Invasive ants carry novel viruses in their new range and form reservoirs for a honeybee pathogen

When exotic animal species invade new environments they also bring an often unknown microbial diversity, including pathogens. We describe a novel and widely distributed virus in one of the most globally widespread, abundant and damaging invasive ants (Argentine ants, Linepithema humile). The Linepithema humile virus 1 is a dicistrovirus, a viral family including species known to cause widespread arthropod disease. It was detected in samples from Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Argentine ants in New Zealand were also infected with a strain of Deformed wing virus common to local hymenopteran species, which is a major pathogen widely associated with honeybee mortality. Evidence for active replication of viral RNA was apparent for both viruses. Our results suggest co-introduction and exchange of pathogens within local hymenopteran communities. These viral species may contribute to the collapse of Argentine ant populations and offer new options for the control of a globally widespread invader.     

蜜蜂蜂王信息素研究进展

综述了蜂王信息素的化学组成、特性、作用 ,以及与幼虫信息相互关系的研究进展 ,对蜂王信息素在养蜂和植物授粉中的应用做了介绍。西方蜜蜂的蜂王上颚腺信息素 (queen’smandibularglandpheromone,QMP)。QMP包含了 5种成分 :(E) -9-氧 -2 -癸烯酸 ( 9 ODA)、(R ,E) ( ) 和 (S,E) ( +) 9 羟基 -2 -癸烯酸 ( -9 HDA和 +9 HDA)、甲基p -羟基安息香酸盐 (HOB)、4-羟基 -3 -甲氧苯乙醇 (也称香草醇 ,HVA) ,9 ODA是其中最重要的成分 ;QMP的组分与蜜蜂的进化程度有关 ,进化程度越高则组分越复杂 ;QMP通过抑制保幼激素的产生来调节青年工蜂的个体发育。     

Effect of triflumuron on brood development and colony survival of free-flying honeybee, Apis mellifera L.

Abstract:  The effect of the insect growth regulator (IGR) triflumuron (Alsystin^® 25 WP) on honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hym., Apidae), was studied in a semi-field test. Free-living colonies were fed one litre per hive of sucrose syrup containing 0, 0.025, 0.25 or 2.5 g of triflumuron. A significant reduction in flight activity was noted 6–10 weeks post-treatment at the two higher doses. These colonies reared less brood than before treatment. While the comb area occupied by uncapped brood was as high as [0.025 and 0.25 g active ingredient (a.i.)] or higher (2.5 g a.i.) than before treatment, there was a significant decline in capped brood at the two higher doses, indicating enhanced larval mortality. No capped brood was reared in the hive treated at the highest dose from 3–9 weeks post-treatment. Yet there was a significant accumulation of pollen and honey in the brood compartment at all doses. All colonies except the one treated at the highest dose survived the following winter. However, at 43 weeks post-treatment, hives treated at intermediate and low doses showed a significant increase in uncapped brood and a significant decrease in capped brood. This study revealed a strong residual toxicity of triflumuron to brood and substantiated its classification as hazardous to honeybee.     

空间诱变条件下蜜蜂后代的波动性不对称

利用航天搭载的雄蜂精液对处女王进行人工授精,产卵后大量培育后代蜂王;以SP1、SP2及SP3代蜂王后代工蜂为研究对象,考查波动性不对称(fluctuating asymmetry,FA)在不同代次种群中各对称性状间的表现情况。结果表明:SP1、SP2和SP3代工蜂的前翅长及肘脉a均表现出FA,SP1、SP2代的对照组中均未出现,而SP3代的对照组蜂群则全部表现出FA;与对照蜂群相比,空间诱变后代的前翅长及翅脉a的FA值均较高。此外,讨论FA在蜜蜂种群对生态环境适应性上应用以及利用蜜蜂的FA来监测环境污染的可能性及发展前景。     

农药对蜜蜂行为的影响

农药对蜜蜂的安全性评价包括在实验室以及更高层次的半大田和大田水平上的研究。蜜蜂行为是蜜蜂机体是否正常的直接表现,因此也是安全性评价的重要指标。文章概述农药对蜜蜂行为的影响,包括蜂王产卵行为,工蜂分工、采集行为、同群和外群工蜂辨别、学习行为和农药对蜜蜂的驱避性。     

