意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera ligustica)与中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana ceraca)的生态位比较

为了明确中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂在皖南山区生态适应性,研究两种蜜蜂的食物生态位、时间生态位和空间生态位及其差异,结果是中蜂与意蜂食物(蜜源植物)资源生态位宽度分别是 0.923、0.765,中蜂对蜜源植物采集喜好性差异小,而意蜂差异大,中蜂对意蜂生态位重迭为0.160,中蜂对意蜂生态位相似性为0.755;油菜花期,中蜂与意蜂时间资源生态位宽度分别是0.879、0.801,枇杷花期,分别是0.760、0.677,中蜂与意蜂的空间资源生态位宽度分别是0.797、0.670.中蜂3种生态位宽度均大于意蜂,中蜂三维生态位值是意蜂的1.61倍和1.57倍.表明中蜂在皖南山区生态适应性比意蜂强.     

Comparing Reversal-Learning Abilities,Sucrose Responsiveness,and Foraging Experience Between Scout and Non-Scout Honey bee (Apis mellifera) Foragers

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies divide foraging activities between scouts, who search for new sources of food, and non-scouts, who rely on information from waggle dances to find food sources. Molecular analyses of scouts and non-scouts have revealed differences in the expression of numerous genes, including several related to neurotransmitter signaling. Despite this progress, we know almost nothing about cognitive, sensory, or behavioral differences that underlie scouting. We tested three hypotheses related to differences between scouts and non-scouts. First, we tested whether scouts and non-scouts differ in their reversal-learning abilities and found that scouts showed a significantly faster reversal in their response to an odor that was punished and then rewarded. The results also suggested an interaction between the effects of foraging role (scout or non-scout) and seasonal effects on reversal-learning abilities. Second, we tested whether scouts and non-scouts show differences in responsiveness to sucrose rewards and found no difference. Third, we hypothesized that scouts have more foraging experience than do non-scouts. We tested this by comparing wing damage and found that non-scouts showed greater wing damage in the early summer but not the late summer. Together, these three results contribute to our understanding of the underpinnings of scouting behavior.     

中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂蜂毒前溶血肽原蛋白cDNA的克隆与序列分析

分别从中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana和意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera工蜂毒腺中抽提总RNA,通过RT-PCR方法扩增,各得到了蜂毒前溶血肽原蛋白的cDNA,再将扩增产物克隆到pGEM-Teasy载体上,进行测序和序列分析。结果表明,所扩增到的这两个片段长度均为213 bp,均为编码蜂毒前溶血肽原的cDNA,并分别推导出两者所编码的氨基酸序列。经序列比较,中华蜜蜂前溶血肽原与意大利蜜蜂、印度蜜蜂Apis cerana indica前溶血肽原的同源性都为97%。所报道的中华蜜蜂蜂毒前溶血肽原的核苷酸序列的GenBank登录号为AF487907。     

Comparison of learning and memory of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera

The honeybee is an excellent model organism for research on learning and memory among invertebrates. Learning and memory in honeybees has intrigued neuroscientists and entomologists in the last few decades, but attention has focused almost solely on the Western honeybee, Apis mellifera. In contrast, there have been few studies on learning and memory in the Eastern honeybee, Apis cerana. Here we report comparative behavioral data of color and grating learning and memory for A. cerana and A. mellifera in China, gathered using a Y-maze apparatus. We show for the first time that the learning and memory performance of A. cerana is significantly better on both color and grating patterns than that of A. mellifera. This study provides the first evidence of a learning and memory difference between A. cerana and A. mellifera under controlled conditions, and it is an important basis for the further study of the mechanism of learning and memory in honeybees.     

Viral Infection Affects Sucrose Responsiveness and Homing Ability of Forager Honey Bees,Apis mellifera L.

Honey bee health is mainly affected by Varroa destructor, viruses, Nosema spp., pesticide residues and poor nutrition. Interactions between these proposed factors may be responsible for the colony losses reported worldwide in recent years. In the present study, the effects of a honey bee virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), on the foraging behaviors and homing ability of European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were investigated based on proboscis extension response (PER) assays and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The pollen forager honey bees originated from colonies that had no detectable level of honey bee viruses and were manually inoculated with IAPV to induce the viral infection. The results showed that IAPV-inoculated honey bees were more responsive to low sucrose solutions compared to that of non-infected foragers. After two days of infection, around 10⁷ copies of IAPV were detected in the heads of these honey bees. The homing ability of IAPV-infected foragers was depressed significantly in comparison to the homing ability of uninfected foragers. The data provided evidence that IAPV infection in the heads may enable the virus to disorder foraging roles of honey bees and to interfere with brain functions that are responsible for learning, navigation, and orientation in the honey bees, thus, making honey bees have a lower response threshold to sucrose and lose their way back to the hive.     

