Source: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA submitted to NRP
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AFFECTING HEALTH OF MANAGED BEES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219361
Grant No.
2009-85118-05718
Cumulative Award Amt.
$3,000,000.00
Proposal No.
2009-03066
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2014
Grant Year
2011
Program Code
[91910]- Arthropod and Nematode Biology and Management: Protection of Managed Bees
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
200 D.W. BROOKS DR
ATHENS,GA 30602-5016
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
Awareness of the decline of honey bees and other pollinators took a dramatic upturn after two recent events: the October 2006 release of the National Research Council report "Status of Pollinators in North America" followed by high death rates of bee colonies in the winters of 2006-2008, a phenomenon now called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). All at once, managed pollinators were popularly recognized for what they always were: essential members of American agro-ecosystems. The problems with managed pollinators cannot be relegated to one or few causative agents. Bee declines are likely a product of negatively interacting factors in pathology, immunology, nutrition, toxicology, genetics, ecosystems management, and bee husbandry. In response, we have assembled a nationally-coordinated team of experts with proven capacity in extension, genomics, pathology, toxicology, management, pollination, and bee behavior. Our long-term goal is to restore large and diverse populations of managed bee pollinators across the United States to sustain natural and agricultural plant communities. To meet our goal we plan to: 1. Determine and mitigate causes of bee decline through research that identifies relevant pathogens and exposes the degree to which they interact with one another and other environmental stresses. 2. Identify genes that confer honey bee resistance to pests and diseases, identify pockets of genetic diversity in American honey bee populations, and channel superior-performing lines to university bee breeding programs where stocks can be propagated and apiaries serve as demonstrations for training workshops. 3. Deliver research knowledge to client groups by developing a technology transfer program for queen breeders and a literature on Best Management Practices for beekeepers and queen breeders on an eXtension web-based Community of Practice. The short-term expected outcomes include: 1. Beekeeper knowledge of causes and mitigation of CCD significantly increases. 2. Beekeeper knowledge of advantages of improved stock significantly increases. 3. User awareness of eXtension website significantly increases. The medium-term expected outcomes are: 1. Beekeepers in significant numbers adopt Best Management Practices. 2. Beekeeping profitability improves significantly. 3. Barriers are removed to establishment of a sustainable market for genetically-improved queens.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1363010113090%
1363085113010%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
3010 - Honey bees; 3085 - Other bees (non-Apis bees) - All bees except Apis cerana; includes Bombas, Alfalfa leaf-cutter;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
The goals of this project are to: 1. Determine and mitigate causes of CCD: study the interactive effects of disease agents (pathogens, parasites) and environmental factors (pesticides, nutrition) on honey bee health 2. Incorporate traits that help honey bees resist pathogens and parasitic mites and increase genetic diversity of commercially available stocks 3. Improve conservation and management of non-Apis pollinators by identifying new or emerging pathogens and parasites, abiotic stresses, habitat degradation, and practices that optimize their pollinating efficacy 4. Deliver research knowledge to client groups by developing a technology transfer program for queen breeders and a literature on Best Management and Conservation Practices for managed pollinators as an eXtension Community of Practice
Project Methods
Goal 1: Mitigate CCD We will compare virulence and pathology of Nosema apis and N. ceranae in caged bees and in colonies; determine whether there is competitive replacement of N. apis by N. ceranae; and determine whether there is an interaction between nutritional status and Nosema disease. We will study the effects of honey bee viruses, singly or in interaction with other stressors, on honey bee morbidity. Stationary sentinel apiaries will be set up in ME, PA, FL, MN, TX, WA, and CA. These colonies will be sampled systematically to learn the role of pests, pathogens and pesticides in causing morbidity in stationary bee colonies. These colonies will serve as a comparison group to a study undertaken by ARS with migratory colonies. Voucher specimens of honey bee viral pathogens will be gathered from researchers in the U.S. and internationally. DNA or RNA will be extracted from samples and the sequences deposited into GenBank and made available via a public web-based database. A Mass-Tag panmicrobial diagnosis assay will be established for detecting pathogens. Toxicological studies will be performed on the synergistic and sub-lethal effects of in-hive miticides and pesticide metabolites on colony health and bee physiology and behavior. This section includes a survey to demonstrate the economic efficacy at the commercial level of published Varroa IPM methods. Goal 2: Genetic bee resistance Gene expression of virus- or Nosema-infected and control bees will be compared on whole genome microarrays. Techniques using backcross family segregating for disease resistance will identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes that influence resistance. Molecular techniques will be used to assess genetic diversity of queens from U.S. suppliers, Australia, Russia, from U.S. university programs, and from small "micro-breeders" across the northern U.S. Small- and mid-sized