive environments, suggesting a diminished capacity to exclude potential pathogens. These results emphasise the need for understanding and proactively managing bee health, as even apparently minor levels of stress can have implications for overall hive fitness as well as the economic potential of hive products.
Genetically engineering honey bees for beneficial traits
Genetically engineering honey bees for beneficial traits Anu Jayaweera and Maciej Maselko Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a critical species in the Australian honey bee industry – producing some of the world’s highest-quality honey and providing essential pollination services. Nearly 65% of Australian agricultural production depends on pollination by honey bees. Maintaining healthy bee populations is therefore important to the economic health of many Australian communities and to ensure food security. Climate change, Varroa mites, and pesticide exposure pose major challenges to honey bee populations and new solutions are necessary to overcome them. This project will study the potential of using emerging technologies of genetic engineering to introduce beneficial traits into bees and provide recommendations to the Australian horticulture industries on which may be technically feasible, desirable to farmers, environmentally sound, allowed by existing regulatory frameworks, and publicly acceptable. Advanced genetic engineering techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 provide tools for precise genetic editing in many organisms including honey bees. These tools may be used to rapidly engineer strains to contain elite genetic variants, study existing variations to inform breeding programs, and rationally develop novel traits such as pesticide resistance. We will be presenting these different potential approaches to honey bee genetic engineering ranging from the introduction of simple point mutations to transgenes in the conference. Future gene-edited honey bees for beneficial traits may allow beekeepers and growers to maintain healthy honey bee colonies and to secure their services, especially in pollination.
RNA m6A modification in honeybee: its role in sociality and environmental risk assessment
The eusociality of honeybee exhibits a strict reproductive division of labor, largely based on caste differentiation, by which a young female larva can develop into either a queen or a worker controlled by differential feeding. The mechanism underlying caste differentiation remains incompletely understood. Previous evidences suggest that epigenetic marks play regulatory roles in this process but the role of RNA modifications remains unknown. RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) stands out as the most abundant and reversible epitranscriptomic modification in eukaryotes, known to regulate various biological processes. Our studies aim to elucidate the functional roles of m6A modification during honeybee development and eusociality while addressing existing research gaps. We have reported the first RNA m6A methylome analysis of honeybee (Apis mellifera) larvae and demonstrated that m6A impacts caste differentiation and larval development. Furthermore, our ongoing research has revealed the effects of m6A modification on honeybee embryo development and sex determination. In addition to its role in developmental processes, we also found that m6A epitranscriptom of honeybee can be altered by the exposure of pesticides and pollutants. Based on these findings, we have explored RNA methylation as a promising biomarker for environmental risk assessment in honeybee. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the regulation of honeybee development and social organization while offering new perspectives on developing toxicity evaluation approach for protecting this crucial pollinator.
Diversity and Host Specificity of Gut Symbiont Gilliamella apis in Apis mellifera and Apis cerana
Strain diversity and host specificity of the gut symbionts-Gilliamella apis in Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Abstract: Microbial diversity plays a crucial role in the functionality of bee gut communities. Bees, with their specialized gut microbiota and societal transmission between individuals, provide an ideal model for studying host-gut microbiota interactions. While functional disparities resulting from strain-level diversity of gut symbionts and their impact on host health have been studied in a series of instances in Apis mellifera and bumblebees, Apis cerana have remained relatively unexplored. In this study, the complete genomic sequences of eight strains of Gilliamella apis from both Apis mellifera and Apis cerana were analyzed, revealing that the gut strains of Apis mellifera display a more expansive genomic and functional content compared to the strains from Apis cerana. Phylogenetic analysis showed a deep divergence between the Gilliamella apis strains of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Furthermore, biochemistry tests and antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that gut strains of Apis mellifera exhibited more extensive glycometabolism and antibiotic resistance than gut strains of Apis cerana. Notably, host native strains demonstrated stronger intraspecies competitiveness and stimulated immune gene expression in the gut after colonization, especially with the significant increase in vitellogenin gene expression following colonization by native strains. These findings suggest that despite occupying similar ecological niches in honeybees, variations at the strain level of gut microbiota can influence microbial function and host physiology.
Beekeeping: Promoting Sustainable Economic Development in Asia-Pacific Countries
Beekeeping is increasingly promoted as a means for sustainable economic development in Asia-Pacific countries. Nonetheless, production is low, colony losses are high, attrition amongst beekeeping adopters is a chronic problem and research and development programs frequently do not address the underlying causes of poorly functioning beekeeping sectors. This keynote presentation draws on over a decade of research, extension and experiences leading beekeeping for development programs in the Asia-Pacific region focusing on Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera and stingless bee species. This research critically evaluates relevant published literature, explores lessons learned by researchers and development professionals, discusses regional honey bee biosecurity and provides a framework for identifying key considerations in beekeeping industry development interventions. The five pillars of the conceptual framework for beekeeping for research and development are proposed, namely, education and extension, nutrition, pest and disease, genetics, and technology. The framework is relevant to beekeepers, academics, government and NGOs seeking to improve the sustainability, productivity and profitability of beekeeping enterprises.
Japanese Beekeeping Practices for Apis Mellifera and Apis Cerana
This study finds the cause of bees promoting “care” by beekeepers in Japan. There are two types of honeybees in Japan: Apis mellifera (Western honeybee) and Apis cerana (Japanese honeybee). The way of beekeeping of Japanese honeybee is not been investigated enough recently. In addition, regarding “care’ for animals, the previous studies did not deal with social insects such as honeybees. Through 2-years participant observation of two types of honeybees beekeeping, the author discovered the differences of the cause of “care” between Western honeybee and Japanese honeybee. The former is recognized as a species by beekeepers so that people underestimate the lives of each honeybees individual, whereas the latter attracts people, which encourages recreational beekeepers to take care of bees. These findings suggest how people could care for animals while exploiting them by showing alternative ways of care.
Capturing absconding and swarming bee colonies out of beehives
INTRODUCTION
African bee species abscond hives with the least provocation in addition to the normal reproduction swarming seasons of the year. This phenomenon leads to loss of bee colonies to the beekeeper , low bee products yield coupled with non-expansion of the beekeeping enterprise for income generation. Studies have been done to indicate that swarming or absconding bee colonies have characteristic sounds that they exhibit prior to their movement which falls within a range of wavelengths peaks of 500–600 Hz during swarming with the sound caused by the intense flitting of the wings To enable us reduce the effects of bee colony escapes, an innovation mechanism that will capture bee colonies at hive entrance is being adopted to monitor bee swarming and absconding activities
MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
The bee swarm trap is made up of queen excluder according to the bee species of your region. It is rectangular of dimension 30*20*15 cm with sliding mesh door attached. It also has electronic board set up with sound sensors and motors to trigger the shutting of the trap doors mechanism at the entrance of the hive like a balcony
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The frequencies of sounds in a beehive can be summarized as peaks of 25–150 Hz for activity at night time, peaks of 100/150–300 Hz at day time and peaks of 500–600 Hz during swarming.
Evaluation of the role of e-marketplace in improving business performance and competitiveness of traditional bee breeders in Indonesia
This research aims to increase the visibility of the role of e-commerce technology through the use of e-marketplace platform facilities for Indonesian traditional bee breeders in planning business strategies that can be implemented to improve their business performance and competitiveness in an efficient manner. This study uses a framework for the formulation according to Fred R. David, who explained that the way to determine business strategy is to do three stages, the first stage is data input stage by matrix EFE and IFE, the second stage is matching stage by matrix SWOT, Grand Strategy and IE, the last stage is decision stage by the matrix QSPM. The result of this research is to use featuress on local Indonesian e-marketplace platforms to conduct market development strategy. The conclusion of this study is to conduct market development strategy through two marketing channels (multichannel marketing), business to business (B2B) and business to customer (B2C).