中蜂与意蜂无王群培育非自身蜂种蜂子及改造王台特性

以中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂为试验材料,通过组织相应无王群,把一蜂种无王群中的子脾加入到另一蜂种无王群中,进行中蜂和意蜂无王群培育非自身蜂种蜂子和改造王台特性研究,当未培育出蜂王时,分别从原有王群中调入子脾进行第2、第3期试验。结果表明:中蜂无王群中的工蜂会清除引入意蜂子脾中的蜂卵,但随着引入意蜂子脾封盖子羽化出房的意蜂幼蜂数量增加而逐渐接受意蜂幼虫,蜂群未改造意蜂王台,只培育出中蜂蜂王;意蜂无王群中的工蜂会随着引入中蜂子脾中羽化出房的中蜂幼蜂数量增加而逐渐接受中蜂卵及幼虫,并从第2期试验开始会改造中蜂王台,但最终只培育出意蜂蜂王。     

西方蜜蜂对东方蜜蜂采集行为及食物资源利用的影响

【目的】在云南省腾冲市界头镇油菜花期,比较西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera L.不同放蜂密度下东方蜜蜂Apis cerana F.采集行为和对食物资源利用的变化,以期从食物资源竞争的角度为合理保护我国本土蜂种和维持植物群落结构及其稳定性提供科学依据。【方法】以界头镇为研究区域,在油菜花期根据西方蜜蜂的蜂场分布、蜂群数量及放蜂密度,确定了三个样点两种生境,观察西方蜜蜂不同放蜂密度下对东方蜜蜂的采集行为、访花频率、单花采集停留时间及粉源植物利用的影响。【结果】在农田生境中,西方蜜蜂放蜂密度最大的沙坝地试验点东方蜜蜂的访花频率最高(14.93朵/min),单花采集停留时间最短(1.96 s/朵),采集油菜花粉的数量比例最低(37%),采集花粉的种类最多(11种植物),与放蜂密度最小的新庄试验点相比,上述指标差异均显著。在山林生境中,西方蜜蜂放蜂密度最小的新庄试验点,东方蜜蜂的访花频率最低(8.48朵/min),单花采集停留时间最长(4.55 s/朵),采集油菜花粉的数量比例最高(33%),采集花粉的种类最少(8种植物),与放蜂密度最大的沙坝地试验点相比,上述指标差异均显著。【结论】在两种生境下,西方蜜蜂放蜂密度对东方蜜蜂采集行为和粉源植物利用均有显著影响,西方蜜蜂放蜂密度越大,东方蜜蜂对大宗蜜源植物(油菜)花粉的采集量越少,其采集区域由农田向山林转移的趋势越明显。     

温度对中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂个体主要抗寒生理指标的影响

【目的】为了探究中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana和意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica个体耐寒性差异的生理机制。【方法】本试验分别对20日龄的中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂工蜂进行0、10、25℃持续4 h的温度处理,随后测定不同温度处理后两蜂种体内葡萄糖、甘油和氨基酸的含量。【结果】低温状态下中华蜜蜂体内葡萄糖含量显著降低,意大利蜜蜂在0℃组显著下降却在10℃组显著上升;中华蜜蜂体内甘油在低温环境下显著积累,意大利蜜蜂体内甘油水平在10℃时显著的上调却在0℃组无显著变化;中华蜜蜂体内17种氨基酸在各温度处理间显著变化,且多数的氨基酸含量表现出10℃组降低而0℃组积累的趋势,意大利蜜蜂体内只有15种氨基酸参与机体的抗寒机制,其中多数的氨基酸表现为低温环境下大量积累,仅有亮氨酸和精氨酸表现为低温时被转化消耗的现象。【结论】低温条件下可引起两蜂种体内葡萄糖、甘油和氨基酸含量的显著变化,初步推测蜜蜂体内可能存在"葡萄糖-甘油-氨基酸"的抗寒物质系统,但两蜂种在不同程度的低温处理后各生理指标的变化存在较大的差异,从一定程度上阐释两蜂种抗寒性的差异。本研究为蜜蜂个体抗寒生理机制的进一步研究提供基础数据,同时为蜜蜂抗寒新品系的选育提供理论依据。     

