Incidents of poisoning of honeybees (Apis mellifera) by agricultural pesticides in Great Britain 1981–1991

Suspected cases of poisoning of honeybees by agricultural pesticides are investigated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (in England and Wales) and the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department (in Scotland). Studies include field visits to sites where bee mortality is recorded, examination of dead bees for disease, and analysis for the presence of pesticide residues. This paper reviews the results of these investigations for the period 1981–1991. Pesticide poisoning is diagnosed from the detection of residues in dead bees, through interpretation in relation to the median lethal dose (LD₅₀), and ‘subsequent residue level’ (SRL) determined from laboratory studies in which bees were exposed to one LD₅₀ dose. Overall, an annual average of 50 incidents were confirmed as due to pesticide poisoning, involving 30 pesticide active ingredients during the 1981–1991 period. In England and Wales, the principal hazards were caused by misuse of the insecticide triazophos on oilseed rape, a problem that has been reduced to low levels during the 1980s, and by dimethoate use on a variety of arable crops. In Scotland there were fewer incidents, most of which were associated with use of fenitrothion on raspberries, and gamma-HCH on oilseed rape. Opportunities for reducing the risks of poisoning, and for refining the investigation of suspected incidents, are discussed.     

蜜蜂性比的研究

蜜蜂性比是指一群蜂内雌性蜂与雄性蜂的比例。本文应用 Fisher 性比法则,来研究蜜蜂性比问题,结果如下:(1)在交尾季节,由于雄蜂的有效交配日龄 N=12～35天,则工蜂所“希望”的理论比值 Hw=(1.41N+4.53)∶1=(21.5～53.9)∶1,Hw 值与实际性比值((?)=26.1∶1)相符;(2)在非交尾季节,蜂群内只有雌性蜂。以上结果,从理论和实践相结合的角度,证实了蜂群内的性比值是由工蜂决定。     

应用RAPD分析测定蜂王与雄蜂交配的数量

以卡尼鄂拉蜂 (Apismelliferacarnica)和高加索蜂 (Apismelliferacaucasica)的雄蜂精液对意大利蜜蜂(Apismelliferaligustica)的处女蜂王进行人工授精 ,并利用 11个引物进行随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)标记分析。根据RAPD标记计算工蜂个体间的平均遗传相似系数 ,然后计算蜂王与雄蜂交配的数量。结果表明 ,RAPD标记是测定蜂王与雄蜂交配数量的一种有效方法。     

法国抗螨蜂种在云南的适应性·抗螨性试验

[目的]饲养观察法国抗螨蜂种在云南的适应性、抗螨性和繁殖能力。[方法]从2009年8月到2010年10月,采取饲养试验法,对法国抗螨蜂种的适应性,大、小蜂螨的寄生情况和蜂群的增殖进行了观察试验。[结果]法国抗螨王只抗大螨,约1年,适应性强,对小蜂螨危害没有抗性;蜂群增殖最大群势为13.4脾足蜂。[结论]结果西方蜜蜂育种提供了借鉴。     

Variation in floral scent compounds recognized by honeybees in Brassicaceae crop species

Floral scent attracts pollinators. We investigated the floral scent compounds recognized by pollinators in six Brassica crop species, including allogamous species with different genomes and autogamous species with two parental genomes and radish (Raphanus sativus). Biologically active compounds recognized by honeybees were screened from all floral compounds by combined gas chromatography–electroantennogram analysis and their profiles were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fourteen of the 52 compounds were active. All accessions had more than two active compounds, but the compounds greatly differed between the two genera. On the basis of similarities in whether active compounds were presence or absence, their amount and their composition ratio, we divided the Brassica accessions into three to five groups by cluster analyses. Most groups were composed of a mixture of allogamous and autogamous species sharing same genome, indicating that the variation depended on genome, not species. These results suggest that all species require pollinator visits for reproduction, despite their different reproductive systems. However, the inter-genus and intra-specific variations shown by the multiple groups within a species might cause different visitation frequencies by pollinators between genera and among accessions within a species, resulting in insufficient seed production in some accessions or species.     