Developing B-CHECK – a Sensor for American foulbrood
American foulbrood (AFB) is one of the most costly honey bee diseases in Australia. Caused by the bacterium, Paenibacillus larvae, AFB kills honey bee larvae and converts the cadaver to a foul smelling, spore-laden, glue-like mass. Early detection and intervention is critical to prevent the disease from spreading to nearby hives and apiaries. Although various diagnostic methods have been developed, AFB remains a significant problem for beekeepers. Diagnosis is often slow, generally requiring beekeepers to open hives and visually identify AFB symptoms. Previously, we investigated the volatile compounds associated with the notoriously foul smell of AFB, here we identified numerous compounds that are significantly elevated in – or exclusive to – AFB-diseased brood, compared to healthy brood (Bikaun et al. 2022). Using some of the highly specific biomarkers that could detect AFB in bee hive air reliable, we have now developed sensor surfaces that bind the AFB volatiles and return a signal. We have further developed an app that can read the sensors and is trained to detect a AFB infection in hive air. The goal of this work is to develop a practical and cost-effective tool that will de-risk high-density beekeeping through improved biosecurity. Acknowledgements: This research has been funded by CRC for Honey Bee Products, Y-Trace and AgriFutures Australia and supported by The University of Western Australia.
Modified Langstroth frames for use as vertically arranged multiple bee pest traps
As African beekeepers consider commercializing beekeeping through the use of Langstroth hives and the recycling of combs Small Hive Beetle (SHB) which is native to Sub- Saharan Africa and Beeswax moth infestation will be on the increase Most traps are not active by way of attracting and capturing bee pests and are either placed at the bottom and amongst frames top. As SHBs feeds on honey, pollen etc. there is the need to vertically place bee pest traps on frames to trap and capture the SHBs This innovation aims to capture bee pests in traps fixed horizontally and arranged vertically on the LF to actively attract and capture bee pests MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY The trap is a rectangular case of dimension 40*2*4 cm with a 3mm mesh bee excluder and porches in which liquid and solid bee pests’ attractants of honey, brood combs, pollen and fermented attractants (banana peel, vinegar, sugar, water) are placed in addition to sticky boards. A cut-out grooves on the internal sides of the frame ’legs’ allows for the hanging of the traps along the width of the frames. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The trap contents attracts the beetles and wax moth as they pass through the mesh but are stacked to the sticky board to reduce infestation
Combating the Varroa Mite Threat in Australia: Exploring Non-Chemical Control Strategies.
In response to the recent spread and establishment of the varroa mite in Australia, a significant threat to bee health and agriculture, our project has undertaken a comprehensive review of all current strategies for the monitoring, detection, and management of this pest. This comprehensive analysis not only scrutinizes established methods but also explores promising research techniques with potential applicability in the Australian context. Our investigation prioritizes non-chemical approaches, including biological, genetic, physical, and biochemical controls, in alignment with sustainable pest management principles. Our methodology involved an extensive search of databases over the last five years, reviewing more than 2,000 sources such as scientific papers, reports, fact sheets, website content, and grey literature. This rigorous research process has enabled us to collate and compare a diverse array of control strategies, tailored to meet the needs of various beekeeping practices, from recreational to commercial scale. This presentation aims to offer a detailed comparison of these methodologies, emphasizing their suitability and efficacy for different beekeeping demographics. We highlight the advantages and limitations of each strategy, providing evidence-based recommendations. Additionally, this study serves as a foundational step towards fostering the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies within the Australian beekeeping community, promoting resilience against varroa mite infestations and contributing to the sustainability of beekeeping and pollination services in Australia.
