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Subject:	Notes from ABRC
From:	Peter Loring Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:	Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:	Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:56:14 +0000
Content-Type:	text/plain
Parts/Attachments:	text/plain (1 lines)

Here are my notes from the American Bee Research Conference. I was intending to shine them up a bit but decided instead to send them out as is. I can answer questions about specific topics in more detail

Monday

Christina Grozinger and Kate Aronstein

Nosema effect on metabolism. Multiple strains?

Marla Spivak

Raises the question as to whether Nosema is really a serious issue.

Judy Chen

Varroa activation of virus, specifically IAPV. (unclear whether virus, etc is causative or symptomatic)

Tuesday

Karl Crailsheim

Nutrition and health in honey bees. Adequate nutrition supports the development of healthy honey bee colonies. (1) colony nutrition with the possibility of supplementation of carbohydrates and proteins; (2) adult nutrition and (3) larval nutrition. Larvae are especially dependent on protein and brood production is strongly affected by shortages of this nutrient. The number of larvae reared may be reduced to maintain the quality of remaining offspring. The quality of developing workers also suffers under conditions of larval starvation

Wanyi Zhu

A stage-structured model of honey bee colony population dynamics assessing impacts of pesticides and other stressors. Using computer model, the most critical variable is precocious foraging, causes rapid colony collapse. Even much longer brood survival will not offset this effect.

Christina Grozinger

Genomics analysis of social immunity in honey bees. With the sequencing of the bee genome, it has become apparent that bees have fewer immune genes than solitary insects (Evans et al. 2006) , suggesting that they use modified behavioral responses to control diseases and pests. We seek to characterize another behavioral response: modulation of chemical communication between diseased workers and queens and their nestmates. Referred to Zach Huang's review of nosema at eXtension.org

Leonard J. Foster

Translating the meaning of the bee genome: protein expression profiling across castes and tissues reveals the mechanisms that distinguish workers, queens and drones. Vastly lower immune expression in drones (does this couple with drone attractiveness?)

Humberto Boncristiani,

Immune gene expression in response to Varroa in honey bee workers. Varroa causes cognitive impairment and downregulates immune response to any challenge

Scott Cornman

Genomic studies of Varroa destructor, a major pest of the honey bee Apis mellifera. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor has emerged as the primary pest of domestic honey bees (Apis mellifera ). Here we present an initial survey of the V. destructor genome carried out to advance our understanding of Varroa biology and to identify new avenues for mite control. This sequence survey provides immediate resources for molecular and population-genetic analyses of Varroa -Apis interactions and defines the challenges ahead for a comprehensive Varroa genome project.

Keith Delaplane

A test for sub-lethal effects of some commonly used bee hive chemicals, final report.

No negative effect seen for various in-hive chemicals.

Wednesday

Karl Crailsheim

The Economy of a Honeybee Colony. Bees can regulate energy consumption by varying speed; maximum flight on empty stomach, 3 km. They adjust energy provisioning prior to departure. Older bees cannot digest raw pollen, hence presence of undigested pollen in the gut of older bees. Bees not vegetarian, as they eat eggs, and young larvae when necessary.

Kate Aronstein

ELISA technique for detection of Nosema spores. Review of dipstick test using nosema antibodies. Rabbit anti-nosema antobody. Explained ELISA and its use with nosema.

Zachary Huang

Mixed infection of Nosema A & C are much worse than either alone. Nosema ceranae did not show strong negative effects, similar to control.

Juliana Rangel

The effects of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen reproductive potential on colony growth. Studied queen quality. Supersedure rates not correlated to quality.

Harlan Patch

Honey bee health in east Africa. Described severe decline in bees. Not connected with varroa, but correlated with virus and elevation.

Benjamin Dainat

Dead or alive? Pathogens and life span of winter honeybees. Very little correlation between nosema and winter loss. Varroa and DWV high correlation. Most especially DWV, ie., not varroa alone. But even varroa alone was far higher that nosema or APV. Bottom line=correct timing and treatment of varroa.

Raul Rivera

Impact of Nosema ceranae on honey bees: A 14 month study. Various treatments and combined treatments including varroa control, nosema control, pollen supplement. None had effect on survivability. Treatments drove up number of frames of bees and honey. Honey production doubled by combining all treatments.

Wyatt A. Mangum

Colony usurpation by summer swarms in Virginia. Observed late swarms taking over colonies. May be more common behavior than previously recognized.

Thursday

Roundtable meeting with AAPA and AIA

Dennis van Engelsdorp described BEE-INFORMED PARTNERSHIP

25% lost more than 53% but -- 25% lost LESS than 14%

What are these two groups doing differently?

Reusing comb is NOT correlating to loss, just the opposite.

A lot of beekeepers want solutions, not subsidies.

Needed: Uniform Best Management Practices, including monitoring

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Peter Loring Borst