• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1495-1505
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• 2023

The western honeybee Apis mellifera L., a vital crop pollinator and producer of honey and royal jelly, faces numerous threats including diseases, chemicals, and mite infestations, causing widespread concern. While extensive research has explored the link between gut microbiota and their hosts. However, the impact of Varroa destructor infestation remains understudied. In this study, we employed massive parallel amplicon sequencing assays to examine the diversity and structure of gut microbial communities in adult bee groups, comparing healthy (NG) and Varroa-infested (VG) samples. Additionally, we analyzed Varroa-infested hives to assess the whole body of larvae. Our results indicated a notable prevalence of the genus Bombella in larvae and the genera Gillamella, unidentified Lactobacillaceae, and Snodgrassella in adult bees. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between NG and VG. Furthermore, our PICRUSt analysis demonstrated distinct KEGG classification patterns between larval and adult bee groups, with larvae displaying a higher abundance of genes involved in cofactor and vitamin production. Notably, despite the complex nature of the honeybee bacterial community, methanogens were found to be present in low abundance in the honeybee microbiota.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.192-196
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• 2008

This study examined the acaricidal activity of a new compound, K16776 against honeybee mite, Varroa destructor which is ecto-parasite of Apis mellifera. Acaricidal activity was performed using six acaricides, two Chinese commercial acaricides and one newly synthesized K16776 against V. destructor in the small container and in the bee hive. K16776 and amitraz exhibited 100% acaricidal activity against V. destructor without insecticidal toxicity to A. mellifera in the small container. The other acaricide was not activity. Applied to the bee hives, K16776 showed acaricidal activity as 98.7% ($250{\times}$) and 88.6% ($500{\times}$) and amitraz showed as 100% ($500{\times}$) and 90% ($1,000{\times}$), respectively. Made in China, Cao Suan Sha Man Pian and Wangs showed acaricidal activity as 56.9% and 66.7%, respectively. The result indicates that K16776 can be potentially useful control agent against honeybee mite, V. destructor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.178-178
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• 2004

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2019

The purpose of previous study centered around introducing minerals into bee colonies was to observe the Varrosa destructor mites-repelling effect of minerals ("Pszczelarstwo" 6/2016). The results of research published so far confirmed the purpose of using minerals in the fight against Varrosa infestation. This publication presents partial results of the next stage of research. Using foundation enriched with studied minerals in right proportions leads to diminishing the number of Varroa destructor parasites in bee colonies. It may also contribute to increase in the amount of honey obtained from bees. Foundations with minerals were in most cases correctly filled with larvae, and the new generation of bees didn't show any morphometric or physical-motor aberrations. The effect of minerals in the foundation weakens with time, which requires adequate reaction from the beekeeper. The study showed no negative effect of mineral suspensions added directly to royal jelly of larvae in the swarm cells and worker cells on the development of bees. Additional research was carried out in August and September and led to surprising observations, which are still too early to report. It obliges us to carry out further, extended subject research on a large number of bee colonies in 2017.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2015

Acarapis mites, including Acarapis woodi, Acarapis externus, and Acarapis dorsalis, are parasites of bees which can cause severe damage to the bee industry by destroying colonies and decreasing honey production. All 3 species are prevalent throughout many countries including UK, USA, Iran, Turkey, China, and Japan. Based on previous reports of Acarapis mites occurring in northeast Asia, including China and Japan, we investigated a survey of Acarapis mite infestations in honey bees in Korean apiaries. A total of 99 colonies of Apis mellifera were sampled from 5 provinces. The head and thorax of 20 bees from each colony were removed for DNA extraction. PCR assays were performed with 3 primer sets, including T, A, and K primers. Results indicated that 42.4% (42/99) of samples were Acarapis-positive by PCR assay which were sequenced to identify species. Each sequence showed 92.6-99.3% homology with reference sequences. Based on the homology, the number of colonies infected with A. dorsalis was 32 which showed the highest infection rate among the 3 species, while the number of colonies infected with A. externus and A. woodi was 9 and 1, respectively. However, none of the Acarapis mites were morphologically detected. This result could be explained that all apiaries in the survey used acaricides against bee mites such as Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps clareae which also affect against Acarapis mites. Based on this study, it is highly probable that Acarapis mites as well as Varroa and Tropilaelaps could be prevalent in Korean apiaries.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2018

Beekeeping status of Apis cerana with emphasis of experiences overcoming sacbrood virus disease are presented. Social bee fauna are rich in Vietnam with 6 honeybee species (Apis laboriosa, Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Apis andrenifomis, Apis florea); 8 stingless bee species (Trigona laeviceps, Trigona ventralis, Trigona pagdeni, Trigona gressitti, Trigona fuscobalteata, Trigona capenteri, Trigona scintillans Trigona iridipenis) and 2 bumble bee species (Bumbus haemorrhoidalis, B. breviceps). All of them are native except A. mellifera which was introduced in1887. These bees are slated for conservation by the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development. Honey and other bee products are mainly harvested from 3 species including A. cerana, A. mellifera and A. dorsata. The manageable species (A. cerana and A. mellifera) are increasing in number, reaching about 1,500,000 beehives. Vietnam is the second largest honey exporter in Asia, with a total of about 48,000 tons of honey exported to the international market in 2014. A. cerana plays an important role in poverty alleviation in mountainous and remote areas of Vietnam. Honeybee suffers from various diseases of Sacbrood virus disease (SBV), European foulbrood (EFB), Nosema, and parasitic mites of Tropilaelaps mercedes and Varroa destructor. Most of these diseases can be resolved with biocontrol methods. For the parasitic mites, Vietnamese beekeepers usually apply formic acid.