Honeybee biology - why are bees important?
1/3 of what we ea is pollinated by bees
Base of the food chain
Neonicotinoids
Compared to organophosphates less toxic in birds and mammals but lethal for insects in minute quantities
What neonicotinoids is the UK set to ban?
Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam
Describe Basic Honeybee biology
What social system do bees have?
Eusociality: strict division between non-breeding workers and a breeding queen (accepted also due to sibling relatedness)
Mating & genes
MAle offspring only has mum genes
Female offspring have 2x as many chromosomes (Hapldiploidy) -> share most genes - very susceptible to spread of pathogens
Describe larval and pupal stages
What first task of a bee?
What INDOOR tasks?
Honey seeling
Honeycomb building (propolizing)
Pollen packing and Drone feeding
Queen attendants
Undertaker bees: removal of individuals that die
Fanning bees: thermoregulation
What OUTDOOR Tasks (expert bees) ?
Water carriers
Foraging bees (day 22-42)
What ways can pathogens be transmitted?
Horizontal -> Direct or Indirect
Vertical : from queen to larvae
Detail Direct spread
Detail Indirect spread
What Macroparasites damage combs and honey?
Describe small hive beetle
Describe the Wax Moth Macroparasite
How do we control these macroparasites that damage combs and honey ?
Coumaphos traps
Sulphur-
Acetic acid-based solutions
HEalthy bees attack insects, so if found can indicate weak colony and other dx
What MAcro parasites damage the health of colony?
describe Tracheal Mites
Prognosis for tracheal mite infestation?
Colony winter survival unlikely if >30% infection
Describe Varroa mites
Describe Nosema (Mcirosporidia) as Micro-fungal infection
Transmission, signs & detection of Nosema?
Treatment for Nosema?