Gut microbes as probiotics to resist brood pathogens in honeybees
Several pathogenic diseases affect European honeybee (Apis mellifera) and contribute to a global decline in honeybee health. The use of antibiotics to address this issue is limited by the risk of resistance development, inefficiency against spores and fungal diseases. Therefore, developing effective methods for improving honeybee resistance to a broad spectrum of diseases is important. In our project, we aim to develop and implement probiotics as low-cost and chemical-free hive supplements to treat multiple honeybee brood diseases. Pathogenic agents and core gut bacteria were isolated from the gut of infected and healthy brood and adult bees. The probiotic potential of these resident gut bacteria was measured against a range of infectious agents under laboratory conditions, by conducting a series of bioassays on honeybee larvae throughout their development. Experimental infections were conducted with two highly pathogenic bacteria (Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood; and Melissococcus plutonius, the causative agent of European foulbrood), as well as a common fungal brood pathogen (Ascosphaera apis, the causative agent of Chalkbrood). In this talk, we will discuss the efficacy of using core gut bacteria as probiotics to increase honeybee resistance to multiple diseases. The project outcomes will directly contribute to the development of novel sustainable practices to improve the health of honeybee colonies.
Red Dwarf Honey Bee incursions in Australia
The red dwarf honey bee (RDHB), Apis florea Fabricius 1787, is native to southern Asia and parts of the Middle East. This social, open-nesting species typically builds a single, 25 – 35 cm vertical comb around a tree or shrub branch. Worker RDHB are easily distinguished from other honey bee species from their size and distinctive red-brown abdomen with black and white banding. However, their docile behaviour, small size, cryptic nesting, propensity to abscond and ability to thrive in various environmental conditions has led to their successful hitchhiking and invasion of new areas. In recent decades, RDHB has successfully invaded Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, East Africa, Taiwan, and the Middle East. Since 2020, there have been four known incursions of RDHB into Australia; the Brisbane (2020), Perth (2021) and Melbourne (2022) incursions were quickly detected and eradicated before they could establish. The most recent incursion was detected in March 2023 on Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, and is under active eradication, with 24 colonies being destroyed as of January 2024. RDHB poses a significant threat to Australia’s honey bee industry and environment through direct competition for resources and the introduction and spillover of RDHB-associated exotic pests and diseases. In addition, RDHB are reported to rob resources from European honey bee (Apis mellifera) nests and act aggressively towards them when foraging. The RDHB Burrup Peninsula emergency response is ongoing, however community surveillance and reporting will play an important role in containment and eradication.
Study on the Effect of Feed Additive “Fanfengling” on Honeybee Autumn Reproduction
Study on the Effect of Feed Additive “Fanfengling” on Honeybee Autumn Reproduction. Bee colony breeding in autumn is an important part of beekeeping technology, taking into account both the breeding of collecting bees and the cultivation of overwintering bees of the right age. The quantity and quality of bee reproduction in autumn determine the success or failure of the next spring reproduction. The quality of feed plays a vital role in the whole autumn propagation. As a kind of bee feed, feed additives ensure the nutrients needed for the growth and development of bees. “Fanfengling” as one of the nutritional feed additives, in order to investigate the application effect of the bee feed additive “Fanfengling”, “Fanfengling” was added to “Songdan No.1” bees during the breeding season in the autumn. The results showed that when bees were fed “Fanfengling”, the number of eggs and pupae increased by 24.07%, the net weight of bees increased by 50.6%, the pollen yield increased by 13.92%, the survival rate of bees overwintering increased by 27.22%, and the weight of overwintering bees increased by 36.81% compared with the control group, indicating that feeding the bee colony with “Fanfengling” can significantly improve bees’ reproduction, production and overwintering ability.
Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a kind of carbohydrate substance that is easily produced after heating and denaturation
It is a degradation product of specific sugars that can be found in honey and bee food. The toxicological effects of HMF on mammals have been widely reported, but few studies were performed to investigate effects of HMF on honey bees. To investigate whether HMF affects the cognitive ability of honey bees, the olfactory learning performances were assessed after sugar water containing 1500 ng/μL HMF was fed to worker bees in this study. In addition, the expression levels of five learning-related genes in the heads of honey bees were analyzed and compared by qRT-PCR. The results indicated that no significant difference in mortality were found between the treatment group (feeding 1500 ng/μL HMF) and the control group (feeding sugar water) through the 10-day period of feeding. Honey bees feeding 1500 ng/μL HMF exhibited a significant decrease in the rate of proboscis extension reflex (PER) compared with the control group, suggesting HMF exposure impaired the cognitive ability of honey bees. Besides, the expression levels of learning-related genes TpnC Ⅲa，OPN4，Obp 4 and PRKACB were significantly down-regulated in the treatment group compared with the control group. Conversely, the gene pkc was significantly up-regulated in the treatment group. Our studies provide first evidence that HMF exposure impaired the cognitive ability of honey bees and an imbalanced expression of learning-related genes was also observed in the heads of HMF-exposed bees.