producers will be surveyed to identify management practices associated with improved genetic diversity. Data from the diversity analysis will let us characterize the distribution of diversity as an aid for breeding. Queens sampled in this study will be placed in colonies and the best performers sent to WSU, Purdue, and Univ Georgia for inclusion in their breeding programs. Goal 3: Improve management of non-Apis Using methods similar to Goal 1 above, we will identify and characterize pathogens of managed non-Apis bees and elucidate lethal and sub-lethal effects of insecticides on non-Apis. Goal 4: Deliver knowledge to client groups We will cooperate with ARS to make a joint Community of Practice on eXtension, populating the website with literatures on Best Management Practices for beekeepers and queen breeders. Groundwork for a sustainable market for genetically-improved queens will be encouraged by a series of intensive workshops on improved queen selection and propagation. Documentation of beekeeper adoption of new knowledge streaming from this research will be made by surveying management practices of cooperating beekeepers in six states for four years.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Experiments were conducted on-schedule for all objectives of the Managed Pollinator CAP, viewable at http://www.beeccdcap.uga.edu/goals/index.html. The CAP group held its annual business meetings in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 in conjunction with the annual American Bee Research Conference (ABRC). Over these years, CAP projects have represented 15-30% of the contributed papers at ABRC, reflecting the high relative output of this scientist consortium. The group is the most regular contributor of original content for the Bee Health Community of Practice at eXtension.org http://www.extension.org/bee_health. Among the services provided by this site is a FAQ page, Ask the Expert forum, and a YouTube channel with practical how-to beekeeping instructional videos. In cooperation with Project Apis mellifera (PAm) - an industry-based research support group, our CAP published the first national standards in a Best Management Practices guide, viewable at http://www.extension.org/pages/33379/best-management-practices-bmps-f or-beekeepers-pollinating-California's-agricultural-crops. Members of the group collectively conducted no fewer than 175 educational events or lectures during the reported interval. Members have contributed 30 articles to the monthly CAP column published nationally in the trade journals Bee Culture and American Bee Journal. In cooperation with the Bee Informed Platform, CAP cooperator Marla Spivak has inaugurated an on-the-ground tech transfer system of field technicians who assist CA queen producers with bee health monitoring and genetic stock selection. This program has been so popular that BIP is expanding the service to the Southeast. The Tech Teams are bridging the gap between research and practice for beekeepers. Beekeepers report that the effort is a "seismic shift" in providing vital bee health data to beekeepers, by sampling systematically and regularly with rapid turn-around of results and total anonymity. The Team in northern CA is "giving queen breeders what they need to know, when they need to know it, without trying to tell us how to run our business or giving away our proprietary information." PARTICIPANTS: Participating co-PIs in the covered period include: Frank Drummond, Univ Maine, provided leadership for the stationary apiary monitoring project. Anne Averill, Univ Massachusetts, did scheduled work on Bombus toxicology Chris Mullin, Penn State, did scheduled work on pesticide inerts and adjuvants Nancy Ostiguy, Penn State, did scheduled work on stationary apiary project Christina Grozinger, Penn State, did scheduled work on Nosema RNA silencing Judy Chen, ARS Beltsville, did scheduled work on IAPV virus Jay Evans, ARS Beltsville, did scheduled work on IAPV virus John Skinner, Univ Tennessee, supervised Bee Health eXtension website Michael Wilson, Univ Tennessee, provided technical support for Bee Health site Keith Delaplane, Univ Georgia, Project Director Jamie Ellis, Univ Florida, did scheduled work on stationary apiary project Tom Webster, Kentucky State Univ, cooperated with Solter and Huang on Nosema work Greg Hunt, Purdue, did scheduled work on mapping Varroa tolerant genes Marla Spivak, supervised supernumerary project on Nosema and California Bee Teams Lee Solter, supervised a supernumerary project on Nosema and fumagillin Kate Aronstein, ARS Baton Rouge, cooperated with Grozinger and Huang on Nosema Steve Sheppard, Washington State Univ, continued work on honey bee germplasm importation TARGET AUDIENCES: Collectively, the group made an estimated 175 educational presentations on CAP-related work to client beekeeper groups. This included state and local beekeeper organizations as well as associations at the national (American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers) and regional levels (Eastern and Western Apicultural Societies, Heartland Association). Estimated direct unique human contacts is 13,000. Aside from trade association efforts indicated above, the group collectively taught no fewer than 6 university-level courses in the reported period with an estimated student contact at 180. State level workshops were held no fewer than five times with an estimated human contact of 750. CAP was represented in ongoing discussions with EPA on revising pesticide labeling laws and drafting Best Management Practices to mitigate pollinator exposure. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Two supernumerary projects were active in the reported period - Lee Solter's (Univ Illinois) project to study effects of fumagillin treatment on Nosema ceranae spore production, and Greg Hunt's (Purdue) work to elucidate effects of air-borne imidacloprid on bees during midwest corn planting time. Chris Mullin (Penn State) changed plans to follow leads on effects of pesticide inerts and adjuvants on bees.

