Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees (2002) tells the story of a motherless fourteen-year-old Lily Owens, raised by a cruel father, who desperately searches for clues to unlock her mother’s past. Kidd’s bildungsroman reveals the incredible power of black women, particularly a group of beekeeping sisters and a black Mary, to create a safe haven where Lily can examine her fragmented life and develop psychologically, finally becoming a self-actualized young lady. Lily’s matriarchal world of influence both compares and contrasts with the patriarchal world represented in Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, exposing the matriarchy’s aptly structured ways of providing a more healing environment than is Huck Finn’s. Kidd’s novel also showcases the stylistic strategies of first person narrative point of view, language, dialect, and the motif of place in order to contextualize the social awareness and psychological development Lily gains through her journey.

Scrapter Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (Hymenoptera: Aculeatea: Anthophila: Colletidae) is a genus of solitary bees largely endemic to southern Africa. This dissertation investigated the phylogenetic systematics of the genus. Eleven new species of Scrapter are described, principally from the Succulent Karoo biome of South Africa, bringing the total number of species in the genus to 42. An updated dichotomous key to facilitate identification is provided. The previously unknown females of S. albifumus Eardley and S. amplispinatus Eardley are also described. The genus is recorded from outside southern Africa for the first time with the collection of S. nitidus (Friese) in Kenya. This constitutes a significant range extension of the genus. The taxonomic status of five species described by Cockerell in 1944, and subsequently overlooked, is addressed. They are all found to be synonyms of other Scrapter species, except one, which is found to be a Ctenoplectrina species (Apidae: Apinae: Ctenoplectrini). The new synonymies are: S. subincertus Cockerell = S. niger Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau & Audinet-Serville; S. brunneipennis Cockerell = S. niger Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau & Audinet-Serville; S. merescens Cockerell = S. leonis Cockerell; S. sinophilus Cockerell = S. algoensis (Friese). Scrapter ugandica Cockerell becomes Ctenoplectrina ugandica (Cockerell) as a new combination. Investigation of selected morphological features (e.g. postmentum, facial fovea, galea) revealed much diversity in Scrapter. The monophyly of Scrapter is not supported by unambiguous apomorphies, but is defensible by the congruence of various qualitative characters (e.g. premental fovea, T2 fovea, hindleg and sternal scopa in [females], two submarginal cells). A cladistic analysis using 25 morphological characters recovered numerous most parsimonious trees under both equal- and successive-weighting. To aid in resolution, several taxa known from only one sex or from very limited material, and with many unknown states, were deleted from the matrix. Analysis using this reduced matrix under equal- and successive-weighting resulted in better resolution, although with low consistency index values. Several subclades were common to both cladograms, and likely represent monophyla. The low consistency indices and general lack of unique synapomorphies upholding these subclades, however, dictated against making any classificatory re-arrangements. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

The objective of this study was to characterize the wild bee fauna of a managed mixed-grass prairie in southwestern Manitoba. Weekly sampling using two methods, sweep-netting and bee bowls, was conducted over two years (2005-2006) at three sites within the Yellow Quill Mixed-grass Prairie Preserve. Spatial and seasonal patterns in diversity indices, taxonomic composition and ecological composition of the bee fauna were identified and investigated in relation to sampling method, environmental conditions, and floral resource availability. A total of 7014 individual bees representing five families and 100 species were collected. Numerically, social nesters from the genera Lasioglossum and Bombus dominated, while mining species of Andrena represented the greatest species richness. Observed spatial and seasonal patterns in the abundance, diversity and composition of the bee community were strongly modified by sampling method, resource limitation in the second year and the presence of the exotic invasive plant leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula).

The objective of this study was to characterize the wild bee fauna of a managed mixed-grass prairie in southwestern Manitoba. Weekly sampling using two methods, sweep-netting and bee bowls, was conducted over two years (2005-2006) at three sites within the Yellow Quill Mixed-grass Prairie Preserve. Spatial and seasonal patterns in diversity indices, taxonomic composition and ecological composition of the bee fauna were identified and investigated in relation to sampling method, environmental conditions, and floral resource availability. A total of 7014 individual bees representing five families and 100 species were collected. Numerically, social nesters from the genera Lasioglossum and Bombus dominated, while mining species of Andrena represented the greatest species richness. Observed spatial and seasonal patterns in the abundance, diversity and composition of the bee community were strongly modified by sampling method, resource limitation in the second year and the presence of the exotic invasive plant leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula).

