7,702 research outputs found

    Are honey bees (apis mellifera L.) native to the British Isles?

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    Honey bee colony losses

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    Assessing the role of the research in the transition to organic farming by using the Actor Network Theory: lessons from two case studies in France and Bulgaria

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    This paper explores the potential of Actor Network Theory (ANT) in understanding how the process of interaction and translation between human and non-human actors contribute to the development, adoption and diffusion of science-based innovations linked to the transition to organic farming. The study relies on two case studies, the French Camargue case covering a range of technical and social innovations, and the case from Bulgaria focusing on the development of a technical and product innovation, i.e. a veterinary product for organic beekeeping. The paper shows the limitations of classical approaches in studying innovations since they underestimate the role of heterogeneous actors, their status, and how they interact with each other. We argue that focusing on actors’ interactions helps to better understand the so-called “uncertainties” and “turning points” in the innovation development, as well as to interpret them as natural elements. Moreover we argue that challenges to tackle should be problematized to increase the success of research programs. We also stress the importance of opinion leaders during the implementation and diffusion phase of the innovation

    Distribution and transmission of American foulbrood in honey bees

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    The distribution of Paenibacillus larvae spores, the causative agent of American foulbrood, was studied on three different levels in the honey bee system; the apiary level, the colony level and the individual honey bee level. The increased understanding of spore distribution has been used to give recommendations regarding sampling of adult honey bees. The vertical transmission of P. larvae spores through natural swarms has been described for the first time and artificial swarming as a method for control of American foulbrood have been evaluated. The results demonstrated that there is no practical difference in spore load between supers and brood chambers, and that the spore load in samples of adult honey bees on the different levels correspond to the clinical disease status of the colony. The study on individual bees showed that spores are unequally distributed among the bees and that as more bees get contaminated each positive bee also contains more spores. This may present a problem when sampling from colonies with low levels of clinical disease, although the study on colony and apiary level showed no false negatives. A model for calculating the number of bees that needs to be sampled to detect P. larvae in a composite sample of adult bees, given certain detection levels and proportions of positive honey bees in the sample, was developed The swarm study demonstrated vertical transmission of P. larvae spores. Furthermore, the artificial swarm study showed that single and double shaking are equally effective treatment methods, and that the original disease status is of little importance for the spore load decrease

    Areas of natural occurrence of melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811(Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

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    The bee Melipona scutellaris is considered the reared meliponine species with the largest distribution in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with records from the state of Rio Grande do Norte down to the state of Bahia. Considering the importance of this species in the generation of income for family agriculture and in the preservation of areas with natural vegetation, this study aimed at providing knowledge on the distribution of natural colonies of M. scutellaris in the state of Bahia. Literature information, interviews with stinglessbee beekeepers, and expeditions were conducted to confirm the natural occurrence of the species. A total of 102 municipalities showed records for M. scutellaris, whose occurrence was observed in areas ranging from sea level up to 1,200-meter height. The occurrence of this species in the state of Bahia is considered to be restricted to municipalities on the coastal area and the Chapada Diamantina with its rainforests. Geographic coordinates, elevation, climate and vegetation data were obtained, which allowed a map to be prepared for the area of occurrence in order to support conservation and management policies for the species
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