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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health problem. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the factors driving the spread of resistance among environmental microorganisms is limited, and few studies have been performed worldwide. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) have long been considered bioindicators of environmental pollution and more recently also of AMR. In this study, 53 bacterial strains isolated from the body surface of honey bees at three ontogenetic stages, collected from ten different geographic locations, were tested for their phenotypic and genotypic resistance to eight classes of the most widely used antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine. Results showed that 83% of the strains were resistant to at least one antimicrobial and 62% were multidrug-resistant bacteria, with a prevalence of resistance to nalidixic acid, cefotaxime, and aztreonam. A high percentage of isolates harbouring at least one antimicrobial gene was also observed (85%). The gene encoding resistance to colistin mcr-1 was the most abundant, followed by those for tetracycline tetM and tetC. Geographical features influenced the distribution of these traits more than bacterial species or bee stage, supporting the use of honey bee colonies and their associated bacteria as indicators to monitor environmental resistance. This approach can improve the scientific understanding of this global threat by increasing data collection capacity.

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This study determined the influence of foraging distance, environmental factors, and native vegetation on honeybee (Apis mellifera) foraging in arid shrublands and grasslands in Northern Mexico. Apiary distance from inflorescence sites did not have a significant influence on the intensity of foraging. Apiary location and landscape were decisive factors in the response of honeybees to environmental factors. Air temperature, minimum temperature, wind velocity, and relative humidity explained foraging by 87, 80, 68, and 41% (R2), respectively, in shrubland sites in open landscapes but had no significant influence on foraging in the grassland sites in a valley surrounded by hills (1820-2020 amsl). Nights with a minimum temperature of <20 °C increased foraging activity during the day. Minimum temperature, which has the least correlative influence among climate elements, can be used to determine climate change's impact on bees. The quantity of available inflorescence explained the foraging intensity by 78% in shrublands and 84% in grasslands. Moreover, when honeybees depended mainly on native vegetation in grasslands, the quantity of inflorescence explained the intensity of foraging by 95%. High intensity of honeybee foraging was observed in allthorn (Koeberlinia spinosa) and wait-a-minute bush (Mimosa aculeaticarpa) in shrublands and honey mesquite (Neltuma glandulosa) and wait-a-minute bush (Mimosa aculeaticarpa) in grasslands. The findings and baseline data contributed by this study may be used to identify suitable environments for increasing apiary productivity and other agricultural and ecological benefits.

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Honey bee colonies have great societal and economic importance. The main challenge that beekeepers face is keeping bee colonies healthy under ever-changing environmental conditions. In the past two decades, beekeepers that manage colonies of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) have become increasingly concerned by the presence of parasites and pathogens affecting the bees, the reduction in pollen and nectar availability, and the colonies' exposure to pesticides, among others. Hence, beekeepers need to know the health condition of their colonies and how to keep them alive and thriving, which creates a need for a new holistic data collection method to harmonize the flow of information from various sources that can be linked at the colony level for different health determinants, such as bee colony, environmental, socioeconomic, and genetic statuses. For this purpose, we have developed and implemented the B-GOOD (Giving Beekeeping Guidance by computational-assisted Decision Making) project as a case study to categorize the colony's health condition and find a Health Status Index (HSI). Using a 3-tier setup guided by work plans and standardized protocols, we have collected data from inside the colonies (amount of brood, disease load, honey harvest, etc.) and from their environment (floral resource availability). Most of the project's data was automatically collected by the BEEP Base Sensor System. This continuous stream of data served as the basis to determine and validate an algorithm to calculate the HSI using machine learning. In this article, we share our insights on this holistic methodology and also highlight the importance of using a standardized data language to increase the compatibility between different current and future studies. We argue that the combined management of big data will be an essential building block in the development of targeted guidance for beekeepers and for the future of sustainable beekeeping.

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For beekeeping to be sustainable, the management of colonies for the production of bee products must be economically viable without endangering the lives of bees, and must include acceptable practices such as the treatment of hives with appropriate products. Occasionally, the use of acaricides to treat the hives against varroosis is uncontrolled and can accumulate in the hives, putting the colonies at risk. In this work, a screening of seven acaricides was carried out in different apiaries in Andalusia (Spain). Their distribution in beeswax, brood, honey, and bees from colonies in different surroundings was evaluated at different times. It was found that beeswax was highly contaminated but honey, brood and bees had acceptable levels, below their respective MRL or LD50, after a certain period following varrocide treatments. Acaricides banned for their use against Varroa, such as chlorfenvinphos, cypermethrin and especially acrinathrin, were found in the hives analysed.

