• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2003

Cuticular hydrocarbons of antenna, legs and wings from two species of honeybee worker of Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana F. can be analyzed directly with gas chromatograph and GC/MS without solvent extraction. The saturated hydrocarbons identified in selected part of both species were nC22, nC23, nC25-nC3O, nC32 and nC34 except nC24. Two saturated hydrocarbons, nC26 (23.0-42.6%) and nC28 (16.8-54.8%), were major compounds in both species and others were minor compounds. A. mellifera can be distinguished from A. cerana F. by having higher proportion of nC30, nC32 and nC34 by having lower proportion of nC25 from three selected part of both species.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.293-298
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• 2008

This study was surveyed the effects by pollinating activity of Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris released in the paprika vinyl-houses. The foraging activity and behaviour of A. mellifera and B. terrestris visited on the paprika flowers were nearly alike. The pick times of pollinating activity by A. mellifera and B. terrestris were showed the hightest at 11:00 and 15:00, and 09:00 to 11:00, respectively. The rate of fruit set by A. mellifera and B. terrestris released for pollinating paprika were same level with 94%, and these rate were higher than the fruit setting rate which was 92% by fan operated. The qualities of paprika produced by pollinators released were higher than those by fan operated. And weight per fruit, number of seeds per fruit and economical profit per 2,310 $m^2$ were over 10% higher than those by fan operated. Therefore the economical effects by the pollinating activities of A. mellifera and B. terrestris released in the paprika vinyl-houses were obviously demonstrated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2021

This study aimed to analyze the content and composition of a biological amine, cadaverine, isolated from the venom of worker honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). This biological amine―which has diverse functionality, such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects―has not been previously reported in bee venom. An assay completed in 13 minutes was developed for the cadaverine present in the bee venom using an ultra-performance liquid chromatograph and a Halo C18 column with acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase. The specificity, accuracy, and precision of the assay were verified, and the assay was validated. The linearity for cadaverine in the bee venom was R2=0.99 or above, indicating a moderate level. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were both 0.3 ㎍/ml, and the rate of recovery was 97.6%-99.1%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intra-day precision and inter-day precision for cadaverine was 0.25%-0.44% and 0.25%-1.25%, respectively, with an RSD that fell within 5% indicating excellent precision. Through this novel assay, it was found that the mean content of cadaverine was 1.10±0.05 mg/g. Our results indicated that the linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and rate of recovery of the cadaverine assay were of a satisfactory level, and the cadaverine content of the bee venom was ably determined. This study provides basic data on cadaverine in bee venom, which will prove useful in further studies on the bioactivity of this component.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2020

The European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) has multiple anti-microbial peptides, but many were unknown and demands for their characterization have increased. This study therefore focused on identifying novel anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) from A. mellifera L. To obtain high-throughput transcriptome data of the honeybee, we implemented next-generation sequencing (NGS), isolating novel AMPs from total RNA, and generated 15,314 peptide sequences, including 44 known, using Illumina HiSeq 2500 technology. The uncharacterized peptides were identified based on specific features of possible AMPs predicted in the sequencing analysis. AMP5, one such uncharacterized peptide, was expressed in the epidermis, body fat, and venom gland of the honeybee. We chemically synthesized this peptide and tested its anti-bacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (KACC 10005) and Gram-positive Bacillus thuringiensis (KACC 10168) by anti-microbial assay. AMP5 exhibited anti-bacterial activity against E. coli (MIC50=22.04±0.66 μM) but not against B. thuringiensis. When worker bees were injected with E. coli, AMP5 was up-regulated in the body fat. This study therefore identified AMP5 in adult European honeybees and confirmed its anti-bacterial activity against Gram-negative E. coli.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2021

