Over the last quarter century, increasing honey bee colony losses motivated standardized large-scale surveys of managed honey bees (Apis mellifera), particularly in Europe and the United States. Here we present the first large-scale standardized survey of colony losses of managed honey bees and stingless bees across Latin America. Overall, 1736 beekeepers and 165 meliponiculturists participated in the 2-year survey (2016–2017 and 2017–2018). On average, 30.4% of honey bee colonies and 39.6% of stingless bee colonies were lost per year across the region. Summer losses were higher than winter losses in stingless bees (30.9% and 22.2%, respectively) but not in honey bees (18.8% and 20.6%, respectively). Colony loss increased with operation size during the summer in both honey bees and stingless bees and decreased with operation size during the winter in stingless bees. Furthermore, losses differed significantly between countries and across years for both beekeepers and meliponiculturists. Overall, winter losses of honey bee colonies in Latin America (20.6%) position this region between Europe (12.5%) and the United States (40.4%). These results highlight the magnitude of bee colony losses occurring in the region and suggest difficulties in maintaining overall colony health and economic survival for beekeepers and meliponiculturists.

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is one of the main plagues of honey bees Apis mellifera. Grooming behavior is a resistance mechanism through which parasitized bees can dislodge mites by themselves (autogrooming) or by the action of other bees (allogrooming). The objective of this study was to evaluate grooming behavior in Italian (A. m. ligustica) and Africanized (hybrids of A. m. scutellata) bees at the individual, group, and colony levels. Firstly, five behaviors were recorded observing bees individually placed on a Petri dish and after placing a mite on their thorax. Secondly, 30 bees of each colony were placed in a Petri dish along with 20 mites and 24 h later fallen mites were counted. Lastly, the proportion of injured mites collected in the hive floor was determined. At the individual level, Africanized bees showed a higher total number of reaction behaviors to V. destructor than did Italian bees (U = 182.5; p = 0.02). Groups of Italian bees could dislodge 60.8 ± 20.0% of mites and Africanized bees dislodged 65.9 ± 15.6% of mites, without showing significant differences (t = 0.735; p = 0.47). Colonies of Africanized bees showed a higher proportion of injured mites (29.0 ± 8.6%) than colonies of Italian bees did (17.7 ± 9.8%) (t = 2.92; p = 0.009). Africanized bees are characterized by presenting higher resistance to V. destructor than European bees. This study shows that such difference can be, partly due to grooming behavior. The importance of auto and allogrooming regarding resistance to V. destructor is discussed.

In Uruguay, colonies of honey bees moving to Eucalyptus grandis plantation in autumn habitually become infected with the microsporidian Nosema ceranae , a parasite that attacks the digestive system of bees. Beekeepers attributed to N. ceranae depopulation of the colonies that often occurs at the end of the blooming period, and many use the antibiotic fumagillin to reduce the level of infection. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of four different fumagillin treatments and determine how this antibiotic affects the strength of the colonies during the winter season. The colonies treated with fumagillin in July showed less spore load at the end of applications, being the most effective the following treatments: the four applications sprayed over bees of 30 mg of fumagillin in 100 ml of sugar syrup 1:1, and four applications of 90 mg of fumagillin in 250 ml of sugar syrup 1:1 using a feeder. However, 2 month after the treatment applications, the colonies treated with fumagillin were the same size as the untreated colonies. In September, the colonies treated and not treated with fumagillin did not differ in colony strength (adult bee population and brood area) or spores abundance. Our study demonstrates that fumagillin treatment temporarily decreased the spore load of N. ceranae , but this was not reflected in either the size of the colonies or the probability of surviving the winter regardless of the dose or the administration strategy applied. Given the results obtained, we suggest to not perform the pharmacological treatment under the conditions described in the experiment. En Uruguay las colonias de abejas melíferas que se trasladan a las forestaciones de Eucalyptus grandis en otoño indefectiblemente se infectan con el microsporido Nosema ceranae , parásito que ataca el sistema digestivo de las abejas. Los apicultores atribuyen a N. ceranae el despoblamiento de las colonias que ocurre con frecuencia al terminar el periodo de floración y muchos emplean el antibiótico fumagilina para reducir el nivel de infección. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la eficacia de cuatro tratamientos diferentes con fumagilina y determinar cómo incide en la fortaleza de las colonias durante la invernada. Las colonias tratadas con fumagilina en julio presentaron una menor carga de esporas al terminar las aplicaciones, siendo los tratamientos más eficaces el de 4 aplicaciones mediante asperjado sobre las abejas de 30 mg de fumagilina en 100 ml de jarabe de azúcar 1:1, y el de 4 aplicaciones de 90 mg de fumagilina en 250 ml de jarabe de azúcar 1:1 utilizando un alimentador. Sin embargo, durante el período de experimentación, las colonias tratadas con antibiótico presentaron igual tamaño que las colonias no tratadas. En setiembre, las colonias tratadas y no tratadas con fumagilina no se diferenciaron en la intensidad de infección ni en su tamaño. En las condiciones en que se realizó el estudio, la aplicación de fumagilina disminuyó temporalmente la carga de esporas de N. ceranae pero esto no se reflejó en el tamaño de las colonias ni en la probabilidad de sobrevivir el invierno.

The biological properties of chilean propolis have been described and include antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm activities. Propolis has a strong antimicrobial potential. Clinical experiences with synthetic antibiotics indicated the need to discover new sources of bioactive compounds associated with ethnopharmacological knowledge or natural sources such as propolis. The microscopic analysis of pollen grains from plants allows us to determine the botanical origin of the propolis samples. In Angol, sample pollen grains were obtained from fodder plants (Sorghum bicolor; Lotus sp.) and trees, such as Acacia sp., Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus sp. and Salix babylonica. Propolis from the Maule region contains pollen grains from endemic plants such as Quillaja saponaria. Finally, the sample obtained from Melipilla presented a wider variety of pollen extracted from vegetable species.Colorimetric assays performed to quantify the total polyphenols present in Chilean propolis samples established that PCP2 (Angol sample) showed high amounts of phenolics compounds, with significant statistical differences in comparison with the other samples. The main compounds identified were pinocembrin, quercetin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). The Angol sample showed a high content of polyphenols.Studies that determine the influence of geographical and floral variables on the chemical composition of propolis are a valuable source of information for the study of its biological properties.