Feeding and Foraging Behaviors of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae).

Six studies were done on feeding and foraging behaviors of three species of subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), and R. virginicus (Banks) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). When presented with four equal wood blocks, C. formosanus did not forage randomly but concentrated on a few preferred blocks. When R. flavipes and C. formosanus were each placed in foraging arenas with linear, successive wood blocks, C. formosanus consumed a greater percentage dry mass of a wood block before moving to the next block (10.3%) than did R. flavipes (4.2%). Groups of C. formosanus were offered wood blocks that differed in initial moisture content. Wood feeding rate, number of workers, and number of soldiers were highest in the high moisture treatment. Large changes in wood moisture occurred and were affected by the presence of termites. Groups of termites from five colonies of C. formosanus were presented with wood blocks that had been previously damaged: (1) by nestmates, (2) by conspecifics from another colony, (3) by R. virginicus, and (4) no damage. Coptotermes formosanus preferred wood previously damaged by conspecifics, regardless of colony origin, over wood damaged by R. virginicus or undamaged wood. Additionally, they preferred wood damaged by R. virginicus over undamaged wood. Wood surface area (mm\sp2) exposed per unit feeding was higher for C. formosanus and R. flavipes than for R. virginicus. Wood surface area was sometimes reduced, rather than increased, as a result of feeding by R. virginicus. Groups of C. formosanus were dyed with 0%, 0.5% or 1% concentrations of the dye, Sudan Red 7B. Dyed termites had lower numbers of symbiotic protozoans, lower feeding rates, and lower survivorship than did non-dyed termites. These studies suggest that toxic baits for remedial control of termites should be placed at areas of strong foraging since termites are predisposed to stay at rewarding sites. Baits should be highly moist. Areas of structures with previous termite damage should be carefully monitored for reinfestation. These species may differ in their roles as wood decomposers. the popular termite marker, Sudan Red 7B, is not totally innocuous to C. formosanus

Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Implications for Honey Bee Health

Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) is a widespread RNA virus of honey bees that has been linked with colony losses. Here we describe the transmission, prevalence, and genetic traits of this virus, along with host transcriptional responses to infections. Further, we present RNAi-based strategies for limiting an important mechanism used by IAPV to subvert host defenses. Our study shows that IAPV is established as a persistent infection in honey bee populations, likely enabled by both horizontal and vertical transmission pathways. The phenotypic differences in pathology among different strains of IAPV found globally may be due to high levels of standing genetic variation. Microarray profiles of host responses to IAPV infection revealed that mitochondrial function is the most significantly affected biological process, suggesting that viral infection causes significant disturbance in energy-related host processes. The expression of genes involved in immune pathways in adult bees indicates that IAPV infection triggers active immune responses. The evidence that silencing an IAPV-encoded putative suppressor of RNAi reduces IAPV replication suggests a functional assignment for a particular genomic region of IAPV and closely related viruses from the Family Dicistroviridae, and indicates a novel therapeutic strategy for limiting multiple honey bee viruses simultaneously and reducing colony losses due to viral diseases. We believe that the knowledge and insights gained from this study will provide a new platform for continuing studies of the IAPV–host interactions and have positive implications for disease management that will lead to mitigation of escalating honey bee colony losses worldwide

Economic threshold for Varroa jacobsoni Oud. in the southeastern USA

This research was designed to determine economic thresholds for Varroa jacobsoni mites in mature overwintered colonies under conditions that encourage or discourage mite immigration. Congruent data from the present study and our earlier work suggest that a true late-season (August) economic threshold for mites in the southeastern USA lies within a range of mite populations of 3 172-4 261, ether roll mite levels of 15-38, and overnight bottom board insert mite levels of 59-187 in colonies with bee populations of 24 808-33 699. Overwintering colonies can benefit from an additional early-season (February) treatment. This benefit was realized in colonies which in February had the following average values: mite populations 7-97, ether roll 0.4-2.8, bottom board inserts 0.6-10.2 and bee populations 12 606-13 500. Continuous acaricide treatment never achieved colony bee populations or brood number significantly higher than in colonies treated more conservatively. There is evidence that minimizing mite immigration has the benefit of delaying the onset of economic thresholds. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Pari

DRONE PRODUCTION BY YOUNG VERSUS OLD WORKER HONEYBEES IN QUEENLESS COLONIES

International audienc

A scientific note on Apis mellifera brood attractiveness to Varroa destructor as affected by the chemotherapeutic history of the brood

(without abstract

Coordinated responses to honey bee decline in the USA

In response to successive years of high honey bee mortality, the United States Congress mandated the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase funding for research and education directed at reducing honey bee decline. The funding follows two administrative streams within USDA – one through the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and another through the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). ARS is funding an Areawide Project operated by the four ARS honey bee labs, and NIFA is funding through a competitive grant process a Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) operated by scientists and educators heavily represented by state colleges of agriculture. Each project – Areawide and CAP – is characterized as a consortium of investigators working in a coordinated manner to reduce institutional redundancy and optimize the discovery and delivery of sustainable bee management practices to client beekeepers