In order to use as a new functional food material, we analyzed the chemical components including the organic compounds, minerals and vitamin C of canola honey which were produced in South Korea. The condensed rate of methanol extraction in honey was 90.5% and main organic compounds that extract by organic solvents in GC-MS analysis were propyl carbinol, cyclopentane, trichloromethane, vinegar naphtha and so on. Also, main aromatic compounds that extract by organic solvents in SPME analysis were diisooctyl adipate, furole, furaldehyde, cyclotetrasiloxane, trisulfide and many more. As proximate composition, crude ash content was lower than acacia honey (0.06%) and manuka honey (0.24%) by 0.01%, and crude protein was higher than acacia honey (0.10%) by 0.23%, but the crude fat of canola and manuka honey was lower content than acacia honey (0.44%) by 0.10%. Free sugar that analyze by HPLC consisted of fructose 44.11%, glucose 22.72%, and total sugars was 66.83%. Minerals by ICP analysis were detected total 15 kinds, Na 7.157 ppm>Ca 5.934 ppm>Si 4.049 ppm>K 1.443 ppm>Mg 1.218 ppm etc. Vitamin C was not detected.

In order to use as a new functional food material, we analyzed the chemical components including the organic compounds, minerals and Vitamin C of cherry and acacia honey which were produced in South Korea. The condensed rate of methanol extraction in honey was 87.51% of cherry honey and it was 93.06% of acacia honey. In the case of cherry honey, main organic compounds that extract by organic solvents in GCMS analysis were trichloromethane, propylcarbinol, methacide, cyclopentane, tetrafinol etc. and main aromatic compounds that extract by organic solvents in SPME analysis were formyl trichloride, propanal, furfurylaldehyde, pyrazole, benzenecarbonal etc. Also, in occasion of acacia honey, main organic compounds were trichloromethan, Acetoxyethane, Hexanaphthene, acetidin etc. and main aromatic compounds were Hydrazomethan, Azulene, Cyclotrisiloxane, Hydrazine etc. Proximate composition was crude protein 0.33%, crude fat 0.15%, crude ash 0.47% in cherry honey and crude protein 0.10%, crude fat 0.44%, crude ash 0.06% in acacia honey. Free sugar that analyze by HPLC was fructose 37.05%, glucose 27.29%, total sugars 64.34% in cherry honey and fructose 48.52%, glucose 24.29%, total sugars 72.81% in acacia honey. Vitamin C was not detected in two sample honeys. Minerals by ICP analysis were detected total 25 kinds in cherry honey, K 9.762 ppm¤Si 5.628 ppm ¤Na 5.096 ppm¤Ca 2.224 ppm etc. and total 22 kinds in sacacia honey, Na 4.527 ppm¤Si 3.420 ppm¤K 3.091 ppm¤Zn 1.482 ppm etc.

Sacbrood disease is a viral disease on honey bee larvae Apis cerana. Diseased larvae fail to pupae and to be dead at old larvae and pre-pupae stage. Currently, there is no remedy to control sacbrood disease. In this study we conducted to observe sacbrood disease on Apis cerana colonies from June to September, 2014 at the A. cerana apiary of NAAS, and using biological measure to treat this disease. Our study results were showed that sacbrood disease infected A. cerana colonies in all months of observation. The percentage of infected colonies was from 33.3% up to 100%. Controlling sacbrood disease by requeen measure, the percentage of recovered colonies was 57.1 % while of this by cage queen measure was only 28.6 %.

In this study we conducted to rear worker honey bee (Apis cerana) from larvae to adult stage in the laboratory by using plastic well plates. Our study results were showed that honey bee larvae Apis cerana could be reared in the laboratory. The adult worker bee started to emerge on day 17 from grafting. The emergence of worker bee peak on day 18 and declined thereafter. The average survival rate from larvae to pre-pupae stage was 74.6%. The average survival rates from pre-pupae to adult stage and from larvae to adult stage were 40.7 % and 30.4 % respectively.

Asian is rich in honey bee species and genetic diversity. Among the difference native honey bee species, Apis cerana is very diversity of subspecies and distribution as well. Until now, nine A. cerana subspecies have been named. However, natural diversity of this species is being declined by threats such as pest, disease, deforestation, pesticide positioning and climate change. Therefore, the understanding of morphological characteristics of A. cerana is viral for maintaining biological diversity. In this paper we give an overview of method that are used for distinguish honey bee A. cerana subspecies and ecotype that can contribute to recognize genetic origin of colonies for conservation and breeding purpose. Base on morphmetric method currently in use, we outline strategies for sampling and measuring morphological characteristics on A. cerana.

