The varroa mite is a primary driver behind periodical losses of honey bee colonies. The mite requires bees for food and reproduction and, in turn, elicits physiological deficiencies and diseases that compromise bee colony health. The mite nervous system is a target site for existing acaricides. These acaricides not only have adverse health effects on bees, but resistance limits their use to reduce mites and diseases in bee colonies. Voltage-gated chloride channels are involved in the maintenance of nerve and muscle excitability in arthropod pests, which suggests that these channels might be exploited as targets for acaricides. Apistan® (the pyrethroid tau-fluvalinate), Checkmite+® (the organophosphate coumaphos), and Apivar® (the formamidine amitraz) are control products for mite management. The effectiveness of these chemistries has diminished as a result of the increasing incidence resistance in mite populations. I report a toxicological analysis of stilbene products against acaricide-susceptible and -resistant mites. My results find a significant increase in metabolic detoxification enzyme activities in acaricide-resistant mites compared to susceptible mites. Acetylcholinesterase of coumaphos-resistant mites was significantly less sensitive to the toxic coumaphos metabolite compared to susceptible mites, which suggests target-site insensitivity as a mechanism of acaricide resistance. The stilbene product DIDS had significantly higher field efficacy to acaricide-resistant mites compared to Apistan®- and CheckMite+®. These data suggest that DIDS, and other stilbene products, might serve as candidate chemistries to continue field efficacy testing of alternative acaricides for Apistan® and CheckMite+® resistant mites. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Integrating trees into pasture may be an effective management tool to improve water, nutrient, and light allocation and increase total system productivity in Appalachia. We tested this hypothesis in a silvopasture near Blacksburg, VA. In 1995, black walnut and honey locust trees were planted within plots (r=3) of predominantly tall fescue pasture. Across a 12% slope, trees were planted to create treatments of low, medium, and high tree densities at shoulder, mid, and toe slope positions within plots of honey locust and black walnut. Sampling sites (n=54) under tree density and slope position combinations were harvested May to October at 35-d intervals in 2002 and 2003 for determination of yield and nutritive value characteristics. Soil surface temperature, forage canopy temperature, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation were measured to determine forage responses to field treatments as functions of resource allocation. Tree density had the greatest effect on forage production and nutritive value. Across both years, yields were 16% greater (P=0.0006) at medium density (6130 kg/ha) compared to forage mass at low (5280 kg/ha)) and high density (4970 kg/ha, SE=130). Increasing tree density did not affect (P>0.2) ADF, CP, P, K, and Mg levels, but reduced (P<0.001) NDF and TNC, and increased (P<0.0001) ADL and Ca. Elevated soil surface and forage canopy temperatures limited forage production and nutritive value at low density, while low light levels were the limiting factor at high density. Moderating forage microclimate with appropriately spaced trees is an effective way to improve forage production in temperate pastures. / Master of Science

The food industry has responded to the American Heart Association's overwhelming concerns about the complications of obesity with an array of fat reduced products that maintain the functionality of fat in given systems. In baked products, it appears that no one single ingredient effectively mimics these functions. The present study investigated the effect of liquid or dry honey as a partial replacement for sugar on the baking and keeping qualities of fat reduced muffins. The fat reduced muffins also utilized a hydrocolloid fat replacer, bacterial and fungal amylases, and an emulsifier (DATEM). Results showed that both liquid and dry honey significantly (p<0.05) increased crust and crumb color at all replacement levels, however the use of 25% liquid honey was shown to favorably increase the crust color of fat reduced muffins. Volume was not significantly (p>0.05) affected but appeared to decrease with the addition of honey due to either premature starch gelatinization or a decrease in batter pH. The addition of honey increased moisture content, and decreased water activity, but did not decrease firmness or staling rates especially after prolonged frozen storage. Sensory panelists noted that the addition of liquid or dry honey increased the cohesive forces and decreased tenderness. The addition of moisture to the fat reduced system did not appear to improve the perceived moistness of the product. / Master of Science

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are the major insect pollinators of many different crops. A drastic decline in the honey bee populations has been reported over the past decade. While many factors have contributed to this decline, pesticides, poor nutrition, and Varroa mites are the most common concerns noted by scientists and beekeepers. Aside from direct toxicity from pesticides, it has been observed that sublethal pesticide doses have effects on honey bee physiology and behavior such as oxidative stress, disruption of foraging and homing, and changes to honey bee neurophysiology. The primary objectives of this project were to examine honey bee gut microbiome, physiology, and pesticide exposure along an agricultural intensification gradient and to examine the interactive impacts of pesticide exposure and poor nutrition on honey bees in a controlled laboratory cage setting. Sixteen honey bee colonies were placed in four locations across Mississippi with varying degrees of natural forage availability.