The venom of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) is used to treat many diseases because of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Bee venom consists of several biologically active molecules and exhibits remarkable anti-cancer effects. However, biological amines, which exhibit diverse functionality such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, have not been previously reported in bee venom. In this study, we determined the content of putrescine in bee venom by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The specificity, accuracy, and precision of the assay were assessed, and the assay validated. The linearity of the putrescine assay was r ≥ 0.99, indicating a moderate level of putrescine in the bee venom. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were both 0.9 ㎍/mL, while the rate of recovery was 96.4%-99.9%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intra-day precision and inter-day precision of the putrescine assay were 0.16% - 0.23% and 0.09% - 0.36%, respectively, with the RSD ≤ 5% indicating excellent precision. Thus, the linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and recovery rate of the putrescine assay were satisfactory. The analysis of the bee venom showed that the putrescine content was 3.1 ± 0.09 mg/g. This study provides fundamental data on putrescine content in bee venom, which will prove useful in further studies of its bioactivity.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the actual risk of fipronil on worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) through acute contact toxicity test, acute oral toxicity test, toxicity of residues on foliage test, and small scale field test. The $48h-LD_{50s}$ of fipronil SC on honeybee were $0.005{\mu}g$ a.i./bee in acute contact toxicity test and $0.004{\mu}g$ a.i./bee in acute oral toxicity test, respectively. In toxicity of residues on foliage test, fipronil showed over 90% of mortality during 28days after treatment at recommended application rate. The $DT_{50}$ of dislodgeable foliar residue was 9 days. Finally, In small scale field test, fipronil showed similar toxicity in the residues on foliage test. It was concluded that fipronil has very high acute toxicity and long residual toxicity to honeybee. Therefore, fipronil is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area. To protect honeybee and wild pollinators from outdoor use of fipronil, ultimately it should need to limit for only indoor use to prevent pollinators from unintentionally exposure of fipronil.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2017

The flowering season of jujube (Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder) is overlaps with the rainy season and the abnormal weather conditions in Korea, thereby affecting pollination, fertilization, and fruit setting. We studied the pollinating activities of Apis mellifera L. and Bombus terrestris L. in rain shelter houses and their effects on fruit setting, with the ultimate aim of stabilizing fruit setting in Z. jujuba. A. mellifera and B. terrestirs were used for pollination in jujube orchard in the rain shelter house for approximately 55 days from June 1, 2016, to July 25, 2016. The peak time of the rate of outgoing and incoming A. mellifera was recorded in the afternoon. However, the diurnal activity of B. terrestris was constant between 09:30 and 17:30 h. The rate of jujube fruit set on current shoots by A. mellifera and B. terrestirs was 10.2 and 8.9%, whereas that in plots with no pollinators was 5.5%. Therefore, using pollinator in the rain shelter house in jujube orchard is effective in promoting jujube fruit setting.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2020

Bee (Apis mellifera L.) venom is used for the treatment of various human diseases due to its known anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This study investigated the effect of purified bee venom (PBV) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. There was no cytotoxicity while cells were treated with PBV by various concentrations. In the PBV treated cells increases in fat storage were inhibited and also confirmed by oil red o staining. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level were examined on the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis by using real-time PCR. In this cell model, the mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARγ) and CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha(C/EBPα) were decreased by PAE treatment, comparing with those of control group. Theses results suggest that PBV inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and can be used as an efficient natural substance to manage anti-obesity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 1988

In order to determine the approptiate usage of insecticides to honeybee(Apis mellifera L.), median effective dose to seven insecticides were studied. $LC_(50)$ value of DDT was the highest as being 58 ppm, and that of EPN was the lowest as being 1.61ppm. Various detoxifying enzymes from the midget cf adult worker bee, including microsomal oxidases, glutathione Stransferases, esterases, and DDT-dehydrochlorinase were assayed. Effects of various insecticides on microsomal enzyme activities were as follows: Aldrin epoxidase activity was inhibited by malathione and permethrin treatment. N-demethylase activity was induced by diazinon and EPN treatment and O-demethlase activity was induced by diazinon treatment. Of the glutathione S-transferases, aryltransferase(DCNB conjugation) activity was significantly induced by diazinon, and moderately induced by permethrin. Of the esterases, ${\alpha}-NA$ esterase activity was moderately inhibited by malatjione and permethrin. Acetylcholinesterase activity was not affected by the sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides. Sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides had no effect on DDT-dehydrochlorinase activity, except carbaryl and permethrin were significantly induced.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2008

Lack of honey bee toxicity data for most pesticide products used for strawberry restricts to predict the adverse effects to foraging honey bee after treatment of pesticide in plastic house. This study was conducted to evaluate the actual risk of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) through acute contact toxicity test, acute oral toxicity test and toxicity of residues on foliage test with 21 pesticide products. The mortality of honeybee sprayed with 6 pesticides including dichlofluanid WP showed significantly different from control at recommended application rate in acute contact toxicity test at 24 hours after treatment. Fenpropathrin EC and milbemectin EC treatment groups showed more than 25% mortalities at recommended application rate in acute oral toxicity test. In toxicity of residues on foliage test, only fenpropathrin EC treatment group showed more than 25% mortalities at 10 days after treatment at recommended application rate. It was concluded that the most toxic route to exposure for honey bee is direct contact exposure to sprayed pesticides. Safety interval for honey bee was established by concerning the results of these tests.