中华蜜蜂与意大利蜜蜂蜂王体表信息素含量比较

【目的】分析中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana与意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica蜂王不同时期的体表信息素含量变化,探索两蜂种之间蜂王交尾干扰机理。【方法】本试验通过GC-MS检测并分析了中华蜜蜂蜂王和意大利蜜蜂蜂王刚出房、性成熟时期以及婚飞过程中体表信息素含量变化。【结果】研究结果表明:中华蜜蜂性成熟蜂王在飞行过程中,其体表9-ODA含量显著高于刚出房蜂王,9-HDA显著高于刚出房蜂王和性成熟蜂王;意大利蜜蜂飞行蜂王在9-ODA含量也显著高于刚出房蜂王。另外,意大利蜜蜂性成熟期蜂王在9-ODA、9-HDA、10-HDA含量显著高于中华蜜蜂蜂王,而两蜂种蜂王体表信息素在婚飞时期差异不显著。【结论】同种蜂王不同发育时期,其体表信息素含量存在差异;中华蜜蜂蜂王与意大利蜂王在婚飞过程中,其体表信息素差异不显著,但部分体表信息素在性成熟而未进行婚飞时差异显著。     

意大利蜜蜂和中华蜜蜂为蓝莓授粉的行为比较研究

应用意大利蜜蜂和中华蜜蜂为蓝莓授粉,对其授粉行为和活动方式进行了比较研究。结果表明:(1)采集过程中意蜂和中蜂的行为存在差异,意蜂头部探进铃铛花,将喙伸入花管中吸食花蜜,头部粘附花粉,花粉一部分被收集到花粉框,另一部分被带到其他花上;中蜂采集行为不同,一部分采集蜂探入铃铛花采食,采集时间短暂,另一部分采集蜂停靠在花托部位,采食花瓣掉落的花朵,不易粘附花粉和携带花粉。(2)授粉活动方式不同,意大利蜜蜂每分钟平均访花数为5.05±0.14次,中华蜜蜂为4.77±0.13次,两者差异不显著;而意蜂单次访花时间为9.16±0.43 s极显著长于中蜂的4.89±0.22 s,意蜂较中蜂在花朵的采集时间长,采集间隔时间短,而中蜂较意蜂寻找花朵的时间长,采集间隔时间长。单位面积意蜂采集蜂数量为平均12.00±0.90头,中蜂采集蜂数量平均为1.73±0.42头,两者差异极显著。同时意蜂蓝莓花粉携粉率27.51%,中蜂采集蓝莓花粉携粉率为11.38%,意蜂的授粉蜂数量及授粉专一性优于中蜂。本研究阐明了蓝莓花期不同蜂种的授粉行为及活动方式,据此得出意蜂为蓝莓授粉的行为和活动特性优越于中蜂,两者相比意蜂具有更高的授粉效率。     

Differential hygienic behavior of Apis cerana F. and Apis mellifera L. to Sacbrood virus infection

Beekeeping with Apis cerana of Korean apiculture is facing with serious colony collapse caused by invasive Sacbrood virus (SBV) disease. This fatal brood disease was the main reason of more than 90% colony lost in Korea leading almost the extinct crisis. Sacbrood virus can infect either larvae or adult honeybees, with a higher sensibility of larvae to the infection. Since SBV has spread to all over the country, efforts have been made to treat and prevent this devastating disease although no effective results have so far been obtained. Several studies have demonstrated that Apis mellifera bee colonies that express an efficient hygienic behavior exhibit a higher resistance to the brood disease. In this study we demonstrated that the differences of hygienic behavior between A. cerana and A. mellifera. A. cerana more efficiently removed the pin-killed brood than A. mellifera. On the other hand, A. mellifera more efficiently removed SBV-infected larvae and SBV-dead brood than A. cerana. However, it remains unclear whether the advantage of hygienic bee could have efficacy against Sacbrood disease on A. cerana colonies.     