Det här arbetet handlar om tambins inverkan på naturligt förekommande pollinatörer. Min frågeställning berör: tillgången på näring, hälsotillståndet och populationsnivån hos naturligt förekommande pollinatörer i förhållande till tambins närvaro. Det som framkommit av den här litteraturstudien är att introducerade tambin leder till att naturligt förekommande pollinatörer minskar i antal kring bikuporna, en del arter söker föda på andra blommor eller senare på dygnet än tidigare. Den minskade tillgången på föda som denna konkurrens innebär har en negativ inverkan på humlors kroppsstorlek och därmed deras överlevnad. Samt att tambin kan föra över patogener så som varroakvalster, nosemasjuka och deformed wing virus till humlor vilket leder till minskad livslängd och sämre fortplantning. / This study is about the impact of honeybees on native pollinators. My questions concerns: availability of food, the health and population level of native pollinators in relation to the presence of honeybees. What has emerged from this literature review is that the introduction of honeybees lead to a decline in numbers of bee and bumblebee pollinators in proximity of the hives and also alters their behaviour, some species choose to forage on other flowers, or later in the day than before honeybees where introduced. The reduced availability of food that this competition induces has a negative impact on the size of bumblebees body’s and thus their survival. What was also discovered was that honeybees can transfer pathogens such as varroa mites, the microsporidium Nosema ceranae and deformed wing virus to bumblebees, leading to reduced life expectancy and poor propagation.

Diss. (sammanfattning)--Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksUniversity, 2001. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1210474 bytes, checksum: 54a2d68e22373c9be043b1a04f343b11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Recently, a decline of pollinators, especially the bees Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), has affected beekeeping and consequently agricultural harvests in some countries, although the damage to ecosystems has not been effectively accounted. Among the causes listed for this unexplained phenomenon, pathogens are among the possible factors responsible. There are several pathogens that attack the bees A. mellifera around the world, as bacteria Paenibacillus larvae (White) and the fungi Ascosphaera apis (Maassen ex Claussen) Olive & Spiltoir, Nosema apis Zander and Nosema ceranae Fries et al. Their distributions in some parts of the world, such as Brazil, are not exactly known, not only because of the difficulty of collecting samples in such a large country, and also because of the time and cost of diagnoses involved. At this point, it is important to standardize techniques for rapid diagnosis and to facilitate the safe conduct of epidemiological surveys, and therefore assist in controlling the spread of these microorganisms. The aim of this work was standardize a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of the spores of A. apis, N. ceranae and P. larvae present in honey and use it in the analysis of honey samples from some regions. The multiplex PCR was standardized using specific primers and DNA was extracted from honey samples positive for each of the pathogens. The recommendations of existing national legislation were used for the preparation of the solutions of honey to be submitted to the technique developed. The standard technique in this study was effective for diagnosing three pathogens to A. mellifera in honey, A. apis, N. ceranae and P. larvae. The detection threshold of monospecific PCR was of 10 CFU/mL of honey, and of 10 and 100 spores/mL of honey for A. apis and N. ceranae, respectively. The detection sensitivity of multiplex PCR was of 10 CFU/mL of honey for P. larvae, and of 100 spores/mL of honey for A. apis and for N. ceranae. Did not match any of those pathogens in 120 honey samples analyzed with standardized multiplex PCR. Thus this method was suitable for simultaneous detection of pathogens to A. mellifera in honey, but can probably be used in other bee products with minor modifications. / Recentemente, o declínio global dos polinizadores, especialmente das abelhas Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), tem acometido a atividade apícola e agrícola de alguns países causando prejuízos econômicos e ambientais, notadamente para os ecossistemas, ainda não efetivamente contabilizados. Dentre as causas elencadas para esse inexplicável fenômeno os patógenos estão entre os principais possíveis responsáveis. Vários são os patógenos que acometem as abelhas A. mellifera pelo mundo, entre eles a bactéria Paenibacillus larvae (White), e os fungos Ascosphaera apis (Maassen ex Claussen) Olive e Spiltoir, Nosema apis Zander e Nosema ceranae Fries et al. Suas