Due to the disappearance of about a third of the bee population in the world, research has been expanded in the last decade in the field of the bee industry, with the aim of finding out how to help the most important pollinator in the world to continue to carry out its work in pollinating the agricultural plants that produce food for humanity and animals. One of the latest studies discovered the reaction of the bees to the invasion of mites
A new study by an international team of researchers from University College London (UCL) in Great Britain, the Universities of Sassari and Torino in Italy and the Martin Luther Halle-Wittenberg University in Germany, published in the scientific journal Science Advances, showed that honey bee colonies respond to the infection of a parasite by increasing the social distance between bees young and old in order to prevent infection, just as we humans behaved in the face of the corona epidemic.
Additional new studies regarding bee behavior will be presented At the 'Bees and Pollen' conference On behalf of the pilot and beekeeper Zorik Lev, which will be held at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Honey Council at the Beit Dagan agricultural colony in December 2021. The conference will be attended by researchers and experts and professional discussions and lectures will be held on the critical topic of preserving the bee industry and bee pollination activities.
Due to the disappearance of about a third of the bee population in the world, research has been expanded in the last decade in the field of the bee industry, with the aim of finding out how to help the most important pollinator in the world to continue to carry out its work in pollinating the agricultural plants that produce food for humanity and animals.
The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Michelina Posado (University of Sassari) said: "The observed increase in social distance between the two groups of bees, in the same colony (hive) infected with the parasite, represents a new and in some ways surprising aspect of how honey bees have evolved to fight pathogens and parasites. The ability of honeybees to adjust the social structure and reduce contact between individuals as a response to the threat of disease, allows them to maximize the benefits of social interactions when possible and minimize the risk of infectious diseases when necessary. Honey bee colonies provide an ideal model for studying social distancing and fully understanding the value and effectiveness of this behavior."
The new study examined whether the presence of the 'varroa mite' parasite in honey bee colonies causes changes in the social organization that may reduce its spread in the hive.
The honey bee colonies are organized into two main cells, bees that take care of the external affairs and honey bees that take care of the hive inside. In the outer array are the forager bees, which collect the nectar and pollen. The inner cell is inhabited by bees that serve as nurses, who take care of the queen's demands and the brood. The spatial separation within the colony (hive) leads to a lower frequency of interactions between the two cells than those within each cell and allows to protect the most valuable individuals (queen, young bees and brood) from the external environment that may introduce diseases. By comparing colonies where the parasite was not found, and those where the parasite was found, the researchers found that one of the behaviors- A foraging dance, while one bee rubs against the other, which may increase the transfer of the mite between the bees, occurred less frequently in central parts of the hives where the acari was found.
The researchers claim that in response to the infection, the honey bees, the honey bees, the hoarders (adult bees) move towards the periphery of the nest, while the crafters (young bees) move towards its center To increase the distance between the two groups and prevent infection.
Dr. Alessandro Chini (UCL), from the authors of the study, said: "The study shows that honey bees change their social interactions and the way they move around the hive in response to a common parasite. Honeybees are social animals that share responsibilities and interact like mutual grooming. When these social activities can increase the risk of infection, it seems that the honey bees have developed an array of risk balance and give up the benefits of the group by adopting social distancing."
Ofi Reich, CEO of the Honey Council Says: "The honey bee's senses and abilities continue to amaze researchers around the world. This important study explains the high ability of the bees to protect themselves from threats that could harm their health, while engaging in sophisticated social behavior." Reich further adds: "There is utmost importance for the expansion of research in Israel and in the world in the field of honey bees They pollinate about 80% of agricultural crops. I expect that the results of the research will lead to finding ways to better deal with the alarming phenomenon of their disappearance, which is caused, among other things, by real threats of the climate crisis, global warming and accelerated urbanization. These changes lead to a shortage of nectar and pollen from which the bees feed, weaken the hives and in the process seriously harm their ability to continue serving as pollinators of the multitude of wild and agricultural plants."
According to the data of the Honey Council- about- 600 Beekeepers cultivate in Israel 120,000 Beehives scattered in secret grazing points throughout the country. The honey bee contributes in Israel to the agricultural product as3 billion shekels a year through the pollination of agricultural crops, and their contribution to the entire world is outstanding Hundreds billions of dollars.
Thesaid published in the scientific journal Science Advances
More of the topic in Hayadan:
