Honey bees are crucial pollinators for agricultural and natural ecosystems, but are experiencing heavy mortality in Korea due to a complex suite of factors. Extreme winter losses of honey bee colonies are a major threat to beekeeping but the combinations of factors underlying colony loss remain debatable. Finding solutions involves knowing the factors associated with high loss rates. To investigate whether loss rates are related to Varroa control and climate condition, we surveyed beekeepers in korea after wintering (2021–2022 to 2022–2023). The results show an average colony loss rate of 46%(2022) and 17%(2023), but over 40% colony loss before wintering at 2022. Beekeepers attempt to manage their honey bee colonies in ways that optimize colony health. Disentangling the impact of management from other variables affecting colony health is complicated by the diversity of practices used and difficulties handling typically complex and incomplete observational datasets. We propose a method to 1) Varroa mite population Control by several methods , and 2) Many nursing bee put in hive before wintering.

낭충봉아부패병에 저항성인 신품종 토종벌을 농업과학원에서 시험재료로 제공받아 일반 농가에서 사육중인 일반벌과 비교하였다. 꿀벌 수밀력을 조사한 결과 일벌 개체당 수밀력은 비저항성 계통보다 저항성계통이 15% 높았으며, 화분채집량은 저항성계통에서는 358mg, 비저항성 계통은 330.3mg으로 저항성계통이 비저항성계통보다 8.4%의 높은 화분채집력을 보였다. 질병저항성을 알아보기 위해 봉개유충 청소행동 평가에서 8시간 후 저항성계통에 서는 51.3%, 비저항성계통에서는 50.7%이었으며, 24시간 후에는 두계통 모두 98.7~100%의 사충 제거율을 보였다. 봉군발육조사에서는 저항성 계통의 경우, 일벌, 유충, 번데기의 수가 비저항성계통에 비하여 41%, 7%, 73% 로 발육이 우수하였다.

Here, we investigated antioxidant defense mechanism in the spermatheca of A. mellifera queens via RNA-seq analysis of spermathecae in both mated and virgin queens. We identified the genes encoding antioxidant proteins, which were differentially expressed in the spermatheca of mated queens. The concentrations of antioxidant proteins, such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GTPX), and transferrin (Tf) together with the levels of ROS, H2O2, and iron were higher in the spermathecal fluid of mated queens as opposed to those in the spermathecal fluid of virgin queens; this indicated that increase in antioxidant protein concentration is an antioxidant defense mechanism occurring in the spermathecal fluid of mated queens against ROS; this mechanism involves conversion of ROS using antioxidant enzymes and Tf-mediated inhibition of the Fenton reaction occurring between Fe2+ and H2O2. Our data indicate that an increased expression of antioxidant proteins could facilitate prolonged storage and survival of sperms in the spermatheca of mated queens, suggesting the role of antioxidant proteins in antioxidative defense against ROS.

South Korea has over 0.38 million of managed honey bee (Apis cerana) colonies before 2009 years ago, which produce the highest quantity of honey in the Korea; however, almost colony (90%) were collapsed by Korean Sacbrood Virus (KSBV) in South Korea. Korean Sacbrood Virus (KSBV) is the pathogen of A. cerana Sacbrood disease, which poses a serious threat to honeybee A. cerana, and tends to cause bee colony and even the whole apiary collapse. Colony collapse of A. cerana was first reported on the Pyeong-Chang of the South Korea in 2009. Several scientists and governments has been tried research for cure the sacbrood disease in A. cerana colony by medicines and management techniques. Unfortunately, The sacbrood disease dosen’t improve. So, we were developed a better breed of A. cerana for resistance of sacbrood virus by selection and then artificial insemination. A. cerana breeding technique was first successful applied with A. cerana in Korean. Queens was grafted from sacbrood resistance line and then it was growing in sacbrood disease colony that was survived 100%. Altogether selected 18 queens were artificially inseminated and 2,000 drones of A. cerana in Korea was used to evaluate amount of semen collection. We are select two scabrood resistance A. cerana line (R and H). R line be used for rearing the Queen. Drone was reared in H line colony. The RH hybrid were not infected sacbrood virus even spread sacbrood virus (2×106). RH colonies have very excellent hygienic behavior, brood, and sacbrood disease resistance activity.

Sacbrood virus (SBV) caused significant colony collapse in Korean Apis cerana. Considering that hygienic behavior in honey bees confers colony-level resistance against brood diseases, we utilized this trait for selecting A. cerana colonies. In addition, the brood survival rate was evaluated after colonies were SBV-inoculated. Over four selective generations, dead brood removal and brood survivorship in selected colonies were higher than those in the unselected colonies (P < 0.01, 99.3 vs. 89.9% for removal of pin-killed pupae; P < 0.01, 99.0 vs. 63.9% for removal of SBV-killed larvae; and P < 0.01, 70.0 vs. 9.2% for brood survivorship). Following SBV-inoculation, selected colonies showed an increase in the number of surviving pupae and adults, whereas unselected colonies collapsed mostly. Our results confirm the feasibility of selecting SBV-resistant A. cerana.

농촌진흥청 개발 품종인 토종벌 신품종(질병저항성 우수계통)에 대해 전남지역에서의 형질특성(봉세발달, 마리당 수밀력, 청소력 등)을 조사하였다. 질병저항성 계통(RS)으로 육성된 토종벌의 유밀기 마리당 수밀력은 들어오는 일벌의 무게가 80.89±8.95mg, 나가는 일벌의 무게가 63.56±8.90mg으로 조사되었고, 비저항성계통(NRS)은 각각 83.22±1.39, 66.67±1.20mg으로 조사되어 RS에서 그 무게차가 0.7mg 더 높았으나 통계적 유의차는 없었다. Pin killed test에 의한 사충제거능력(청소력)은 제거하지 못한 유충잔존율이 RS에서 12시간과 24시간 경과시 14.00±10.39와 7.00±3.46으로, NRS에서는 20.33±14.29, 13.33±10.41%로 조사되었으며, 특히 RS와 NRS의 사충 비제거율이 24시간 경과하였을 때 4.67±2.08, 8.33±7.77%로 RS가 우수한 특성을 보였다. 신규여왕벌 입식 후 봉군세력발달은 NRS에 비하여 RS의 일벌수, 번데기 및 유충수의 발달율이 안정적이고 다소 빠르게 증가하였다.

기후변화, 외래병해충발생, 밀원수 감소 등 여러 요인으로 인해 우리 나라의 양봉농가는 벌꿀생산량 및 농가소득이 감소하는 추세이다. 또한 밀원이 없는 시기에 가축용 사료가 아닌 고가의 식용설탕을 꿀벌의 인공사료로 급여하고 있어 농가는 ‘생산비 상승’과 ‘밀원수 부족’을 국내양봉업이 직면한 가장 큰 문제점으로 지적하고 있다. 이에 따른 양봉농가의 생산비를 절감하고 꿀벌의 생리·생태의 개선효과를 가지는 저가형 당액사료개발을 위해 농산부산물에서 추출한 천연당을 봉군에 적용시험을 추진하였다. 양파(OS-1, OS-2), 양배추(CS-1, CS-2), 바나나(Banana)부산물에서 추출한 천연당의 봉군당 평균먹이소모량(mL)은 설탕당액(대조구) 처리구와 비교시 바나나추출당액 급여구에서 5500.00±0.00, 5133.33±404.15로 유사하였다. 그러나 꿀벌의 봉세발달은 대조구에 비해 21006.7±2137, 17403.3±2257마리로 조사되어 낮은 경향을 나타내었고 수명조사 결과는 큰 차이가 없었다. 농산부산물을 이용한 천연당은 우선 꿀벌의 기호도 향상을 우선으로 개선시켜야 할 것으로 보인다.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known functional and medicinal food for human health promotion. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), which are the major protein components in RJ, exhibit antimicrobial activities. However, the identities of the MRJPs of RJ responsible for its antioxidant effects have remained unclear. Here, we report that honeybee (Apis cerana) MRJP 2 (AcMRJP2) acts as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in RJ. Using recombinant AcMRJP2, which was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells, we established the antimicrobial and antioxidant roles of MRJP 2. AcMRJP2 bound to the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, which then induced structural damage in the microbial cell walls and led to a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. AcMRJP2 protected mammalian and insect cells via the direct shielding of the cell against oxidative stress, which led to reduced levels of caspase-3 activity and oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis, followed by increased cell viability. Moreover, AcMRJP2 exhibited DNA protection activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our data indicate that AcMRJP2 could play a crucial role as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant in RJ, suggesting that MRJP 2 is a component responsible for the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of RJ.