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We investigated the levels of heavy metals in honey bee, honey, and pollen samples obtained from different locations in Konya City in Turkey. Five honey bee colonies were placed in eight different locations, four of them around urban areas and four in rural areas, in the province of Konya City in Turkey. Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels were determined in honey bee, honey, and pollen samples taken from these colonies, with a comparison between samples from urban and rural areas. The values of Cd in honey samples and those of Cd in pollen samples did not differ significantly among the locations. All heavy metal values of honey bee samples were lower in rural areas than in urban areas. Significant statistical differences were determined for Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn values of honey and pollen samples among the locations. Heavy metal values of honey and pollen samples obtained from different locations were in agreement with the International Food Standard values.

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The present research work was conducted to assess the impact of nutrient-enriched diet on the physiological activities and subsequently honey yield. Eighteen colonies of Apis mellifera L. were selected from Dera Ismail Khan region, KPK, Pakistan, during the winter and summer seasons, 2019-2020. Five pollen supplement diets were prepared and provided to screen out the palatable one to be fed as pollen alternative nutrition to bee bread. Results of diet consumption regarding mean data for consumption rate displayed that soybean flour enriched artificial diet was maximally consumed (74.34 g) by honey bees per week. Minimum consumption was observed for grinded groundnut enriched diet (64.62 g) which was relatively lesser than the other tested artificial diets. Results of area of worker brood disclosed that soybean flour fortified diet (1489.27 cm2/colony) statistically noteworthy than the other artificial diets whereas control (463.51 cm2/colony) was least effective. Highest bee strength (10.00 bee frames/colony) was noted in the bee colonies fed with soybean flour fortified diet, date paste (8.0 bee frames/colony) was the next effective one, among the tested pollen replacement diets whereas relatively least (5 bee frames/colony) was noticed in case of grinded groundnut. Highest body weight (12.41 g) of neonate bees was noted in case of soybean enriched diet while lowermost (5.31 g) was noted in control bees. Results of wax cell built up and foraging efficiency were also superior in artificial diets than respective control bees. Hence, artificial diets especially soybean-enriched pollen alternative diet can boost up the physiology of honey bee leading to increased honey yield and profit.

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This paper proposes a new approach to the construction of an autonomous weight sensor for electronic beehive scales, constituting a crucial part in equipment used in the modern beekeeping economy. The main goal of this work is to demonstrate a methodology at the preliminary design stage leading to saving scarce energy resources necessary for the remote operation of a wireless network of beehives. The main findings of the work, achieved results, and identified threats for beekeeping scales operating in the real environment are also shown. The results presented in the article are based on actual data collected and recorded from several dozen beekeeping scales operating in the natural environment over a period of several years.

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Several negative factors contribute to a decline in the number of insect pollinators. As a novel approach in therapy, we hypothesize that the EM® for bees could potentially have an important therapeutic and immunomodulatory effect on honey bee colonies. The aim of our study was to evaluate its impact on honey bees at the individual and colony level. This is the first appliance of the commercial probiotic mix EM® PROBIOTIC FOR BEES in honey bees as economically important social insects. The sugar syrup with 10% of probiotic was administered by spraying or feeding the honey bee colonies in the field conditions, in order to evaluate the infection levels with spores of Nosema spp. and colonies' strength. Moreover, in laboratory-controlled conditions, in the hoarding cages, adult workers have been fed with sugar syrup supplemented with 2.5, 5, and 10% of EM® for bees for biochemical and immunological analyses of hemolymph, and with 5 and 10% for measuring the size of hypopharyngeal glands. It was found that following the EM® for bees administration the Nosema spp. spore counts in colonies were significantly reduced, and colonies' strength was increased. The results at the individual level showed significant positive physiological changes in treated groups of adult bees, revealing at the same time a higher mortality rate when feeding sugar syrup supplemented with the probiotic.