Study on the Effect of Feed Additive “Fanfengling” on Honeybee Autumn Reproduction
Bee colony breeding in autumn is an important part of beekeeping technology, taking into account both the breeding of collecting bees and the cultivation of overwintering bees of the right age. The quantity and quality of bee reproduction in autumn determine the success or failure of the next spring reproduction. The quality of feed plays a vital role in the whole autumn propagation. As a kind of bee feed, feed additives ensure the nutrients needed for the growth and development of bees. “Fanfengling” as one of the nutritional feed additives, in order to investigate the application effect of the bee feed additive “Fanfengling”, “Fanfengling” was added to “Songdan No.1” bees during the breeding season in the autumn. The results showed that when bees were fed “Fanfengling”, the number of eggs and pupae increased by 24.07%, the net weight of bees increased by 50.6%, the pollen yield increased by 13.92%, the survival rate of bees overwintering increased by 27.22%, and the weight of overwintering bees increased by 36.81% compared with the control group, indicating that feeding the bee colony with “Fanfengling” can significantly improve bees’ reproduction, production and overwintering ability.
Effects of Different Nutritional Sources on Brood Rearing Capability of Nurse Bees
The nutritional needs of honey bees during different stages of their lives and labour shifts within the colony are not fully understood, particularly for nurse bees who play a critical role in brood rearing. Existing knowledge on bee nutrition has primarily focused on testing requirements in cages or on adult bees without brood comb. The nutritional needs of nurse bees differ significantly from foragers, as they must develop their hypopharyngeal gland and produce high-quality larval food during the first 10 days after emergence. The use of substitute feeds is common in the beekeeping industry, but the effectiveness and ideal composition of artificial pollen sources for brood rearing remain unclear. To address these knowledge gaps, we evaluated the physiological condition of nurse bees fed various supplementary diets in small feeding boxes. Our findings reveal significant differences in the effectiveness and utilization of different feeds, including variations in hypopharyngeal gland and fat body development, brood rearing, food consumption, and behavioural patterns related to feed management. Additionally, we performed molecular analyses such as amino acid of individual bees, to determine nutrient requirements. Our study emphasizes that formulating effective artificial bee feed goes beyond nutrient content and quantities. The distinct properties in pollen that contribute significantly to its efficiency in supporting optimal bee development and task performance are still unknown. Ongoing research aims to uncover these unique attributes that make pollen essential for honey bee well-being and colony productivity.
Almost Zero-Bee drowning two-in-one Hive feeder for both liquid (sugar solution) and (patty, honey-sugar paste) feeds
INTRODUCTION
Extra feeding of bees are needed during winter, prolong rainy and dry seasons, colony division and queen rearing activities. Feeds could either be in liquid or semi-solid and/or paste forms. Of the various forms of feeders for dispensing liquid feeds not much for the paste or semi-solid forms feeders have been developed This therefore calls for a technology to feed the bees internally and at a reasonable level to improve feeding efficiency and hence the development of the In- hive feeder for both solid (patty) and liquid feeds.