The skin is a large organ consisting of different types of tissues. It serves many important functions such as protection against microorganisms, viruses, and harmful UV rays from the sun. Additionally, the skin plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature. It is composed of three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutis. When injured, blood vessels in the dermis are penetrated, resulting in bleeding. Wound healing occurs through a process divided into four phases aimed at tissue repair. Honey has long been used for its health-promoting properties, especially in wound healing, although the molecular mechanisms underlying these properties remain unclear. To contribute to a better understanding of this, this literature review examines the effects of manuka honey on various types of wounds and aims to answer whether manuka honey works better compared to standard treatments for certain wound types. This work compiled results from randomized controlled trials retrieved from the PubMed database in 2024 using the search terms "manuka honey, wound healing." The five selected studies examined the effect of manuka honey on different types of wounds (diabetic foot ulcers, leg ulcers, wounds after tooth or nail extraction, and venous ulcers) compared to standard treatments such as dressings or placebos. The studies included participants from various countries and age groups. Exclusion criteria included age under 16 years, serious illnesses, honey allergies, and ongoing steroid or anti-inflammatory treatments. The results indicated that manuka honey improved healing time for certain wound types, such as neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers and post-tooth extraction wounds and contributed to changes in bacterial flora for venous leg ulcers. Despite these promising results, the studies showed no advantage of manuka honey dressings over paraffin dressings for postoperative and venous ulcers after longer treatment durations.

The theme of this thesis is a comparison of selected quality indicators of samples from single-flower honeys from the area of the Czech Republic and honeys from different retail chains. The theoretical part focuses on the characteristics of the individual kinds of honey and how different their composition is. There are described basic physical and chemical requirements for honey including sensory requirements which are specified in Regulation No.76/2003 Code. The practical part contains a physically-chemical analysis according to the Harmonized methods of European Honey and a sensory evaluation of selected single-flower honeys (honeydew, acacia, lime, sunflower and rape). There were analysed twenty samples of honey from Czech beekeepers and fifteen samples of honey bought in different retail chains in the Czech Republic. Subsequently, these parameters were monitored - water content and acidity. Next step was a test for evidence of disruption by starchy sugar and malt extracts. Then, sensory requirements such as colour, smell, taste and consistence were evaluated. The conclusion of the comparison of honey samples indicates that individual honey samples differed the most in the taste and smell criteria and in addition the samples were often disrupted by starchy sugar and malt extracts. The samples collected from the beekeepers from the area of the Czech Republic complied with Regulation No.76/2003 Code. On the contrary, the samples from the chosen retail chains in the Czech Republic weren't in accordance with the criteria specified in Regulation No.76/2003 Code.