Impacts
Nosema ceranae damages the bee peritrophic membrane. Bees infected with both N. ceranae and N. apis forage earlier and die sooner than those with single infections. However, single infections with N. ceranae also induce precocious foraging, reduce survivorship, and decrease vitellogenin titer. N. ceranae produces more environmental spores than N. apis - the only stage that is infective to other bees. The Nosema antibiotic Fumagillin alters metabolic and bee structural proteins at concentrations that do not suppress reproduction of the microsporidian. Nosema is shown to affect expression of genes regulating metabolism and behavioral maturation. Independently, the feeding of siRNA targeting 5' UTR IRES seems to induce antiviral activity in bees. These findings lay the groundwork for an RNAinterference approach to combat Nosema. Israeli Acute Paralysis virus attacks all developmental stages and castes of bees. IAPV is the third most common virus infection in bee colonies after DWV and BQCV. The prevalence of IAPV in brood was higher than in adult bees and infection rate in adult bees increases from Spring to Summer and Fall and peaks in Winter. In a seven state apiary health monitoring project, it is shown that there is much variation across regions. The three most commonly detected pesticides, measured as number of detections, were atrazine (herbicide), propiconazole (fungicide), and axoxystrobin (fungicide). Pesticide richness varies positively with natural rates of queen replacement. We found a significant relationship between the amount of landscape in intensive agricultural production (non-pasture agriculture) and pesticide exposure risk to honey bees. We have found 132 pesticides and metabolites in beehive samples. The hazard due to pyrethroid residues is three-times greater than that of neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoid seed coats are shown to abrade bee cuticle and cause bee kills at corn planting in the US and Canada. A new serological method for detecting N. ceranae was developed. The identification of candidate genes for mite-grooming behavior and Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) was performed, and stock is being made available to the Indiana State Beekeepers Association. In non-Apis bees it was shown that Nosema bombi and Apicystis bombi pathogens are widespread but at low levels in SE Massachusetts populations of Bombus. There was no evidence of pathogen spillover from commercial Koppert hives to wild Bombus populations. For spinetoram, there was no relationship between acute contact LD50s for Bombus and Apis; this reinforces that reliance on Apis data alone for pesticide label construction is insufficient. A study on cranberry beds with imidacloprid confirms concerns that residuals may accumulate in soil and flower contamination is a risk. Field data confirm that bees are exposed to a cocktail of pesticides through the bloom period. The Bee Health topic page http://www.extension.org/bee_health was the third most popular section on eXtension.org during the 4 week period ending October 30 2012. Page-views during that time for exclusively Bee Health related content was 3.5% of all eXtension.org traffic, a total of 13,745 page views.

Publications

  • Ellis, J.D. 2012. The honey bee crisis. Outlooks on Pest Management, 23(1): 35-40.
  • Ellis, J.D., Evans, J.D., Pettis, J. 2010. Colony losses, managed colony population decline, and Colony Collapse Disorder in the United States. Journal of Apicultural Research 49(1): 134-136. Invited Review Article.
  • Cornman, R. S., Bennett, A., K., Murray, K.D., Evans, J.D., Christine Elsik, C. and Aronstein, K.A. Transcriptome analysis of the Honey Bee fungal pathogen, Ascosphaera apis: implications for host pathogenesis. BMC Genomics. 13:285. 2012
  • Ellis, J.D., Spiewok, S., Delaplane, K.S., Buchholz, S., Neumann, P., Tedders, L. 2010. Susceptibility of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) larvae and pupae to entomopathogenic nematodes. Journal of Economic Entomology 103(1): 1-9.
  • Ellis, A.M., Hayes, G.W., Ellis, J.D. 2009. The efficacy of dusting honey bee colonies with powdered sugar to reduce varroa mite populations. Journal of Apicultural Research and Bee World,48(1): 72-76.
  • Ellis, A.M., Hayes, J., Ellis, J.D. 2009. The efficacy of small cell foundation as a varroa mite control. Experimental and Applied Acarology 47: 311-316.
  • Fakhimzadeh, K., Ellis, J.D., Hayes, G.W. 2011. Physical control of varroa mites (Varroa destructor): the effects of various dust materials on varroa mite fall from adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) in vitro. Journal of Apicultural Research, 50(3): 203-211
  • Goblirsch, M., Z.Y. Huang, M. Spivak. 2013. Physiological and behavioral changes in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) induced by Nosema ceranae infection: A potential detractor of social resiliency. Accepted, PlosOne
  • Gregorc, A., Evans, J.D., Scharf, M., Ellis, J.D. 2012. Gene expression in honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae exposed to pesticides and Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Journal of Insect Physiology, 58: 1042-1049.
  • Gregorc, A., Ellis, J.D. 2011. Cell death localization in situ in laboratory reared honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae treated with pesticides. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 99: 200-207.
  • Huang, Z.Y. 2010. Honey bee nutrition. American Bee Journal 150: 773-776.
  • Huang, Z.Y. 2011. Effects of Nosema on honey bee behavior and physiology. American Bee Journal 151: 871-874.
  • Huang, Z.Y. 2012. Pollen nutrition affects honey bee stress resistance. Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews 5: 175-189 (Invited review).
  • Huang, Z.Y. 2012. Varroa mite reproductive biology. American Bee Journal 152: 981-985. Also published on Bee Culture.
  • Huang, W-F., Solter, L.F., Yau, P.M., Imai, B. 2013. Nosema ceranae escapes fumagillin control in honey bees. PLoS Pathog 9(3): e1003185. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003185
  • Huang, W-F., Solter, L.F. 2013;. Comparative development and tissue tropism in Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. J. Invertebrate Pathology 113-35-41.
  • Huang, W-F., Solter, L.F. 2013. Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae: A comparative study in the honey bee host. American Bee Journal, March. Pp. 277-278. Also printed in Bee Culture.
  • Hunter, W., Ellis, J.D., vanEngelsdorp, D., Hayes, J., Westervelt, D., Glick, E., Williams, M., Sela, I., Maori, E., Pettis, J., Cox-Foster, D., Paldi, N. 2010. RNA interference (RNAi) technology to prevent Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus disease in honey bees (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera: Apidae). PLoS Pathogens 6(12): e1001160. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001160.