RDA(Rural Development Administration of Agriculture) and YIRI(Yecheon-gun Industrial Insect Research Institute) was development of 3 strains crossbred honey bee(Apis mellifera) for increasing honey production(HP). The overall goal of this research is to improve the honey production of queen honey bees. This will enhance the economic value of the nation’s honey bees for honey production, and hazard resistance. Our main objective of this research is to test of honey bees(A. mellifera) that have increased as well as being good honey producers and resistance of disease in jeon-nam province. The new honey bee(A. mellifera) stock were identified ability of increasing honey production by comparing with rearing practice colony. The new honey bee(A. mellifera) stock can produce more than 30~50% honey(HP; 12.31 kg) comparing with rearing practice colonies(control 1; 8.17 kg, and control 2; 9.53 kg). Furthermore, we are calculated the number of worker bee per colony. Population of worker bee in new honey bee(A. mellifera) stock are 2,849 (colony 1), 8,860 (colony 2) and 10,451 (colony 3), it was more then 1.2~3.7 fold comparing with controls.

The effects of a newly developed flower thinning formulation (FTF) on the vitality of the honey bee Apis mellifera were examined by measuring the activities of various digestive enzymes in adult worker bees. First, direct spraying of the FTF solution did not cause any behavioral changes or lethal effects for the honey bees based on 24 h observation. Second, oral ingestion of a sugar solution containing the FTF did not produce any significant change in the activities of amylase, proteinases, lipase, or acetylcholine esterase (AChE) in the worker bees 6 h or 24 h after treatment. Meanwhile, a commercial formulation containing sulfur compounds showed slightly reduced activities for several digestive enzymes and AChE, although no behavioral disturbance. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that the FTF is not toxic for honey bees, in terms of contact and ingestion. Therefore, this newly developed FTF can be used for flower thinning without any detrimental effects on pollinating insects.

In order to use as a new functional honey, we analyzed the chemical components including the organic compounds, minerals and vitamic C of hairy vetch that is knowing as eco-friendly green manure crop recently in South Korea. The condensed rate of methanol extraction in honey was 84.48% and main organic compounds that extract by organic solvents in GC-MS analysis were trichloromethan, acetidin, propyl carbinol, methylolpropane, cyclopentane, dipropylmethane etc. Also, main aromatic compounds that extract by organic solvents in SPME analysis were hydrazine, n-dimethylhydrazine, carbamide resin, benzoguanamine, gentanol, cyclotrisiloxane, enanthaldehyde, heptaldehyde, silane, cinchoninaldehyde, quininaldehyde and so on. As proximate composition, crude ash content was higher than acacia honey(0.05%) by 0.2613%, and crude protein was higher than acacia honey (0.10%) by 0.28%, and crude fat was higher content than acacia honey(0.44%) by 0.57%. Free sugar that analyze by HPLC consisted of fructose 35.31%, glucose 26.96%, and total sugars was 62.27%. Minerals by ICP analysis were detected total 22 kinds, K 4.9185ppm > Na 3.4915ppm > Zn 3.178ppm > Ca 1.8575ppm > B 0.8495 ppm > Mg 0.5635ppm etc. Vitamin C was not detected and antioxidation test result by DPPH freeradical scavenge effect was slight compared to acacia honey.

In order to use as a new funtional food material, we analyzed the chemical components including the organic compounds, minerals and Vitamic C of jujube honey which were produced in South Korea. The condensed rate of methanol extraction in honey was 87.02% and main organic compounds that extract by organic solvents in GC-MS analysis were trichloromethane, triptane, 2-formylbutane, acetoxyethane, butyraldehyde, butanoic acid, cyclopentane, propanoic acid and so on. Also, main aromatic compounds that extract by organic solvents in SPME analysis were octacosane, pyrobenzol, hexatriacontane, cyclopentasiloxane, pelargonaldehyde, 3-azabenzonitrile, 4-pyridinecarbonitrile, nicotinonitrile, cyclohexatriene and many more. As proximate composition, crude ash content was higher than acacia honey(0.05%) by 0.698%, and crude protein was higher than acacia honey(0.10%) by 0.27%, but crude fat was lower content than acacia honey(0.44%) by 0.26%. Free sugar that analyze by HPLC consisted of fructose 37.47%, glucose 25.22%, and total sugars was 62.69%. Minerals by ICP analysis were detected total 19 kinds, K 12.575ppm > Na 1.8155ppm > Zn 1.3325ppm > Ca 0.6335ppm etc. Vitamin C was not detected and antioxidation test result by DPPH freeradical scavenge effect was hardly but high somewhat compared to acacia honey.

