SOLATINA: a Latin-American Bee Research Association to foster the interactions between scientists and coordinate large-scale research programs

Bees (members of the super family Apoidea) are the main pollinators in modern agro-ecosystems, where they have a critical positive effect on yield improvement for about 75% of world's crops (Klein et al., 2007; Potts et al., 2016). However, there is evidence of a worldwide decline in the populations of wild bees, and numerous reports of high colony losses of managed bees, which may disrupt crop pollination, honey production and the reproduction of bee-pollinated wild plants (Potts et al., 2010), leading to negative social, economic and ecological effects (Potts et al., 2016). Latin America (hereafter, LA) is home to about 8 million managed honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) which produce more than 200000 tons of honey annually (FAOSTAT, 2018). Several Latin American countries are among the global top 20 in terms of honey production and beehives stock, such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico (García, 2018; Requier et al., 2018). Moreover, LA hosts a unique fauna of native bees, with about 5,000 identified species, including 391 species of the native stingless bees in the tribu Meliponini (Camargo & Pedro, 2008; Freitas et al., 2009). Some of those native stingless bees are managed since ancient times to produce honey through the practice of “Meliponiculture” (Jaffé et al., 2015). Latin American bee research has contributed to improve our understanding of problems relevant for apiculture, bee diversity and the causes of bee population decline in the region among other topics (see e.g., Maggi et al., 2016; Morales, Arbetman, Cameron, & Aizen, 2013; Vandame & Palacio, 2010). These scientific achievements are mostly the result of research efforts led by groups working independently rather than the product of cooperative research efforts between different countries. We argue that the strength, impact, and relevance of these research efforts, for apiculture and bees in the region, can be improved by promoting interactions between Latin American bee scientists and coordinating large-scale research programs.Fil: Antúnez, Karina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; UruguayFil: Requier, Fabrice. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro; ArgentinaFil: Aldea Sánchez, Patricia. Universidad Mayor; ChileFil: Basualdo, Marina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Branchiccella, Belén. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; UruguayFil: Calderón, Rafael. Universidad Nacional; Costa RicaFil: Correa Benítez, Adriana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Delgado Cañedo, Andres. Universidade Federal do Pampa; BrasilFil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Morales, Carolina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Castro, Eleazar. Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú; PerúFil: Plischuk, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Porrini, Martín Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Segui Goncalves, Lionel. Universidad Federal Rural do Semiarido; BrasilFil: Tapia González, José María. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Torres, Alejandra. Universidad de Pamplona; ColombiaFil: Velarde, Rodrigo. Instituto Apícola Boliviano; BoliviaFil: Invernizzi, Ciro. Universidad de la República; Urugua

First large-scale study reveals important losses of managed honey bee and stingless bee colonies in Latin America

International audienceOver 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