  • Jensen, A. B., Aronstein, K. A., Flores, J. M., Vojvodic, S., Palacio, M. and Spivak, M. Standard methods for fungal brood disease research, J. Apic. Res. 52(1), 2013 2013 DOI 10.3896/IBRA.1.52.1.11
  • Johnson, R.M., L. Dahlgren, B.D. Siegfried, and M.D. Ellis. 2012. Acaracide, fungicide and drug interactions in honey bees (Apis mellifera) PLoS One. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.00 54092.
  • Teeters, B.S., Johnson, R.M., Ellis, M.D. and B.D. Siegfried. 2012. Using video-tracking to assess sublethal effects of pesticides on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 31(6): 1-6.
  • Webster, T and Aronstein, K.A. (ed. Samataro) Honey Bee Colony Health: Challenges and Sustainable solutions (ed. Diana Sammataro): CRP Press, Taylor and Francis, LLC Chapter 10 Nosema ceranae Detection by Microscopy and Antibody Tests, pp.115-120, 2011
  • Williams, G.R., D.R. Tarpy, D. vanEngelsdorp, M.-P. Chauzat, D.L. Cox-Foster, K.S. Delaplane, P. Neumann, J.S. Pettis, R.E.L. Rogers, D. Shutler. 2010. Colony Collapse Disorder in context. BioEssays doi: 10.1002/bies.201000075
  • Williams, G.R., Dietemann, V., Ellis, J.D., Neumann, P. 2012. An update on the COLOSS network and the BEEBOOK: standard methodologies for Apis mellifera research. Journal of Apicultural Research, 51(2): 151-153.
  • Ahn, K., X. Xie, J. Riddle, J. Pettis, Z.Y. Huang. 2012. Effects of Long distance transportation on honey bee physiology. Psyche, 2012 doi:10.1155/2012/193029
  • Aronstein, K. A.; Saldivar, E.; Vega, R.; Westmiller, S. and Douglas, A.E. How Varroa Parasitism Affects the Immunological and Nutritional Status. Insects Special Issue. 3:601-615. 2012.
  • Aronstein K.A., Webster, T. and Saldivar, E. A serological method for detection of Nosema ceranae J. of Appl. Microbiol. 114 (3):621-5. 2013.
  • Aronstein, K. A. Detect Nosema Parasite in Time to Save Bee Colonies. 2009. American Bee Journal,150 (1): 63-65, 2010.
  • Aronstein, K.A., .Daniel Murray, K.D., Saldivar, E. Transcriptional responses in Honey Bee larvae infected with Chalkbrood fungus. BMC Genomics, 11:391, 2010.
  • Aronstein, K. A. Detect Nosema Parasite in Time. Bee Culture, Feb. 2010
  • Aronstein K A, and Adamczyk, J. Influence of Genomics: The Post Genomic Era in the Honey Bee Research. . The Journal of the Texas Beekeepers Association. 11(1): 12-17, 2011
  • Aronstein, K.A., Eduardo Saldivar, E., Webster. T.C. Evaluation of Nosema ceranae spore-specific polyclonal antibodies. Journal of Apicultural Research 50(2): 145-151 (2011).
  • Aronstein, K.A., H.E. Cabanillas, H.E. (ed. Samatarro) Honey Bee Colony Health: Challenges and Sustainable solutions, CRP Press, Taylor and Francis, LLC Chapter 11 Chalkbrood re-examined, pp. 121-130, 2011
  • Aronstein, K. A., Oppert, B and Lorenzen, M.D. (ed. Paula Grabowski) Book RNA Processing, Book Chapter 8: RNAi in the agriculturally important arthropods, in RNA Processing. InTech, pp157-180. 2011.
  • Chen, Y.P., Z.Y. Huang. 2010. Nosema ceranae, a newly identified pathogen of Apis mellifera in the U.S. and Asia. Apidologie 41: 364-374 (Invited review)
  • Dahlgren, L.P., Johnson, R.M., Siegfried, B.D. and Ellis, M.D. 2012. Comparative toxicity of acaracides to honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) workers and queens. Journal of Economic Entomology 105(6): 1895-1902.