Sacbrood virus (SBV) is one of the most destructive honey bee virus. The virus causes failure to pupate and kills honey bee larvae. The infacted larvae`s color is change to brown. At the end, honey bee colony is destructed. Recently Korean Scabrood virus(KSBV) caused a great loss of Korean honey bee(Apis cerena) colonies for short period. Therefore, We need a highly rapid diagnosis method for rapid detection of KSBV. In this study, We need amicro-scale chip-based real-time PCR system (GeneChecker®). This system was developed for rapid, specific PCR based diagnosis. This system has uncommonly fast heating and cooling system. So We was able to detecting of KSBV in Apis cerena in short time. This system needs small reaction volume(total 10ul). This volume include SsoFast™ Evagreen Supermix and serially diluted cDNA templates showed a high sensitivity of 101copies.That machine can setting each PCR stage time. A specific detection primer set (KSBV-123-F/R) was used to amplify a unique 123bp DNA fragment. This PCR assays using serially diluted cDNA templates showed a high sensitivity of 101 copies. When applied to KSBV-positve samples, the result showed high specifity. The minimum diagnosis time was 9m 47s (30cycle). The amplied positive samples appear red fluorescent color. This novel detection method could be used a PCR-based diagnositic tool (GeneChecker®). The results showed high sensitivity and specifity in short time. And this diagnosis method is expected to be applied to rapidly detect various pathogens.

Black queen cell virus (BQCV), one of the most prevalent viruse, causes the death of queen larvae and pupae. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are central components in the life cycle of RNA viruses that catalyzes the replication of RNA from an RNA template without DNA stage. Inhibition of RdRP gene is importantly significant for application of monoclonal antibody generation as a diagnosis tool for identifying BQCV infection in honey bee..In this study, the presence of BQCV in honey bee samples was confirmed by PCR using BQCV F/R primer set to multiply of 700 bp DNA fragment. For ampification of BQCV Rdrp gene, a primer set attached BamHI/SalI restriction site was designed based on the best homogenization between BQCV RdRP sequences in NCBI, a PCR product containing BQCV RdRP gene with 1576 bp in length was amplified. Furthermore, BQCV RdRP gene will be cloned into pBlueXcm vector for future researches.

We sequenced 17,329 bp of mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the black dwarf honey bee, Apis andreniformis (Hymenoptera: Apidae), that lacks ~200 bp of the A+T-rich region for the completion of the genomic sequence. The gene arrangement of A. andreniformis mitogenome is identical to that of A. cerana. However, the genome contains 5 additional tRNALeu(CUN) located 4 copies between tRNAMet and tRNAGln, and 1 copy between tRNAGln and tRNAAla, along with the typical sets of genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs) including regular tRNALeu(CUN) and the A+T-rich region (at least 923 bp). Only 1 copy of tRNALeu(CUN) differed by 1 bp from other 4 copies of tRNALeu(CUN). Each additional tRNALeu(CUN) is followed by nearly identical 68-bp long repeat sequence (95.6% identity). All 13 protein coding genes have typical start codons found in insect mitochondrial PCGs (2 ATA, 9 ATT, and 2 ATG).

With over 7 billion people on the planet, agriculture faces immense pressure to meet global demands for food. One third of consumed food relies on insect pollination with by far, the predominate pollinator being the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Although future challenges facing agriculture will come from multiple domains, one of the immediate challenges is honey bee decline. Stress associated with transportation, pesticide exposure nutritional limitations, various diseases and pests have all been recognized as potential factors in honey bee decline. With the prospect of future global changes in climate, honey bees will also face changes in forage availability and overwintering potential. At the level of the individual colony, research has shown that honey bee health is directly correlated to genetic diversity. Increased colony diversity is associated with lower disease intensity, increased disease resistance, greater workforce productivity and thermoregulation stability. Genetic diversity at the population level serves as the raw material for selective breeding in agriculturally important plants and animals, including the honey bee. Honey bees are not native to Korea, however, and importation and founder events associated with the establishment of honey bees represent a series of genetic bottlenecks that limits the diversity of introduced honey bee populations. Fortunately, Apis mellifera consists of around 28 recognized subspecies within its native range, each with specific adaptations to climatic selective pressures endemic to its own location. Climate change is expected to be bring a high degree of uncertainty in the future to climate expression in various locations. Fortunately, the honey bee has a wide breadth of diversity contained within various subspecies and careful importation and evaluation of specific stocks may be highly useful as we enter climate uncertainty in the future. With the recognition that agro-ecosystems are highly interconnected and multifaceted, one of the greatest challenges facing agriculture is preserving and improving honey bee health.