蜜蜂花粉采集行为的调控机制

蜜蜂Apisspp.是一种社会性昆虫。社会性昆虫在对它们群体自身数量和巢穴环境的调节方面表现出明显的稳态特点,Emerson将这种稳态调节称为社会性稳态。蜂群中花粉的储存量就具有稳态的特点。蜂群的花粉采集行为是由蜂群对花粉的需要决定的。关于蜜蜂花粉采集行为的调控机制,目前的研究主要集中于是哪些信息以及蜂群是如何识别这些信息从而调控其采粉行为,主要形成了直接识别和间接识别2种假说。对这2种假说进行综述。     

The evolution of floral scent: the influence of olfactory learning by insect pollinators on the honest signalling of floral rewards

1.  The evolution of flowering plants has undoubtedly been influenced by a pollinator's ability to learn to associate floral signals with food. Here, we address the question of 'why' flowers produce scent by examining the ways in which olfactory learning by insect pollinators could influence how floral scent emission evolves in plant populations.
2.  Being provided with a floral scent signal allows pollinators to learn to be specific in their foraging habits, which could, in turn, produce a selective advantage for plants if sexual reproduction is limited by the income of compatible gametes. Learning studies with honeybees predict that pollinator-mediated selection for floral scent production should favour signals which are distinctive and exhibit low variation within species because these signals are learned faster. Social bees quickly learn to associate scent with the presence of nectar, and their ability to do this is generally faster and more reliable than their ability to learn visual cues.
3.  Pollinators rely on floral scent as a means of distinguishing honestly signalling flowers from deceptive ones. Furthermore, a pollinator's sensitivity to differences in nectar rewards can bias the way that it responds to floral scent. This mechanism may select for flowers that provide olfactory signals as an honest indicator of the presence of nectar or which select against the production of a detectable scent signal when no nectar is present.
4.  We expect that an important yet commonly overlooked function of floral scent is an improvement in short-term pollinator specificity which provides an advantage to both pollinator and plant over the use of a visual signal alone. This, in turn, impacts the evolution of plant mating systems via its influence on the species-specific patterns of floral visitation by pollinators.     

Monthly changes in various drone characteristics of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera syriaca

This study was conducted to investigate drone rearing activity and semen production of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera syriaca . Tendency of worker bees of both subspecies towards egg laying under semiarid conditions were also monitored in the experiments. Differences were not observed in drone brood production between both honeybee subspecies throughout the investigation. Worker bees of both subspecies needed a significantly shorter time to start egg laying during February and March in comparison with the time those workers needed for laying eggs during the remaining months of the study. Syrian bee workers started egg laying earlier than Italian bee workers. Drones from laying workers were much smaller and produced less sperms with more abnormalities than normal drones. Drones produced from queens in May were heavier and produced more sperms with less abnormalities than those produced during the other months. The drone brood rearing of both subspecies tended to follow the same general cycle in 2005 and 2006. The study suggests that virgin queens have a better chance to receive adequate viable sperm amounts from drones in April and May in semiarid Mediterranean conditions.     

意大利蜜蜂工蜂唾腺和中肠消化酶活性比较研究

对意大利蜜蜂 Apis mellifera ligustica L工蜂唾腺和中肠中淀粉酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶、果胶酶和海藻糖酶5种消化酶进行活性测定,发现巾肠的蛋门酶和蔗糖酶活性较唾腺高,有显著性差异;唾腺的果胶酶活性较中肠高,有显著性差异;唾腺与中肠的淀粉酶和海藻糖酶没有显著性差异.表明意大利蜜蜂工蜂对蔗糖和蛋白的消化主要由中肠分泌的消化酶来完成,唾腺起辅助作用;对果胶的消化主要在唾腺,中肠起辅助作用;而在淀粉和海藻糖的消化过程中唾腺和中肠都有很重要的作用.     

意蜂工蜂、雄蜂和蜂王的LDH和EST同工酶比较

用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的方法,对意蜂工蜂、雄蜂和蜂王以及两种不同大小幼虫之间的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和酯酶(EST)同工酶分别作了比较。结果表明,工蜂、雄蜂和蜂王之间LDH同工酶数目无差异,但活性上存在差异;而酯酶同工酶在幼虫阶段与成虫阶段及工蜂、雄蜂和蜂王之间则有着不同的同工酶谱型。说明意蜂同工酶在种内的表达受到发育程度、进食质量、分化方向等因素的影响。