  • De Graaf, D. C., Alippi, A. M. K. Antunez,K., Aronstein, K. A., Budge, G., De Koker, D., De Smet, L., Dingman, D.W., Evans, J. D., Foster, L. J., Funfhaus, A., Garcia-Gonzalez, E., Gregorc, A., Human, H., Murray, K. D., Nguyen, B. K., Poppinga, L., Spivak, M., Van Engelsdorp, D., Wilkins, S. and Genersch, E. Selected techniques and protocols in American foulbrood research. J. Apic. Res. 52(1): 2013
  • Delaplane, K S; van der Steen, J; Guzman, E. 2012. Standard methods for estimating strength parameters of Apis mellifera colonies. In V Dietemann; J D Ellis; P Neumann (Eds) The COLOSS BEEBOOK, Volume I: standard methods for Apis mellifera research. Journal of Apicultural Research 51(5): http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.51.5
  • Dietemann V., J. Pflugfelder, D. Anderson, J.D. Charriere, N. Chejanovski, J. De Miranda, K.S. Delaplane, F.X. Dillier, S. Fuchs, L. Gauthier, A. Imdorf, N. Koeniger, J. Kralj, W. Meikle, J. Pettis, P. Rosenkranz, D. Sammataro, D. Smith, and P. Neumann. 2012. Varroa destructor: research avenues toward sustainable control. Journal of Apicultural Research, in press
  • Dietemann, V; Nazzi, F; Martin, S J; Anderson, D; Locke, B; Delaplane, K S; Wauquiez, Q; Tannahill, C; Ellis, J D. 2012. Standard methods for varroa research. In V Dietemann; J D Ellis; P Neumann (Eds) The COLOSS BEEBOOK, Volume II: standard methods for Apis mellifera pest and pathogen research. Journal of Apicultural Research 51(5): http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.51.5.09
  • Drummond, F., Kate Aronstein, Judy Chen, James Ellis, Jay Evans, Nancy Ostiguy, Walter Sheppard, Marla Spivak, Kirk Visscher. Managed Pollinator Coordinated Agricultural Project, The First Two Years of the Stationary Hive Project: Abiotic Site Effects ABJ, 2012: 369-375


Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Experiments were conducted on-schedule for all objectives of the Managed Pollinator CAP, viewable at http://www.beeccdcap.uga.edu/goals/index.html. Experiments on viruses and pathogen diagnostic support for Objective 1.3 was reassigned from Penn State University to the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab. The CAP group held its annual business meetings in 2009, 2010, and 2011 in conjunction with the annual American Bee Research Conference (ABRC). Over these years, CAP projects represented 15-30% of the contributed papers at ABRC, reflecting the high relative output of this scientist consortium. The group initiated in collaboration with ARS, the Bee Health website at eXtension.org http://www.extension.org/bee_health - a central public clearinghouse of science-based bee management recommendations. Among the services provided by this site is a FAQ page, Ask the Expert forum, and a YouTube channel with practical how-to beekeeping instructional videos. In cooperation with Project Apis mellifera (PAm) - an industry-based research support group, our CAP published the first national standards in a Best Management Practices guide, viewable at http://www.extension.org/pages/33379/best-management-practices-bmps-f or-beekeepers-pollinating-California's-agricultural-crops. Members of the group collectively conducted no fewer than 252 educational events or lectures during the reported interval. Members contributed 24 articles to the monthly CAP column published nationally in the trade journals Bee Culture and American Bee Journal. PARTICIPANTS: Keith S. Delaplane, Univ GA Frank Drummond, Univ ME Anne Averill, Univ MA Brian Eitzer, CT Ag Exp Sta Chris Mullin, Penn State Nancy Ostiguy, Penn State Christina Grozinger, Penn State Maryann Frazier, Penn State Jay Evans, USDA Judy Chen, USDA Tom Webster, KY State John Skinner, Univ TN Jamie Ellis, Univ FL Greg Hunt, Purdue Zach Huang, MI State Marla Spivak, Univ MN Lee Solter, Univ IL Marion Ellis, Univ NB Kate Aronstein, USDA Kirk VIsscher, CA State Riverside Steve Sheppard WA State TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audience is practicing honey bee scientists and extension workers as well as beekeepers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Nosema ceranae appears to be less virulent than the old Nosema apis which it has largely replaced. Moreover, it appears that neither Nosema synergizes with viruses to increase bee mortality. We have shown that the Varroa mite is a vector of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. IAPV levels go up as Varroa levels go up, which turns the spotlight toward Varroa as the underlying problem. Bee mortality is negatively impacted as the percentage land use in agriculture increases, but this is not associated with any identifiable trend in pesticide use. National sampling of bee-collected pollen has revealed 130 different residues of pesticides or pesticide metabolites. The average number of residues per bee pollen load is 6.2. In general, this data set is showing the preeminence of Varroa mite, corroborating our lab studies above. High levels of Varroa are associated with high levels of virus and low populations of adult bees and brood. We have shown a high degree (73-93%) of cross-infection of viruses between honey bees and local native bumble bees. Thus the possibility exists for complicated infection > reinfection pathways in nature. Our group has shown the possibility for dangerous (to bees) chemical interactions between agricultural fungicides and two of the most commonly used miticides beekeepers use to control Varroa mite - coumaphos and fluvalinate. This poses a dilemma - our data clearly underscore the importance of controlling Varroa mite - but the remedial chemicals available to beekeepers to control the mite are themselves hazardous if they combine with other environmental toxins. Our group has identified neonicotinoid seed treatments of annual crops as an acute toxic threat to insect pollinators, particularly in the context of dust exposure associated with treated corn seed at spring planting. These compounds become systemic in plants, persist in the environment, and are lethal to bees at the level of parts per billion. Dust released from planters during spring planting has been shown to express concentrations of pesticide one million times higher than that. However, when pesticides are viewed in the aggregate at the national level, residues of pyrethroids - a large class of traditional pesticides and "older" chemistry - pose a 3-fold greater hazard to the colony than neonicotinoids, based on mean and frequency of detection in pollen samples and relative acute toxicity. One of our groups has initiated a Bee Team to assist the California Bee Breeders with on-site stock selection for disease and mite resistance. This has met with triumphant success and interest by participating beekeepers and shows evidence of industry's growing willingness to apply science-based knowledge to solving complicated bee health problems. If our CAP has reached any one overarching conclusion, it is that "bee decline" is a huge issue and not easily reducible to one or a few "causes." It is instead a web of causation, and the answer will involve not only good bee husbandry, but revisions to our land use and pest control habits.