Detection of the fire blight biocontrol agent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> BD170 (Biopro<Superscript>®</Superscript>) in a Swiss apple orchard

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is a major disease threat to apple, pear and other pome fruit worldwide. The disease is widespread in Europe and has recently become established in Switzerland. Antibiotics are the most effective controls used in North America but these are not permitted for agricultural use in most European countries. A newly registered biological control product Biopro^®, based on the antagonist Bacillus subtilis strain BD170, is being used as an alternative strategy for fire blight management. A specific molecular marker was developed for monitoring the spread of this agent on blossoms after Biopro^® spray application in a Swiss apple orchard throughout the bloom period for 2years. Direct spraying resulted in efficient primary colonisation of pistils in flowers that were open at the time of treatment. Subsequent bacterial dissemination (secondary colonisation) of flowers that were closed or at bud stage at the time of treatment was observed but was found to be dependent on the timing of treatments relative to bloom stage in the orchard. Foraging honeybees were shown to be disseminators of Biopro^®. We also report detection of the biocontrol agent in honey collected from hives where bees were exposed by placing Biopro^® at the entrance or in the hatching nest and from hives that were simply placed in sprayed orchards.     

蜜蜂的数量分类研究

本文运用电子计算机对蜜蜂种类进行了数量分类研究。结果表明 :聚类分析有助于揭示蜂种间的亲缘关系 ,是蜂种分类的一种有效方法。     

利用蜜蜂为籽莲授粉试验初报

籽莲(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)经蜜蜂授粉,结籽率显著提高.纱网内有蜂授粉区比纱网內无蜂授粉区结籽率高31.27‰,死蓬率低14.25‰;比自然对照区结籽率高22.22‰,死蓬率低5.22‰。自然对照区比纱网内无蜂授粉区结籽率高9.05‰,死蓬率低9.03‰。自然放蜂授粉比自然对照区结籽率高24.14‰。推广籽莲花期放养蜜蜂为它授粉是莲子增产的一项重要指施。     

Profile Analysis of the Proteome of the Egg of the High Royal Jelly Producing Bees （Apis mellifera L.）

The protein composition of the egg development in the high royal jelly producing bees （Apis mellifera L.） was investigated. This pioneer study was to separate and quantify the proteins in the egg of the high royal jelly producing worker bees （Apis mellifera L.） by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis along with their three-day development. The results showed that 160, 195, and 176 proteins, with a wide range of molecular weight （17-80 KDa） and relatively narrow scope of pI （4. 00-8.40） could be detected on day 1, day 2, and day 3, respectively, during the developmental process of the egg. Meanwhile 44 protein spots were constantly detected along with the egg development. Among them 36% were in the uptrend along with the egg development, 14% were in the downtrend, and 39% were of the largest expressed volume on day 2. In addition, the specific proteins were expressed on day 1, day 2, and day 3 （89, 77, and 80, respectively）. Besides the coexistent and specific proteins, 24 proteins were expressed on day 1 and day 2, but silenced on day 3, 49 proteins were expressed on day 2 and day 3, but silenced on day 1, only 3 proteins were expressed on day 1 and day 3, but silenced on day 2. The result indicates that egg development is a sequential and complex gene controlled process, where the eggs of day 2 express the most active proteins. The coexistent proteins suggest that it is conservative and indispensable for this event. These specific proteins suggest that the different developmental stage needs specific proteins to regulate it.     

以色列急性麻痹病毒(IAPV)研究进展

以色列急性麻痹病毒(Israeli acute paralysis virus,IAPV)是一种常见的蜜蜂病毒,于2007年被分离鉴定以来即被发现在世界范围内的不同蜜蜂种间广泛传播,并能侵染熊蜂和胡蜂等其他授粉昆虫。IAPV不仅对蜜蜂造成急性麻痹等症状,其与狄斯瓦螨(Varroa destructor)的协同作用也被认为与越冬期蜂群的大量损失密切相关。针对IAPV的研究多集中在流行病学和致病性上,关于其致病机制及防治方法方面的认识仍较缺乏。全面地对IAPV相关研究进行综述,以期全面认识这一对蜜蜂等授粉昆虫健康产生严重威胁的病毒。