Bee venom, which serves as a weapon to defend the colony from predator attacks, induces an immediate local inflammatory response that causes acute redness and swelling at the site of the sting. This venom-induced inflammation is a rapid anti-predatory defense strategy of the bee against vertebrate predators. Although acute inflammation by venom from venomous arthropods, including bees, is a typical response, how venom acutely elicits inflammatory responses remains unknown. Here, we identify a novel mechanism underlying acute inflammation and provide a rationale for the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD3) in bee venom. In mouse models, paradoxically, SOD3 in bee venom (bvSOD3) acts as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based harm-inducing system to promote acute inflammation. Exogenous bvSOD3 rapidly induced overproduction of H2O2 through endogenously produced superoxide by venom components, such as melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which then upregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes and promoted the acute inflammatory response. Furthermore, a more severe noxious effect by bvSOD3 elevated a type 2 immune response, and bvSOD3 immunization protected against bvSOD3-mediated toxicity. Our findings that bvSOD3 promotes an acute inflammatory response and induces a protective immune response against inflammation may offer a new approach in venom therapy/immunotherapy.

South Korea has over 0.38 million of managed honey bee (Apis cerana) colonies before 2009 years ago, which produce the highest quantity of honey in the Korea; however, almost colony (90%) were collapsed by Korean Sacbrood Virus (KSBV) in South Korea. Korean Sacbrood Virus (KSBV) is the pathogen of A. cerana Sacbrood disease, which poses a serious threat to honeybee A. cerana, and tends to cause bee colony and even the whole apiary collapse. Colony collapse of A. cerana was first reported on the Pyeong-Chang of the South Korea in 2009. Several scientists and governments has been tried research for cure the sacbrood disease in A. cerana colony by medicines and management techniques. Unfortunately, The sacbrood disease dosen`t improve. So, we were developed a better breed of A. cerana for resistance of sacbrood virus by selection and then artificial insemination. A. cerana breeding technique was first successful applied with A. cerana in Korean. Queens was grafted from sacbrood resistance line and then it was growing in sacbrood disease colony that was survived 100%. Altogether selected 18 queens were artificially inseminated and 2,000 drones of A. cerana in Korea was used to evaluate amount of semen collection. We are select two scabrood resistance A. cerana line (R and H). R line be used for rearing the Queen. Drone was reared in H line colony. The RH hybrid were not infected sacbrood virus even spread sacbrood virus (2×106). RH colonies have very excellent hygienic behavior, brood, and sacbrood disease resistance activity.

The hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) of the honeybee worker produces royal jelly (RJ) and has a developmental cycle closely related to the division of labor. In this study, we investigated to compare the HPG acini diameter of differently aged worker bees with high royal jelly producing colony (HRC) or less producing colony (LRC). Additionally, we also evaluated whether the fresh weight of the head is a reliable indicator of the developmental status of HPG. The HRC showed a significantly higher RJ production about two-times as compared with those of the LRC. We measured the HG-diameters on days 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. The microscopic analysis revealed that the acini size of the HRC was significantly larger than the LRC. In addition, the acini diameter of HRC was 15% longer than the LRC on the first day after emerging. It was shown that the fastest development during 3 days which is preparing for nurse the brood. The HPG acini diameters increased in both colonies in a similar fashion until day 12 and then decreased. We also compared the fresh head weight of the experimental colonies, differences were similar to the development of HPG. Therefore, high royal jelly production may have a positive correlation between HPG acini size and the fresh head weight.