Publications

  • Aronstein, K. A., Oppert, B and Lorenzen, M.D. (ed. Paula Grabowski) Book RNA Processing, Book Chapter 8: RNAi in the agriculturally important arthropods, in RNA Processing. InTech, pp157-180. 2011.
  • Berry, J.A., W.B. Owens, and K.S. Delaplane. 2010. Small-cell comb foundation does not impede Varroa mite population growth in honey bee colonies. Apidologie 41: 41-44 doi 10.1051/apido/2009049
  • Delaplane, K.S. 2009. Action on the CAP grant. Bee Culture 137(11): 28-29
  • Delaplane, K.S., J.D. Ellis, and W.M. Hood. 2010. A test for interactions between Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in colonies of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 103(5): 711-715 doi 10.1603/AN09169
  • Aronstein, K. 2010. Managed pollinator CAP coordinated agricultural project. American Bee Journal 150(1): 63-65.
  • Delaplane, K.S. 2010. Managed Pollinator Coordinated Agricultural Project CAP. Bee World 87(1): 12-13
  • Delaplane, K.S. 2011. Integrated pest management in Varroa. In Varroa - Still a Problem in the 21st Century International Bee Research Association, Cardiff, UK, pp. 43-51
  • Delaplane, K.S. 2011. Understanding the impact of honey bee disorders on crop pollination. In Honey bee colony health (D. Sammataro and J.A. Yoder, eds.). CRC Press, pp. 223-228
  • Dietemann V., J. Pflugfelder, D. Anderson, J.D. Charriere, N. Chejanovski, J. De Miranda, K.S. Delaplane, F.X. Dillier, S. Fuchs, L. Gauthier, A. Imdorf, N. Koeniger, J. Kralj, W. Meikle, J. Pettis, P. Rosenkranz, D. Sammataro, D. Smith, and P. Neumann. 2012. Varroa destructor: research avenues toward sustainable control. Journal of Apicultural Research, in press
  • Drummond, F., Kate Aronstein, Judy Chen, James Ellis, Jay Evans, Nancy Ostiguy, Walter Sheppard, Marla Spivak, Kirk Visscher. Managed Pollinator Coordinated Agricultural Project, The First Two Years of the Stationary Hive Project: Abiotic Site Effects ABJ, 2012: 369-375 Ellis, M.D. Asessing risks of honey bee exposure to pesticides. American Bee Journal 151(7): 682-683.
  • Heintz, C., Ribotto, M., Ellis, M.D. and K.S, Delaplane. 2011. Best management practices for beekeepers pollinating California agricultural crops. American Bee Journal 151(3): 265-267.
  • Johnson, R.M., M.D. Ellis, C.A. Mullin and M. Fraizer. 2011. Pesticides and honey bee toxicity in the U.S.A. In Honey Bee Colony Heakth. Eds. D. Sammarto and J.A. Yoder. CRC Press. 320 pp.
  • Johnson, R.M., M.D. Ellis, C.A. Mullin and M. Fraizer. 2010. Pesticides and honey bee toxicity U.S.A. (invited review) Apidologie: 41: 312-331.
  • LeConte, Y., M.D. Ellis and W. Ritter. 2010. Varroa mites and honey bee health: Can varroaexplain part of the colony losses (invited review) Apidologie 41: 1-11.
  • Pettis, J.S. and K. S. Delaplane. 2010. Coordinated responses to honey bee decline in the USA. Apidologie 41: 256-263
  • Solter, L.F. 2010. Microsporidia: Friend, Foe (And Intriguing Creatures). American Bee Journal 150, 1147-1149.
  • Solter, L.F. and Huang, W-F. 2010. Sweeter than honey: Honey bee health. Illinois Natural History Survey Reports, Summer Issue No. 404
  • Webster, T and Aronstein, K.A. (ed. Samataro) Honey Bee Colony Health: Challenges and Sustainable solutions (ed. Diana Sammataro): CRP Press, Taylor and Francis, LLC Chapter 10 Nosema ceranae Detection by Microscopy and Antibody Tests, pp.115-120, 2011
  • Aronstein, K. A. Detect Nosema Parasite in Time to Save Bee Colonies. 2009. American Bee Journal,150 (1): 63-65, 2010.
  • Aronstein, K.A., .Daniel Murray, K.D., Saldivar, E. Transcriptional responses in Honey Bee larvae infected with Chalkbrood fungus. BMC Genomics, 11:391, 2010.
  • Aronstein, K. A. Detect Nosema Parasite in Time. Bee Culture, Feb. 2010
  • Aronstein K A, and Adamczyk, J. Influence of Genomics: The Post Genomic Era in the Honey Bee Research. . The Journal of the Texas Beekeepers Association. 11(1): 12-17, 2011
  • Aronstein, K.A., Eduardo Saldivar, E., Webster. T.C. Evaluation of Nosema ceranae spore-specific polyclonal antibodies. Journal of Apicultural Research 50(2): 145-151 (2011).