In the present study, the 17,694-bp long complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the dwarf honey bee, Apis florea (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is described with an emphasis on the noteworthy triplicated tRNAser(AGN) region and an extraordinary long A+T-rich region with repeat regions. The gene arrangement of A. florea mitogenome is identical to that of A. mellifera, but has triplicated tRNASer(AGN), each of which contains the precedent 44 bp-long and following another 64 bp-long repeats plus one complete first repeat abutting to tRNAMet. A total of 1,610-bp long two repeat regions in 1,987 bp-long A+T-rich region is composed of nearly identical 141 ~ 219-bp long five tandem repeats and 50 ~ 52-bp long 12 tandem repeats that are encompassed by three non-repeat sequences. One of the common interpretations for such repeat sequence is slipped-strand mispairing and unequal crossing-over events during DNA replication.

Worldwide studies on Apis cerana variation for biogeography and genetic diversity depended largely on a 86~93 bp-long mitochondrial non-coding region (internal spacer region) located between tRNALeu and COII (named as NC2), possibly due to higher variability among available markers. In order to incorporate the A. cerana occurring in South Korea into world extensive data, we also sequenced the NC2 from 118 A. cerana samples collected over nine Korean localities and 66 A. cerana samples over seven Asian localities, such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand. These data were combined with preexisting world data to scrutinize genetic relationships of A. cerana in South Korea to outside distributional range. Sequencing of 184 samples provided a total of ten haplotypes: five from Korea, six from China, one from Vietnam, and two from Thailand. Among them eight were new, whereas two were previously reported ones. Phylogenetic analysis of A. cerana NC2 haplotypes so far found including ours has confirmed the presence of four major groups of A. cerana (Asian mainland group, Sundaland group, Palawan group, and Luzon-Mindahnao group) and all haplotypes found in this study also were included in the Asian mainland group. In order to find further variable regions that can be used as sequence-based marker several mitochondrial non-coding regions and nuclear intron regions are in the middle of testing.

Nosema disease caused by Nosema apis which belongs to fungi is a major cause of honey production loss and is worldwide in distribution. N. apis infects the epithelial cells of the digestive system of adult honeybees. Nosema causes significant losses in population size of honeybee. There are about 25 thousand beekeepers caring for approximately 1,697,000 colonies in Korea. Honey production totaled almost 38,505 metric tons in 2010. This production was estimated to be worth about 274 billion Korean won. To determine infection level of nosema disease during the season, adult worker bees were collected from two colonies of experiment apiary from January to October. Our results indicate that the infection level of nosema disease was increased in spring and autumn. Also we initiated a survey of honeybee colonies on the blooming period of Acacia to determine the prevalence of N. apis. Twenty two hives owned by 18 beekeepers were sampled for this study. Bees were collected on 24th and 25th May of 2012. Nosema spore counts ranged from zero to 5,266,000 spores per bee. The average number of nosema spores per bee was calculated to be 1,375,000. Approximately 86% of the apiaries examined were infected with nosema, based on the presence of spores in the flowering period of Acacia. This indicates that nosema is the predominant species affecting honeybee colonies.