The thesis deals with an incidence of so-called cement (melecitose) honey, which can cause serious problems to a beekeeper in the form of losses of bee colonies, honey as well as beewax works. It is a honeydew honey with a higher content of the trisaccharide of melezitose, which causes a quick crystallization in comb cells. A high concentration of this trisaccharide which consists of two molecules of glucose and one molecule of fructose is caused by some representatives of hemipteran insect. Reverse invertases present in hemipteran bodies cause synthesis of oligosaccharides, including the trisaccharide melezitose, from monosaccharides. Content of this trisaccharide is determining for the formation of the cement honey. Above 10 % it can cause quick crystallization of honey. Incidence of the melezitosis is increased by many factors of which the most important is weather suitable for reproduction of honeydew producers followed by a dry period during which water content in the honeydew decreases and the content of saccharides increases. Other important factors are health of the bee colony and species composition of the honeydew sources. Aim of the thesis was to analyse incidence of melecitose honey in the region of Český Krumlov over the period of several years depending of the length of active period of the individual bee keepers. Influence of altitude, year, weather, number of bee colonies, and species composition of honey flow sources was also evaluated. The thesis also presents methods of cement honey processing as used by beekeepers who have recently experienced this problem. The most frequently used method is dipping combs in water with subsequent reworking of the solution by honeybees. Zootechnical methods of beekeeping reflecting the problems of the incidence of cement honey are outlined in the theoretic part of the thesis.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-03-30T12:33:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Ricardo da Silva.pdf: 2807070 bytes, checksum: a396ead3497c7e6defcd09112e6c5043 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-30T12:33:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Ricardo da Silva.pdf: 2807070 bytes, checksum: a396ead3497c7e6defcd09112e6c5043 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-17 / ] The species of stingless bee Melipona mandacaia is popularly known as mandaçaia and is native to northeastern Brazil. This study analyzed honey and geopropolis of mandaçaia. For honey were carried out pollen, physical and chemical analysis such as moisture, pH, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, ash content, reducing sugars and water activity, amino acids, minerals and antiradical activity of four samples of honey. The major phenolic constituents of honey were extracted and analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Efficiency coupled to the Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). Pollen analysis showed that the dominant pollen in honey samples was the plant species Mimosa arenosa (Fabaceae / Mimosoideae) ranging from 44.4% to 61.7%. The identified flavonoids quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol acid derivatives: 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, 1,2-dihydroxybenzoic, caffeic, cinnamic and ferulic were quantified. All honey samples showed the amino acid proline, alanine, serine and threonine. The minerals were the predominant calcium and potassium. All honeys showed scavenging activity of free radical front to DPPH and ABTS. For geopropolis of mandaçaia was determined to botanical origin, phenolics were quantified by HPLC-DAD and the antioxidant activity was determined by testing with DPPH, ABTS and beta carotene / linoleic acid system. Pollen analysis of nine samples geopropolis showed the presence of 25 types of pollen representing fifteen families. The Senna species (Leguminoseae) was the predominant pollen in eight of the nine samples. The phenol content in the geopropolis of mandaçaia were identified as caffeic acid, coumaric acid, trans-3-hydroxycinnamic acid, 4-methoxycinnamic acid and abscisic. All samples geopropolis showed antioxidant activity, except hexanic fractions that have been inactive for the free radical DPPH. / A espécie de abelha sem ferrão Melipona mandacaia é conhecida popularmente como mandaçaia e é nativa do Nordeste brasileiro. Neste estudo foi analisado o mel e a geoprópolis da mandaçaia. Foram realizadas as análises palinológicas, físico-químicas tais como umidade, pH, acidez livre, hidroximetilfurfural, teor de cinzas, açucares redutores e atividade de água, aminoácidos, minerais e atividade antirradicalar em quatro amostras de mel. Os principais constituintes fenólicos do mel foram extraídos e analisados por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência acoplada ao Detector de Arranjo de Diodos (CLAE-DAD). A análise palinológica mostrou que o pólen predominante nas amostras de mel foi da espécie vegetal Mimosa arenosa (Fabaceae/Mimosoideae), variando de 44,4% a 61,7%. Os flavonoides identificados quercetina, luteolina, kampferol e os derivados de ácido: 3,4-dihidroxibenzoico, 1,2-dihidroxibenzoico, cafeico, cinâmico e ferúlico foram quantificados. Todas as amostras de mel apresentaram os aminoácidos prolina, alanina, serina e treonina. Os minerais predominantes foram o cálcio e potássio. Todos os méis apresentaram atividade sequestradora de radical livre frente ao DPPH e ABTS. A origem botânica da geoprópolis da mandaçaia foi determinada e os compostos fenólicos foram quantificados por CLAE-DAD e a atividade antioxidante foi determinada pelos testes com DPPH, ABTS e o sistema beta caroteno/ácido linoleico. A análise palinológica das nove amostras de geoprópolis mostraram a presença de 25 tipos de pólen representando quinze famílias. O tipo polínico Senna (Leguminoseae) foi o predominante em oito das nove amostras analisadas. Os fenólicos presentes na geoprópolis da mandaçaia foram identificados como sendo ácidos cafeico, cumárico, trans-3-hidroxicinâmico, abscísico e 4-metoxicinâmico. Todas as amostras de geoprópolis apresentaram atividade antioxidante, exceto as frações hexânicas que foram inativas para o radical livre DPPH.

The life history and ontogenetic microhabitat change of Mayatrichia ponta Ross were investigated in Honey Creek, Turner Falls Park, Murray Co., Oklahoma, U.S.A. from August 1994 to August 1995. The shape of larval cases changed from a small cone to a cylinder. M. ponta had an asynchronous multivoltine life history with considerable cohort and generation overlap; five generations were estimated. The development rate was reduced in winter. The winter generations of M. ponta had wider head capsule widths (136-165 μm) than summer generations (121-145 μm). The sex ratio of adults was 1.43 ♂ : 1 ♀. Fecundity ranged from 46 to 150 eggs/female. Fifth instar larvae and pupae aggregated on the bottom side of substrates. Early instars were distributed evenly on all sides of substrates. General patterns of ontogenetic microhabitat shift in aquatic insects are categorized as flow mediated, flow independent, and population interactions and other resources mediated.

This diploma thesis entitled "Attractiveness of Planting Species with a Potential to Extend Bee Forage for Bees" discusses pollen and nectar plants planted in the Brník municipality in the Central Bohemian Region. The thesis consists of two parts. The theoretical part describes honeybees, bee plants and their pollen- and nectar production ability as well as bee forage from early spring until late autumn so as to reflect the needs of pollinators as best as possible. The practical part uses pollen analysis to microscopically analyse the representation of pollen grains of plants in the honey produced by local bee colonies. Pollen analyses of honey from own bee colonies are compared with that from bee colonies belonging to neighbouring beekeepers.