  • Aronstein, K.A., H.E. Cabanillas, H.E. (ed. Samatarro) Honey Bee Colony Health: Challenges and Sustainable solutions, CRP Press, Taylor and Francis, LLC Chapter 11 Chalkbrood re-examined, pp. 121-130, 2011


Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: In 2010, the CAP team successfully completed scheduled tasks on all research objectives with one exception, explained below. Otherwise, significant research progress was realized on objectives 1.1 Nosema, 1.2 Viruses, 1.4 Diagnostics, 1.6 Miticides, 2.1 Resistance genes, 2.2 Genetic diversity, and 3.1- 3.3 Non-Apis pathogens and insecticides. The exception was Objective 1.3 Stationary monitoring apiaries; performance issues forced us to reassign work and dollars to another cooperator who has begun working through the backlog without loss or compromise of any data. Significant progress was achieved on 3 of 4 Extension objectives 4.1 Bee Health website, 4.2 Bee breeding, and 4.3 Queen rearing tech transfer. The exception was Objective 4.4 which the group decided to drop at the 2011 Galveston meeting due to cost-overuns and logistical difficulties. However, director Delaplane is working on restoring this objective from other funds. Events and Services: Marla Spivak has continued her queen breeder consultations in MN, TX, MS, and LA and, with $ from Natl Honey Board, begun a tech transfer team in CA to assist CA bee breeders. This work will be enhanced by her involvement in the upcoming BIP CAP project beginning 2011. Products: Kate Aronstein has submitted a proposal to USDA Office of Technology Transfer to commercialize her polyclonal antibody kit for detecting Nosema ceranae disease in honey bees. Dissemination: Virtually all team members are involved in regular beekeeper client meetings in their home states and abroad. However, the main conduit for dissemination is the Bee Health Community of Practice established by CAP member Michael Wilson with eXtension.org. Monthly website page views average more than 16,433. The Bee Health CoP has 37 leaders and 41 members who provide content. There are 275 pages of content as well as a YouTube Bee Health channel which is used as a convenient place to upload videos and reach a wider audience. We have 229 subscribers to the channel which means that they receive notices when new videos are uploaded. There are 31 videos currently uploaded. During the 12 week period ending 12 Nov 2010, page views averaged 9,863 per month, up 44% from the same period in 2009. The average time spent on any page was up 24%. The CoP newsletter http://www.extension.org/pages/Bee_Health_CoP_Updates contains new content added since the previous newsletter. We have automated the email signup and are prepared to increase its distribution, currently at 174. It is evident in page views that the newsletter distribution does increase usage of the site. The most page views in any one day (859), corresponded with a newsletter email. Ask an Expert is a web-based tool where the public asks questions with the ability to upload pictures related to their question. 406 questions about bees have been answered with 87 eXtension.org members answering them. 6 people have answered more than 10 questions. The range of questions answered by any one person is 118 - 1. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Changes in Knowledge, some highlights: 1.1A Nosema - Inoculation with 5,000 or more spores of either species of Nosema results in a shorter life span for a worker honey bee. N. ceranae does not seem to be more infectious or damaging to honey bees than N. apis. If anything, N. apis may shorten the life span of worker bees more than N. ceranae at lower doses. If these results apply to full size honey bee colonies in the field, Nosema disease can result in unhealthy, less prosperous colonies in terms of pollination and honey production. 1.1F Nosema - We studied possible interaction of pollen nutrition and Nosema infection status using N. ceranae. We observed a much stronger effect of pollen on worker bee survival, but Nosema still exerting an effect. However, we did not see any sign of interaction between Nosema infection and the presence or absence of pollen. 1.6 Synergies and sub-lethal effects of miticides - Bees pre-treated with the miticide coumaphos were 25-fold more susceptible to subsequent exposure to tau-fluvalinate. Synergistic interactions were also detected between tau-fluvalinate and all other miticides tested. Amitraz toxicity was not synergized by any of the miticides tested. Bees were also fed the drugs oxytetracycline, tylosin and fumagillin and the LD50 values determined for the same five miticides. Fumagillin feeding increased the toxicity of tau-fluvalinate by 1.9-fold. 1.8 Sublethal effects of pesticides - Larvae show an increased sensitivity to pesticides on the 4th day of larval rearing which is actually the fifth larval instar. Methanol controls gave accumulative survival of 83% over the larval rearing period. Average toxicity over the larval period for 1.5 ppm Chlorpyrifos was greater than 3 ppm Fluvalinate which was about equal to 34 ppm Chlorothalonil which was greater than 8 ppm coumaphos when tested individually. 2.1 ID genes that confer resistance - We identify three quantitative trait loci that influence the likelihood that workers will engage in hygienic behaviour and account for up to 30% of the phenotypic variability in hygienic behaviour in our population. Furthermore, we identify two loci that influence the likelihood that a worker will perform uncapping behaviour only, and one locus that influences removal behaviour. We report the first candidate genes associated with engaging in hygienic behaviour, including four genes involved in olfaction, learning and social behaviour, and one gene involved in circadian locomotion. These candidates will allow molecular characterization of this distinctive behavioural mode of disease resistance, as well as providing the opportunity for marker-assisted selection for this commercially significant trait. 3.1 Pathogens of non-Apis bees - Nosema ceranae is currently the primary microsporidian found in Apis. Using primers designed by Chen (2008) to determine historical presence of N. ceranae in the United States we have amplified DNA sequences from abdominal tissues of several bumble bees that are a 99% match to N. ceranae sequences found in the NCBI database.

