Abehorros are essential pollinators in the moderate areas of the northern hemisphere. The Superposition of niches and competition with hosted bees can be considerable stress for bumblebeesReducing the absorption of nutrients and increasing the risk of spreading pathogens and parasites.
One of these Parasites is the laundry moth (Aphomia Socin), whose larvae.
Usage colonies of Bombus terrestrial As experimental models, researchers expected to verify that the immunity of young queens and employees would weaken Both under competitive pressure (that is, proximity to the Colmenares) and parasitic (contamination of A. Sociella) and, specifically, that the immunity of the bumble bees closest to the Colmenares closest would be weaker in the nests contaminated by A. Sociella.
We have to protect bees and bumblebees
Wax moths (Aphomia Socin) They are insect peers that fly and are introduced in the beehives of Bares, bee And wasps to place their eggs. Their Larven feeds on their hosts and can eliminate part of their community or ensure that they leave the colony.
And New study published in Frontiers in Bee Science It reveals that the distance between the colonies of Abehorros and those of honest bees can protect the first against the contamination of Aphomia SocinAnd be the key to preserving the species.
“Our results show that moth’s performance It is not to take care of the colonies of Abehorros, as long as they are 450 meters or more of the poet Holifer bees“Explain to Sin DrivelingLeader of the work and researcher at the universities of Daugavpils and Riga (Latvia).
Check the distance with bees
The infection rate at 300 meters away is low, so to reduce the risk of infection, it is advisable to ‘a Minimum distance of 300-450 meters between the populations of bees and bumble bees“This expert adds to behavioral ecology and interactions between guests and parasites.
This It is because parasites vermin in bruise colonies are much larger when they are close to their hostel mates.
Loose Abehorros have a poorer levels of immunity and productivity Flower conflicts And a greater chance of the presence of wax moths. A weakened immune system can lead to hives infected with a plague of these parasites that are more vulnerable to other pathogens, because their populations decrease.
Although the presence of these pollinators is seasonal, parasites can also reduce the number of surviving colonies in a season and possibly influence the global abundance of colonies in the following year, especially in regions where the environmental conditions are difficult or unstable“, Destaca Cream.
Provide pollinators to maintain biodiversity
The authors of the study They recommend the beekeepers to avoid the location of Colmenares in areas with a high biodiversity of pollinators, Especially in places where the populations of Abehorros decrease.
According to Krams: “Before he installs a Colmenar, beekeepers must Evaluate carefully if there are near protected areas Or ecologically sensitive such as meadows, primitive forests or natural reserves. “
While Bees are able to search for food at distances between 3 and 5 kmWax moths only move 300 or 500 meters. “Installing a Colmenar in these habitats or close to them, not -GeeneouwNed parasites and diseases are associated with honey bees, who may jeopardize local wild pollinators,” says the Latvian biologist.
Krams and his team They studied the impact of Bijenkolonies near Staven by Leonada Tail (Bombus terrestrial)) Between 2019 and 2024. They placed 25 populations of bumblebees in boxes at a distance between 0 and 600 meters small Apiaries near Krāslava, Latvia.
Around the Immune response Of each bumblebeed, the belly exhibition frame of 260 copies perforated and introduced one Filamento de Naulon de 3mm That was left in for five hours and then retired.
These arthropods They responded to the presence of parasites in their blood and produced melanin to immobilize and eliminate strange bodies. The tone of the melanin capsule around the recovered filament was used as an immunity indicator to measure the health of the colony.
Probability of infection and distance
The results showed that the colonies of Hommels closer to a Colmenar were more likely to infect themselves with wax moths: By increasing this distance one meter, the chance of infection fell by 0.6 %.
Moreover, for each extra meter distance, the number of king collars and bumblebee workers increased with 0.14 and 0.44 in the healthy colonies respectively, and with 0.08 and 0.348 cells in the contaminated colonies. The The InkapselingSresponse was 3.5 % more intense for every extra meter of the Colmenar.
“He Deducted immune system of bumblebees in colonies infected with washing moths, they can in turn make them more sensitive to other parasites or pathogens. This is disturbing because their populations are already decreasing, “Krams warns.
The authors emphasize that Conservationists and beekeepers must avoid to place Colmenaress in areas where the biodiversity of pollinators is highAs well as in areas where the populations of Abehorros are deteriorating.