MATERIALS AND DESIGN METHODOLOGY
The feeder is made up of black plastic of 3mm thickness, having a top bar and either being rectangular or trapezium in shape. It has three chambers (top, mid- and bottom sections) of an open frame area to hold U-shaped channels filled with patty (top section), water cistern that holds water(mid-section) and the water receptacle (bottom sections) from which the bees draw water from a mesh which acts as series of ‘wells’ and hence reducing drowning. Water cistern and Water tray of dimension 40*16*2.5 and 40*2*52*5 respectively with a 1.5 cm gap between them to act as passage for the bees onto the platform of wells to draw water. U-channel is of dimension 36*2*2 cm
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The feeder enables the bees to feed comfortably and effectively for both semi-solid and liquid feeds
Challenges and prospects of precision beekeeping
The fast development of aerial and satellite imagery, GIS, information systems, electronics, data analytics, IoT, and AI has led to the emergence and rapid growth of the Precision Agriculture (PA). The PA is impressively being developed to optimize the ways we manage our agricultural resources. A narrative review scheme has been followed to figure out the global situation of the Precision Beekeeping (PB), and to determine its challenges and prospects. 47 peer review journal articles, 31 scientific conferences presentations and hundreds of online data have been surveyed and screened. The PB is an apiary management strategy based on the monitoring of individual bee colonies to minimize resource consumption and maximize the productivity of bees. The “precision beekeeping” and “precision apiculture” are commonly used interchangeably. Considering the amount of written materials available on the internet, it seems that the scientific research is behind the industry in developing and using the PB. The challenges are the difficulties in delivering such technologies to the beekeepers, the extra cost needed to acquire the PB tools. Moreover, there is still a research gap in how to inject the biological findings in the PB. However, the prospects are promising. The bee hive is expected to be monitored and managed remotely depending on the IoT. The traceability systems are expected to be impeded in the PB so the consumers can check the back pathway of the honey placed on the shelf.
Exploring the Nutritional Proficiency and Allergenic Risks of Bee Pollen: Implications for Dietary Supplementation and Product Development
Bee pollen is abundant in over 200 nutrients and bioactive compounds, making it an ideal natural dietary supplement. However, due to the fact that bee pollen is derived from plant pollen and contains a high concentration of protein, its allergens pose potential risks for susceptible individuals, thereby limiting the further development and utilization of bee pollen products. To address this common industrial issue regarding bee pollen allergenicity, we conducted a series of studies aimed at identifying bee pollen allergens and elucidating the mechanisms underlying desensitization. Five previously unidentified allergens in bee pollen were detected through the use of mass spectrometry, immunological and molecular biological methods. Based on these findings, we have developed a novel and effective desensitization method, namely complex enzymolysis, for bee pollen. This involves the use of pectinase and cellulase to break down the cell wall, thereby facilitating the release of intracellular nutrients and allergens. Subsequently, papain is employed to enzymatically degrade the allergens by destroying their linear epitopes. As a result, this approach not only desensitizes bee pollen but also enhances its bioavailability. Another desensitization method involves microbial fermentation, in which yeast and lactic acid bacteria are utilized to ferment bee pollen. This process increases the content of oligopeptides, amino acids, plant polyphenols and other nutritional active ingredients while significantly reducing its allergenicity. The aforementioned research not only facilitates the development of low-allergenic bee pollen products, but also establishes a theoretical foundation and technical support for the safety assessment and extensive application of bee pollen.
The Bee Industry Council of Western Australia is currently calling for abstract submissions. We urge you to contribute your high-quality research for a paper or poster presentation at the AAA conference. Your original and unpublished results of experimental, or innovative work in areas of interest covered by the AAA are essential to help shape the conference.
The Asian Apiculture Association focuses on the following scientific commissions: Bee biology, Bee pests and diseases, Bees and the environment, Melliferous flora pollination, Beekeeping management, Bee products and apitherapy, Bee protection and Bee breeding.
Abstract submissions close on 19th February 2024. The selection of papers and posters by the AAA committee will be finalised by the end of February 2024 and notification provided to successful applicants in the first week of March 2024.
Three selected Keynote speakers will be subsidised $1,000 towards their flights and $1200 for conference accommodation.
Abstract submission: The abstract can be up to 250 words providing a quick overview of your research. It should express your goal (or central idea), gaps in the current literature, and your key findings; it should also suggest any implications or applications of the research.
Abstract submissions are now closed.