We investigated the molecular and kinetic properties of two acetylcholinesterases (AmAChE1 and AmAChE2) from the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Western blot analysis revealed that AmAChE2 has most of catalytic activity rather than AmAChE1, further suggesting that AmAChE2 is responsible for synaptic transmission in A. mellifera, in contrast to most other insects. AmAChE2 was predominately expressed in the ganglia and head containing the central nervous system (CNS), while AmAChE1 was abundantly observed not only in the CNS but also in the peripheral nervous system/non-neuronal tissues. Both AmAChEs exist as homodimers; the monomers are covalently connected via a disulfide bond under native conditions. However, AmAChE2 was associated with the cell membrane via the glycophosphatidylinositol anchor, while AmAChE1 was present as a soluble form. The two AmAChEs were functionally expressed with a baculovirus system. Kinetic analysis revealed that AmAChE2 has approximately 2,500-fold greater catalytic efficiency toward acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine than AmAChE1, supporting the synaptic function of AmAChE2. In addition, AmAChE2 likely serves as the main target of the organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) insecticides as judged by the lower IC50 values against AmAChE2 than against AmAChE1. When OP and CB insecticides were pre-incubated with a mixture of AmAChE1 and AmAChE2, asignificant reduction in the inhibition of AmAChE2 was observed, suggesting a protective role of AmAChE1 against xenobiotics. Taken together, based on their tissue distribution pattern, molecular and kinetic properties, AmAChE2 plays a major role in synaptic transmission, while AmAChE1 has non-neuronal functions, including chemical defense.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of chestnut honey which were harvested at various areas in South Korea. First at all, we measured the total phenols content through a spectrophotometric determination with a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method and total flavonoids content determined with aluminium chloride. Total phenolic compounds was highest in Sunchang of Chestnut honey(2.21mg/ml)and flavonoids contents was also the highest in Sunchang of Chestnut honey(1.02mg/ml) than other samples. For measured the antioxidant activity of chestnut honey, we performed DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test and FRAP(ferric reducing-antioxidant assay)test. DPPH scavenging activity highest in Sunchang of Chestnut honey more than 50% DPPH scavenging activitywhile other samples (Gong-ju, Yechen, Chung-ju, Imsil, Ha-dong) showed more than 25% DPPH scavenging activity. The ferric reducing-antioxidant assay (FRAP) is based on the reduction of ferric 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine [Fe(III)-TPTZ] by spectrophotometric analysis. Sunchang were found to have more than 532μM FRAP activity while other samples (Gong-ju, Yechen, Chung-ju, Imsil, Ha-dong) showed more than 300μM FRAP activity. The results suggested that chestnut honey strong antioxidant activity and it could be utilized as a source of natural antioxidant.

Climate change and global warming are directly effecting the population dynamics of insects of medical importance and insect pests of agricultural commodities during the last few years. The outbreak of some insect-borndiseases and decreasing yield of agricultural products are both caused and results of climate change are known everywhere in the world. Recent reports of honey bee diseases and out breaks, as well as increase in the incidence of CCD(Collapse Colonial Disease) are causing great concerns and pose big problem for our bee keepers in many countries in North America and Europe. These important infectious diseases are possible carried and propagated by bee mites primarily by Varroa mites, which have recently experienced increasing populations in USA and UK includes some European countries. Recently some Asian honey bees adapted to live in the urban areas as the example of Apis dorsata move to Mae Fah Luang Campus more than 30 colonies and even in Chulalonkorn Campus more than 10 colonies increase from few colonies in the the last few years. Apis florea have been found more than 161 colonies this year in Kanchanaburi (River Kwai province) this year(2009). The discussion of some wild honey bees migration will concentrate on research program of our bee research unit of the university in Thailand.

본 연구는 2005년 9월부터 2007년 10월까지 3년간 봄과 가을에 전남 홍도를 통과하는 벌매(Pernis ptilorhynchus)의 이동 규모를 조사함으로써, 기상에 따른 이동의 영향을 분석하고, 벌매의 이동생태에 대한 특성을 파악하기 위하여 실시되었다. 홍도에서 기록되어진 벌매의 개체수를 살펴보면 2005년 702개체, 2006년 404개체, 2007년 659개체로 나타났고, 이중 봄철에 관찰된 개체수는 2006년 2개체, 2007년 8개체에 불과하여 홍도는 벌매의 가을철 이동경로 상에 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 9월 20일에서 10월 5일 사이에 많은 이동이 확인되었다. 벌매는 2007년 가을 시간대별로 조사된 538개체의 벌매 중에서는216개체(40.1%)가오전 7시에서 8시 사이에 이동을 하는 것으로 나타났다. 이동시 풍향 선호도는 이동 방향의 오른쪽 뒤쪽에서 불어오는 북서풍을 선호하는 것으로 나타났으며, 풍속이 5m/s 미만일 때 벌매의 이동이 더 활발하였지만, 5m/s 이상의 강한 바람일 경우에는 이동의 수가 감소하였다. 따라서 풍속과 풍향은 벌매의 이동에 있어서 중요한 영향을 주는 요소라고 판단된다. 한반도의 벌매 이동경로를 파악하기 위해서는 각 지역별로 지속적인 이동 개체군의 규모 파악이 선행되어야 할 것이며, 특히 자료 부족으로 인하여 국내 가을철 이동 집단의 이동경로를 예측하기 어렵기 때문에 향후 국내 위성추적을 통한 이동경로 연구가 병행되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.