Publications

  • Mader, E., M. Spivak, & E. Evans. 2010. Managing alternative pollinators: a handbook for beekeepers, growers and conservationists. Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, ISBN 978-1-933395-20-3
  • Matisoff, M.A. & T. C. Webster. 2011. Anatomical changes in the midgut and peritrophic membrane.
  • Morkeski, A. and A.L. Averill. 2010. Wild bee status and evidence for pathogen spillover with honey bees. American Bee Journal, 150(11):1049-1052.
  • Ostiguy, N. 2010. Sustainable beekeeping: managed pollinator CAP coordinated agricultural project - a national research and extension initiative to reverse pollinator decline. American Bee Journal, 150(3):149-152.
  • Oxley, P., M. Spivak, & B.P. Oldroyd. 2010. Six quantitative trait loci influence task thresholds for hygienic behaviour in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Molecular Ecology 19:145-1461.
  • Spivak, M. 2010. Honey bee medical records: the stationary apiary monitoring project. American Bee Journal 149(3):271-274.
  • Spivak, M., E. Mader, M. Vaughan, & N.H. Euliss, Jr. 2011. The plight of the bees. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45(1): 34-38
  • Spivak, M., G.S. Reuter. 2008. New direction for the minnesota hygienic line of bees. American Bee Journal 148(12):1085-1086.
  • Spivak, M., Y. Le Conte. 2010. Special issue on bee health. Apidologie. DOI: 10.1051/apido/2010020
  • Spivak, M., G. S. Reuter, & B. Ranum. 2009. The future of the MN hygienic stock of bees is in good hands! American Bee Journal, 149(10): 965-967.
  • Swanson, J.A., I.B. Torto, S.A. Kells, K.A. Mesce, J.H. Tumlinson, & M. Spivak. 2009. Odorants that induce hygienic behavior in honeybees: Identification of volatile compounds in chalkbrood-infected honeybee larvae. J. Chem. Ecol. 35: 1108-1116
  • Tsuruda, J.M., J.W. Harris, L. Bourgeois, R.G. Danka & G.J. Hunt. 2011. Using single-nucleotide polymorphisms and genetic mapping to find candidate genes that influence Varroa-specific hygiene. (Abstract) American Bee Journal, In Press.
  • Webster, T.C. 2010. Nosema ceranae the inside story. American Bee Journal. 150(4): 367-370.
  • Webster, T.C. and M.A. Matisoff. 2011. Primary spores of nosema ceranae are early indicators of infection.
  • Williams, G.R., D.R. Tarpy, D. vanEngelsdorp, M.-P. Chauzat, D.L. Cox-Foster, K.S. Delaplane, P. Neumann, J.S. Pettis, R.E.L. Rogers, D. Shutler. 2010. Colony collapse disorder in context. BioEssays doi: 10.1002/bies.201000075
  • Andino, G.K., G. Hunt. 2011. A scientific note on a new assay to measure honeybee mite-grooming behavior. Apidologie, in press
  • Arechavaleta-Velasco, M.E., K. Alcala-Escamilla, C. Robles-Rios, & G.J. Hunt. 2011. Identifying candidate genes for honey bee mite-grooming behavior using fine-scale mapping. (Abstract) American Bee Journal, in Press.
  • Di Prisco, G., F. Pennacchio, E. Caprio, H.F. Boncristiani, Jr, J.D. Evans, & Y.P. Chen. 2011. Varroa destructor is an effective vector of Israeli acute paralysis virus in the honeybee, Apis mellifera. J. Gen. Virol. 92: 151-155
  • Eitzer, B., F. Drummond, J.D. Ellis, N. Ostiguy, K. Aronstein, W.S. Sheppard, K. Visscher, D. Cox Foster, & A. Averill. 2010. Pesticide analysis at the stationary apiaries, American Bee Journal, 150(5): 500.
  • Huang, Z.Y. 2010. Honey bee nutrition, American Bee Journal, 150(8): 773-776.
  • Hunt G.J. 2010. Breeding bees for resistance to parasites and diseases. American Bee Journal, 150(7): 667-669.
  • Krupke, C., B. Eitzer, & G.J. Hunt. 2011. Potential routes of exposure to honey bees from neonicotinoid corn seed treatments. (Abstract) American Bee Journal, in Press.
  • Johnson, R.M., M.D. Ellis, C.A. Mullin, and M. Frazier. 2010. Pesticides and honey bee toxicity - U.S.A. Apidologie 41: 312-331
  • Lee, K., M. Spivak, & G.S. Reuter. 2010. Standardized sampling plan to cetect varroa density in colonies and apiaries. American Bee Journal, 149(12): 1151-1155.
  • Lee, K. V., R.D. Moon, E.C. Burkness, & M. Spivak. 2010. Practical sampling plans for Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104(4): 1039-1050
  • Aronstein, K., R. Cox, E. Saldivar, & T. Webster. 2011. Comparative studies of two nosema species in honey bees.
  • Aronstein, K.A. 2010. Detect nosema parasite in time to save bee colonies. 2009. American Bee Journal,149(1): 63-65.
  • Chen Y.P., Z.Y. Huang. 2010. Nosema ceranae, a newly identified pathogen of Apis mellifera in the USA and Asia. Apidologie 41(3): 364-374, DOI: 10.1051/apido/2010021
  • Chen, Y.P., J.D. Evans, and J.S. Pettis. 2011. The presence of chronic bee paralysis virus infection in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in the USA. J. Apic. Res. 50: 85-86