본 연구는 벼 화분에 잔류한 네오니코티노이드계 약제가 꿀벌 봉군 내로 유입하여 만성적으로 피해를 주는지 에 대해 실험적으로 검증하고자 한다. 벼 꽃 개화기에 맞춰 논 인근의 세 지역에 각 6개 봉군을 설치하였다. 3개의 지역 중 두 지역은 벼 꽃 개화기 항공 방제 수행지역이고, 1개 지역은 미수행 지역이다. 지역마다 봉군 3개에는 채분기를 설치하여 벌통 내 화분 유입을 차단한 그룹과 미설치 그룹 간 봉세와 꿀벌 면역 및 수명 관련 유전자 발현량을 비교하였다. 약제 방제가 수행된 지역에서 채분기를 설치한 봉군의 봉세는 미설치 봉군보다 상대적으 로 강한 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 약제 처리 지역에서 채분기 설치 봉군에서 채분기를 설치한 봉군의 봉세는 미설치 봉군보다 상대적으로 강한 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 약제 처리 지역에서 채분기 설치 봉군에서 채집된 꿀벌의 면역 및 수명 관련 유전자 발현량이 미설치 그룹과 차이가 있는 것을 확인하였다.

South Korea experienced a significant decline in honey bee populations starting in 2021, which continued for two years until the winter of 2022. To investigate the potential causes of this decline, we conducted a virome analysis, considering viruses as possible culprits. Samples were collected during two periods: April-May 2022 and May-June 2023. From libraries contsructed from their total RNA, we secured a total of 25 raw FASTQ files by high-throughput sequencing. In the honey bees collected in 2022, we identified eight previously unreported honey bee viruses including Lake Sinai viruses, one novel honey bee-related virus, and one novel plant-related virus. In the subsequent sampling in 2023, we found that most of the viruses identified in 2022 were still present. Additionally, the novel honey bee virus reported in 2022 was also found in the 2023 collections, along with three more honey bee-related novel viruses. Notably, numerous plant viruses were detected in honey bees collected during the flowering season. This analysis suggests that the viruses observed in South Korean honey bees are likely distributed nationwide. These findings provide fundamental data for future research on honey bee viruses in South Korea.

The adult of honey bee, Apis mellifera, performs an age-dependent division of labor with nurse bees and foragers. Foragers fly outside the hive to collect pollen and nectar, while nurses feed and care for the larvae and queen inside the hive. Foragers are considered to be frequently exposed to agrochemicals, although nurses, stayed inside the hive, are potentially exposed to pesticides through application of miticides and pesticidecontaminated food provided by forager. Therefore, physiological effects of pesticides to nurses should be elucidated to understand the adverse effects of the chemicals on entire honey bee colony. In this study, we investigated the expression changes of the genes associated with labor division (task genes) and the nursing behavior of nurse bees fed four pesticides: acetamiprid (ACE), carbaryl (CB), imidacloprid (IMI), and fenitrothion (FEN). When nurses were exposed to ACE, IMI, and FEN, expression levels of task genes were up- and down-regulated, and their nursing behaviors were also suppressed and enhanced, respectively. CB did not alter the gene expression levels, however increased nursing behavior. These suggest the potential of pesticide that breaks the balance of labor distribution in honey bee colony.

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.

Over the course of two winters, the significant decline in honey bee populations in Korea has emerged as a major social issue. This phenomenon is expected as attributed to factors such as the failure of pest control due to the pesticide resistance of the Varroa mite. This mite can transmit some viruses that infect honey bees, and these viruses are among the primary causes of the globally occurring colony collapse disorder. Traditional diagnostic methods like (RT-)PCR and ELISA are not ideal for identifying pathogens that are newly emerging or have undergone mutations. To detect any novel or mutated viruses beyond those that have been primarily diagnosed in Korea, we introduced virome analysis technology in the field of honey bees. Employing this method with high-throughput sequencing techniques, we were able to identify all existing viruses within individual or group samples. We discovered that the Lake Sinai virus, which has been reported worldwide but not in Korea, has already significantly spread within the country. Additionally, we were able to confirm the prevalence of viruses previously reported in Korea, such as the recently dominant Black Queen Cell Virus. Through this virome analysis, we can provide foundational data for determining the direction and countermeasures for virus diagnosis.

Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) are the main fungi that cause stonebrood in honey bees. Additionally, these fungi cause the declines of honey bee population and the economic loss in the beekeeping industry. In this study, the efficacy of a disinfectant, composed to chlorine dioxide (10%, w/v) and quaternary ammonium compound (12.5%, w/v), was evaluated against A. flavus and A. fumigatus. A fungicidal efficacy test by broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective dilution of the disinfectant following exposure to test fungi for 30 min at 4°C. The disinfectant and test fungi were diluted with low and high organic matter (OM) suspension according to treatment condition. On low OM condition, the fungicidal activity of the disinfectant against A. flavus and A. fumigatus was all 2.0 fold dilutions. On high OM condition, the fungicidal activity of the disinfectant against A. flavus and A. fumigatus was all 1.25 fold dilutions. The recommended dilution ratio of the disinfectant in low and high OM was 1.6 and 1.0 fold dilution, respectively. As the disinfectant possesses fungicidal efficacy against A. flavus and A. fumigatus, the disinfectant can be used to prevent the stonebrood in honey bees.