preprints.org > biology and life sciences > anatomy and physiology > doi: 10.20944/preprints202105.0037.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 4 May 2021 / Approved: 5 May 2021 / Online: 5 May 2021 (11:54:37 CEST)

A two-year study was conducted in Maine wild blueberry fields (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) on the health of migratory honey bee colonies in 2014 and 2015. In each year 3-5 colonies were monitored at each of 9 wild blueberry field locations during bloom (mid-May until mid-June). Colony health was measured by assessing percent worker and sealed brood rate of change from the beginning of bloom until the end of bloom. Potential factors that might affect colony health were queen failure or supersedure; pes-ticide residues on trapped pollen, wax comb, and bee bread; and parasites and pathogens. We found that Varroa mite and pesti-cide residues on trapped pollen were significant predictors of colony health as measured by the percent rate of change of sealed brood during bloom. These two factors explained 71% of the variance in colony health over the two years. Pesticide exposure was different in each year as were pathogen prevalence and incidence. We detected high prevalence and abundance of two recently discovered pathogens and one recently discovered parasite, the trypanosome Lotmaria passim Schwartz, the Sinai virus, and the phorid fly, Apocephalus borealis Brues.

Varroa mite, Pesticide Residues, Ppathogens, Apis mellifera, Migratory Hives, Sinai Virus, Lotmaria passim, Apocephalus borealis

Biology and Life Sciences, Anatomy and Physiology

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