distribuições em algumas partes do mundo, como o Brasil, são pouco conhecidas, não apenas pela dificuldade de coleta de amostras em um país com tamanha dimensão, mas também em virtude da morosidade e custo dos diagnósticos envolvidos. Diante disso, torna-se importante a padronização de técnicas para o diagnóstico rápido e seguro que facilite a realização de levantamentos epidemiológicos e que, consequentemente, auxilie no controle da disseminação desses micro-organismos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi padronizar uma técnica de PCR multiplex para detecção simultânea da presença de A. apis, N. ceranae e P. larvae em mel, bem como empregá-la na análise de amostras de mel provenientes de algumas regiões brasileiras. A PCR multiplex foi padronizada com primers específicos e DNA dos micro-organismos obtidos de amostras de mel positivas para cada um dos patógenos. Utilizou-se as recomendações da legislação nacional vigente para o preparo das soluções de mel a serem submetidas à técnica desenvolvida. A técnica padronizada neste estudo foi eficiente para diagnosticar simultaneamente três patógenos de A. mellifera em mel: A. apis, N. ceranae e P. larvae. O limiar de detecção da PCR monoespecífica foi 10 UFC/mL de mel para P. larvae e de 10 e 100 esporos/mL de mel para A. apis e N. ceranae, respectivamente. A sensibilidade de detecção da PCR multiplex foi de 10 UFC/mL de mel para P. larvae e 100 esporos/mL de mel para A. apis e N. ceranae. Não foram encontrados nenhum dos referidos patógenos nas 120 amostras de mel que foram analisadas com a PCR multiplex padronizada. A PCR multiplex foi adequada para detecção simultânea de patógenos de A. mellifera em mel, mas, provavelmente, poderá ser utilizada em outros produtos apícolas com pequenas modificações.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:49:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArquivoTotal.pdf: 2749122 bytes, checksum: 0133f1478c7f201fb6e4243815f6e3dc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Melipona semingra merrillae is a honey producing stingless bee species, whose honey properties are native to the Amazon Region, honey, honey whose properties are still poorly known. In the present study honey samples produced by Melipona seminigra merrillae in seven counties from Amazonas state Brazil, namely: Boca do Acre (BAJ), Pauni (PAU), Manaus (MAO), Rio Preto da Eva (RP), Lábrea (LAB), Maués (ME) and Coari (CO) were investigated. The study was performed studying the physic-chemical characteristics (pH, acidity, ash, proteins, hydroxymethylfurfural, and reducing sugars), thermal degradation profile, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity and profile of phenolic compounds. In the study of the antioxidant properties were prepared methanol extracts and ethyl acetate fractions of the honeys, in which samples were performed tests for the evaluation of the antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, HO, β-carotene/linoleic acid system and FRAP). The data of the melissopalynological analysis characterized four of the seven honeys and monoflorals. In relation to the physic-chemical analyses, most of the parameters analyzed showed average values adequate for the human consumption, with the exception of moisture and reducing sugars. The thermogravimetric data showed that all the honey samples displayed a similar thermal degradation profile. As for the antimicrobial activities, the ethyl acetate fractions of the samples LAB, ME and CO presented the best results with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) varying from 256 to 512 μg.mL-1. The promising results of antioxidant activity found in honey, extracts and fractions can be explained by the presence of phenolic compounds: gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, trans-trans abscisic acid, cis-trans abscisic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, coumaric acid, cinnamic acid and the flavonoids taxifolin, naringenin, luteolin and catechol, whose presence in Brazilian honeys is reported for the first time. Taxifolin was identified in all the samples, in contents ranging from 3.87 to 67.2 mg/100g of honey, suggesting that it is a phenolic indicator for the honeys produced by the species. The total phenolic contents were expressive for the evaluated samples, what could support the consumption of these honeys as a functional food. / Melipona semingra merrillae é uma espécie de abelha sem ferrão, nativa da Região do Amazonas, melífera, cujas propriedades do mel ainda são pouco conhecidas. Neste estudo foram analisadas amostras de mel produzidas por Melipona seminigra merrillae em sete municípios do Estado do Amazonas: Boca do Acre (BAJ), Pauni (PAU), Manaus (MAO), Rio Preto da Eva (RP), Lábrea (LAB), Maués (ME) e Coari (CO). Quanto à origem botânica, características físico-químicas (pH, acidez, cinzas, proteínas, hidroximetilfurfural, atividade de água e açúcares redutores), perfil de degradação térmica, atividade antioxidante (DPPH, ABTS, HO, sistema β-caroteno/ácido linoléico e FRAP), atividade antimicrobiana, conteúdo e perfil de compostos fenólicos. Os dados da análise melissopalinológica caracterizaram quatro dentre os sete méis analisados como monoflorais. Com relação às análises físico-químicas os resultados revelaram que a maioria dos parâmetros físico-químicos investigados apresentou valores médios adequados para o consumo humano, o que possibilita a exploração deste produto. Os dados das análises termogravimétricas por sua vez indicaram que todas as amostras de méis têm o perfil de degradação térmica semelhante. Os resultados da atividade antioxidante mostraram-se promissores para os méis, os extratos e as frações. Quanto à atividade antimicrobiana as amostras LAB, ME, e CO apresentaram melhores resultados. Na determinação do perfil fenólico foram identificados os seguintes compostos: Ácido gálico, 3,4-di-hidroxibenzóico, 4-hidroxibenzóico, catecol, Trans-trans- abscísico, Cis-trans- abscísico, vanílico, siríngico, salicílico, cumárico, cinâmico, e os flavonóides taxifolina, naringenina e luteolina, o que justifica a atividade antioxidante relevante do mel. A taxifolina foi identificada em todas as amostras com teores variando de 3,8 mg/100g a 67,2 mg/100g de mel, sugerindo ser um indicador fenólico dos méis produzidos pela espécie. Ao nosso conhecimento este é o primeiro relato do composto fenólico catecol em mel. Os teores de conteúdo de fenólicos totais foram bastante expressivos para todas as amostras avaliadas, o que poderia fundamentar o consumo destes méis como alimento funcional.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:55:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1145467 bytes, checksum: c728d8e2b9bf1205710f19f317acdccc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The use of trap nests supplies important biological information about nesting bees and wasps. However, the knowledge about the factors influencing on management of these groups is still scarce. This work aimed to analyze some community structure parameters (species abundance, richness, composition and predominance) in two agricultural areas in the Zona da Mata macro region of Paraiba State: Shading, block material (wood or vermiculite), and tubs opening diameter and cardinal orientation. It was verified the influence of these four factors in the community structure parameters. Both sites where similar in species richness and composition. Alhandra site had an accentuated abundance, due Trypoxylon aurifrons e Centris analis. In shaded area most species where more abundant than in sunny one. Otherwise, in Alhandra site the sunny area had higher species richness. Wood blocks where more expensive and difficult to manufacture. Meanwhile, they had more attractiveness than vermiculite blocks, especially for bees. Number of nests was smaller in predominant wind direction trap nests. The two most abundant species where diameter-generalists. The results and the Trypoxylon aurifrons behavior observed suggest that this species should compete by trap nests holes with bees. / A utilização de ninhos-armadilha provê informações importantes acerca da biologia das espécies abelhas e vespas nidificantes. Entretanto, o conhecimento sobre os fatores que influenciam o manejo dessas espécies ainda é escasso. O presente estudo analisou parâmetros da estrutura da comunidade (abundância, riqueza, composição e predominância de espécies) em duas áreas agrícolas dentro da Zona da Mata paraibana (Alhandra e EMEPA). Quatro variáveis foram avaliadas: grau de sombreamento dos ninhosarmadilha, tipo de bloco usado como substrato (madeira ou vermiculita), direção para a qual a entrada dos tubos encontrava-se voltada e diâmetro do tubo. Desse modo, foi verificado o grau de influência dessas quatro variáveis nos parâmetros da estrutura da comunidade estudados. As duas áreas se mostraram semelhantes quanto à riqueza e composição. Entretanto, em Alhandra foi observada uma abundância acentuada, ocasionada por Trypoxylon aurifrons e Centris analis. Apesar da maioria das espécies ter sido mais abundante na área sombreada, observou-se uma maior riqueza de espécies na área ensolarada em Alhandra. Quanto ao material, observou-se que os blocos de madeira, apesar de mais caros e de difícil manejo, foram mais atrativos que os de vermiculita, especialmente para as espécies de abelhas. O número de nidificações foi menor na direção voltada para os ventos predominantes nas áreas. As duas espécies mais abundantes foram mais generalistas quanto à utilização de diferentes diâmetros. Os resultados obtidos e o comportamento de Trypoxylon aurifrons sugerem que essa espécie pode competir com as espécies de abelhas pelos tubos de ninhos-armadilha agrupados.