Occurrence and prevalence of seven bee viruses in Apis mellifera and Apis cerana apiaries in China

Populations of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana in China were surveyed for seven bee viruses: acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), deformed wing virus (DWV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), sacbrood virus (SBV), and Isreal acute paralysis virus (IAPV). No KBV was detected from any samples of the two species. In A. mellifera, DWV was the most prevalent virus, but in A. cerana, SBV was the dominant. Simultaneous multiple infections of viruses were common in both species. This is the first report of detection of IAPV and CBPV in A. cerana.     

The Bacterial Communities Associated with Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Foragers

The honey bee is a key pollinator species in decline worldwide. As part of a commercial operation, bee colonies are exposed to a variety of agricultural ecosystems throughout the year and a multitude of environmental variables that may affect the microbial balance of individuals and the hive. While many recent studies support the idea of a core microbiota in guts of younger in-hive bees, it is unknown whether this core is present in forager bees or the pollen they carry back to the hive. Additionally, several studies hypothesize that the foregut (crop), a key interface between the pollination environment and hive food stores, contains a set of 13 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that inoculate collected pollen and act in synergy to preserve pollen stores. Here, we used a combination of 454 based 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the microbial communities of forager guts, crops, and corbicular pollen and crop plate counts to show that (1) despite a very different diet, forager guts contain a core microbiota similar to that found in younger bees, (2) corbicular pollen contains a diverse community dominated by hive-specific, environmental or phyllosphere bacteria that are not prevalent in the gut or crop, and (3) the 13 LAB found in culture-based studies are not specific to the crop but are a small subset of midgut or hindgut specific bacteria identified in many recent 454 amplicon-based studies. The crop is dominated by Lactobacillus kunkeei, and Alpha 2.2 (Acetobacteraceae), highly osmotolerant and acid resistant bacteria found in stored pollen and honey. Crop taxa at low abundance include core hindgut bacteria in transit to their primary niche, and potential pathogens or food spoilage organisms seemingly vectored from the pollination environment. We conclude that the crop microbial environment is influenced by worker task, and may function in both decontamination and inoculation.     

Open-air-nesting honey bees Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa differ from the cavity-nesting Apis mellifera and Apis cerana in brood hygiene behaviour

The cavity-nesting Apis mellifera and Apis cerana bees detect, uncap, and remove diseased brood. The hygiene behaviour of open-air-nesting bees Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa was investigated in India and Nepal. Sealed A. dorsata pupae were pin-killed or deep-frozen. The workers removed 73 or 37% of damaged pin-killed pupae depending on the diameter of the pins, and only 7% of the frozen undamaged pupae. Migrating A. dorsata and A. laboriosa left unopened the sealed brood in deserted combs. Thus, A. dorsata and A. laboriosa do not open undamaged cells with dead brood. This behaviour is a more efficient mechanism in preventing the spread of diseases and parasitic mites than uncapping and removing dead pupae by A. mellifera and A. cerana. It may be beneficial for migrating A. dorsata and A. laboriosa to temporarily disuse part of the comb cells in exchange for arresting the mites there and thus reducing the increase of their population.     

Inhibiting DNA methylation alters olfactory extinction but not acquisition learning in Apis cerana and Apis mellifera

DNA methylation plays a key role in invertebrate acquisition and extinction memory. Honey bees have excellent olfactory learning, but the role of DNA methylation in memory formation has, to date, only been studied in Apis mellifera. We inhibited DNA methylation by inhibiting DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) with zebularine (zeb) and studied the resulting effects upon olfactory acquisition and extinction memory in two honey bee species, Apis cerana and A. mellifera. We used the proboscis extension reflex (PER) assay to measure memory. We provide the first demonstration that DNA methylation is also important in the olfactory extinction learning of A. cerana. DNMT did not reduce acquisition learning in either species. However, zeb bidirectionally and differentially altered extinction learning in both species. In particular, zeb provided 1 h before acquisition learning improved extinction memory retention in A. mellifera, but reduced extinction memory retention in A. cerana. The reasons for these differences are unclear, but provide a basis for future studies to explore species-specific differences in the effects of methylation on memory formation.     