Submitted by Deyse Queiroz (deysequeirozz@hotmail.com) on 2018-06-05T13:31:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ RIVAMAR DE ANDRADE - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2017..pdf: 1568023 bytes, checksum: dcdd1eaa421ad9f09a4f7e8e1fbcdf81 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-05T13:31:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ RIVAMAR DE ANDRADE - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2017..pdf: 1568023 bytes, checksum: dcdd1eaa421ad9f09a4f7e8e1fbcdf81 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / A apicultura é uma área que contem um saber específico, através das suas terminologias, e que é compartilhado por biólogos, apicultores, técnicos da área, instituições que se utilizam dela para sua sobrevivência e que se preocupam com as questões ambientais, bem como com a produção de alimentos que a polinização pode proporcionar. A presente dissertação manifesta através do Dicionário de Apicultura, representa o repertório de léxicos apícolas técnico-científicos que permeiam a ciência, a prática da Apicultura, o cotidiano da humanidade. De forma sucinta, apresentam-se considerações sobre os avanços tecnológicos da Apicultura, bem como, transitando pelo marco introdutório das abelhas africanas no Brasil, observando a importância da apicultura racional e sua relação com a sustentabilidade. Em segundo momento, elucidam-se conceitos sobre o léxico, a importância da definição referentes aos termos técnico-científicos e um embasamento pragmático sobre o enquadramento e a tipologia do Dicionário de Apicultura. Esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida na Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus Pombal/PB, dentro do Programa de Pós-Graduação de Sistemas Agroindustriais – PPGSA, denominado de Mestrado em Sistemas Agroindustriais, com objetivo de identificar e descrever terminologias próprias à Apicultura, termos técnico-científicos delimitados através da teoria da semasiologia e onomasiologia, delimitando os conceitos referentes a cada palavra. O corpus deu-se a partir da seleção e catalogação de termos apícolas, utilizados em bibliografias específicas da área, dentre as quais: livros, revistas, periódicos, anais. Assim, encontram-se reunidos nesta dissertação a condensação do conhecimento sistemático da Apicultura na forma de Dicionário. / Beekeeping is an area that has a specific knowledge through its terminology and is shared by biologists, beekeepers, technicians in the area, institutions that use it for their survival and that are concerned with environmental issues, as well as with the Production that pollination can provide. The present dissertation, through the Dictionary of Apiculture, represents the repertoire of technical-scientific apicultural lexicons that permeate science, the practice of Apiculture, the daily life of humanity. Briefly, we present some considerations about the technological advances of Beekeeping, as well as the introduction of African bees in Brazil, observing the importance of rational beekeeping and its relation to sustainability. Secondly, concepts about the lexicon, the importance of the definition referring to technical-scientific terms and a pragmatic basis on the framing and typology of the Dictionary of Apiculture are elucidated. This research was developed at the Federal University of Paraíba, Campus Pombal/PB, within the Postgraduate Program in Agroindustrial Systems - PPGSA, named Master in Agroindustrial Systems, with the objective of identifying and describing beekeeping terminology, technical and scientific terms Delimited through the theory of semasiology and onomasiology, delimiting the concepts referring to each word. The corpus was based on the selection and cataloging of apicultural terms, used in specific bibliographies of the area, among which: books, magazines, periodicals, annals. Thus, we find in this dissertation the condensation of the systematic knowledge of Apiculture in the form of Dictionary.