东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂对红阳猕猴桃雌花挥发性气味响应的差异

【目的】植物的挥发性气味对传粉者的选择具有重要的影响,为探究红阳猕猴桃Actinidia chinensis ‘Hongyang’雌花的挥发性气味对东方蜜蜂Apis cerana和西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera行为反应的差异。【方法】利用顶空固相微萃取与气质联用技术（Headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,HS-SPME-GC-MS）鉴定红阳猕猴桃雌花挥发性物质成分及相对含量,并通过气相色谱-触角电位联用测量系统（GC-EAD）和Y型嗅觉仪测定东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂对红阳猕猴桃雌花气味的触角电位和行为反应。【结果】GC-MS结果表明,红阳猕猴桃雌花挥发性气味含有33种成分,包括醇类、酯类、酮类、烃类、萜烯类、醛类、胺类和盐类。GC-EAD结果表明,红阳猕猴桃雌花挥发性物质中7种化合物芳樟醇、壬醛、苯乙醇、2,6,6-三甲基-2-环己烯-1,4-二酮、苯甲酸乙酯、水杨酸甲酯和顺式-3-己烯醇2-甲基丁酸酯能够引起东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂的触角反应,而3种化合物乙酸叶醇酯、水杨酸乙酯和β-紫罗酮只引起东方蜜蜂的触角反应。嗅觉行为反应结果表明,红阳猕猴桃雌花的气味对东方蜜蜂具有引诱作用（P> 0.05）,引诱率为60%;对西方蜜蜂具有驱避作用（P <0.01）,驱避率是67.5%。【结论】东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂对红阳猕猴桃雌花挥发性气味的响应存在显著差异,东方蜜蜂对红阳猕猴桃雌花的气味无明显趋性,而西方蜜蜂对红阳猕猴桃雌花的气味具有明显驱避。因此,为红阳猕猴桃授粉时,东方蜜蜂相对于西方蜜蜂更理想。     

Western Honeybee Drones and Workers (Apis mellifera ligustica) Have Different Olfactory Mechanisms than Eastern Honeybees (Apis cerana cerana)

The honeybees Apis mellifera ligustica (Aml) and Apis cerana cerana (Acc) are two different western and eastern bee species that evolved in distinct ecologies and developed specific antennal olfactory systems for their survival. Knowledge of how their antennal olfactory systems function in regards to the success of each respective bee species is scarce. We compared the antennal morphology and proteome between respective sexually mature drones and foraging workers of both species using a scanning electron microscope, two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Despite the general similarities in antennal morphology of the drone and worker bees between the two species, a total of 106 and 100 proteins altered their expression in the drones' and the workers' antennae, respectively. This suggests that the differences in the olfactory function of each respective bee are supported by the change of their proteome. Of the 106 proteins that altered their expression in the drones, 72 (68%) and 34 (32%) were overexpressed in the drones of Aml and Acc, respectively. The antennae of the Aml drones were built up by the highly expressed proteins that were involved in carbohydrate metabolism and energy production, molecular transporters, antioxidation, and fatty acid metabolism in contrast to the Acc drones. This is believed to enhance the antennal olfactory functions of the Aml drones as compared to the Acc drones during their mating flight. Likewise, of the 100 proteins with expression changes between the worker bees of the two species, 67% were expressed in higher levels in the antennae of Aml worker contrasting to 33% in the Acc worker. The overall higher expressions of proteins related to carbohydrate metabolism and energy production, molecular transporters, and antioxidation in the Aml workers compared with the Acc workers indicate the Aml workers require more antennal proteins for their olfactory mechanisms to perform efficient foraging activities than do the Acc worker bees. These data decipher the mechanisms of the western and eastern drone and worker bees acting in response to their different olfactory system in their distinct ecosystem.     

云南中华蜜蜂与意大利蜜蜂的蜂蜜孢粉学和营养生态位

2010-2011年分别在云南昆明和蒙自地区采集中华蜜蜂与意大利蜜蜂的蜂蜜样品,进行蜂蜜孢粉学与营养生态位分析.结果表明:中华蜜蜂蜂蜜绝对花粉浓度为1.55万个·g-1,显著高于意大利蜜蜂(1.01万个·g-1).中华蜜蜂采集的蜜源植物种类为12.9个,显著多于意大利蜜蜂(7.7个).说明意大利蜜蜂对蜜源植物的选择性更强,中华蜜蜂则能利用更多的蜜源植物资源.中华蜜蜂的营养生态位宽度为0.35,显著大于意大利蜜蜂(0.23).中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂之间的营养生态位重叠度为0.71,种间竞争系数为0.93,表明2种蜜蜂对食物资源的竞争激烈.