Aslı Özkırım

Preliminary analysis of loss rates of honey bee colonies during winter 2015/16 from the COLOSS survey

In this short note we present comparable loss rates of honey bee colonies during winter 2015/16 from 29 countries, obtained with the COLOSS questionnaire. Altogether, we received valid answers from 19,952 beekeepers. These beekeepers collectively wintered 421,238 colonies, and reported 18,587 colonies with unsolvable queen problems and 32,048 dead colonies after winter. This gives an overall loss rate of 12.0% (95% confidence interval 11.8–12.2%) during winter 2015/16, with marked differences among countries. Beekeepers in the present study assessed 7.6% (95% CI 7.4–7.8%) of their colonies as dead or empty, and 4.4% (95% CI 4.3–4.5%) as having unsolvable queen problems after winter. The overall analysis showed that small operations suffered higher losses than larger ones. A table with detailed results and a map showing response and relative risks at regional level are presented.

Evaluation of some essential oils as alternative antibiotics against American foulbrood agent Paenibacillus larvae on honey bees Apis mellifera L

In this study, antibacterial activities of some essential oils against Paenibacillus larvae were investigated as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics used against American foulbrood (AFB), which causes serious damage to the beekeeping industry. Ten essential oils belonging to various species and carvacrol, the major component of Origanum onites oil, were analyzed. Besides examining the antibacterial activities of the essential oils in the experiments, composition of the oils was investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of the effective essential oils were also determined. The conclusions resulting from these observations were that Origanum onites oil showed the strongest antibacterial activity. Rosmarinus officinalis, Seseli andronakii, Pimpinella anisum, Heracleum platytaenium, Anethum graveolens, Bifora radians, and Seseli tortuosum were respectively found to be effective coming after Origanum onites. Seseli petraeum and Seseli resinosum, two different species within the same genus showed no antibacterial activity against AFB. The results show that composition of the essential oils is very important for antibacterial effect; in fact antibacterial effect is determined by the major component in the essential oil composition. However, intercomponent synergetic effect is as important as the major component itself according to the results of carvacrol experiments.

More insight into the chemical composition of Greek propolis; differences and similarities with Turkish propolis.

We aimed to determine the differences and similarities between Greek and Turkish propolis with respect to their chemical composition given that the two countries have many similarities in fl oral biodiversity. We observed that: a) Greek propolis is different from the European-type propolis, having a high terpene content; therefore we can definitely characterize it as a Mediterranean type; b) the Turkish propolis collected along the coast line of the Aegean Sea is similiar to the examined Greek propolis; c) the remaining Turkish samples, originating from the European part of Turkey, were found to be similiar to the Europeantype propolis, having a high fl avonoid content. Finally, especially two compounds, β-elemene and totarol, were found in Greek samples in quite high amounts that are thought to have important biological properties.

A survey of Nosema apis of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) producing the famous Anzer honey in Turkey.

Abstract The aim of this study is to find out the ratio of Nosema infected honey bees which are producing the famous Anzer honey that is used for the cure of the illnesses such as farangitis, tonsilitis, ulceration, and scratchs due to the experiences of the people living in Turkey. Honey bee samples were collected from two different regions of Anzer plain in July. Honey bee abdomens were homogenized and 1 ml distilled water was added for each honey bee. Later, 0.1 ml out of this solution was examined by Neubauer slides and the number of Nosema apis spores were counted. The results showed that Nosema apis significantly infected the honey bees although it was summer season. However, the summer season at the Anzer plain, when compared with the Mediterranean climate, is considered to be spring.

A comparison of the activities of Greek and Turkish propolis against Paenibacillus larvae

Summary Propolis has a long history of use in traditional medicine dating back to at least 300 BC, and has been reported to have a broad spectrum of biological activities. Since most studies have to date focused on medical uses of propolis, its antimicrobial activity against honey bee diseases has been little studied. One of the aims of this study was therefore to investigate the potential use of propolis in honey bee health, especially against American foulbrood, which causes much damage in the beekeeping industry. The second aim was to reveal the different antimicrobial activities of propolis collected from different geographical areas from the neighbouring countries of Greece and Turkey. Propolis samples collected from several regions of Greece and Turkey were investigated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against Paenibacillus larvae. Eighteen ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP), (nine from Greece and nine from Turkey) were tested for antimicrobial activities against ten P. larvae isolates. The results showed that all P. larvae strains were susceptible to propolis extracts from both Greece and Turkey Furthermore 50% concentrations of EEP caused significantly wider inhibition zones (P≤0.05) around the discs. Comparisons of the content, and locations and botanical origins of EEPs from Greece and Turkey showed that the kind of vegetation is more important factor than geographic location for their antimicrobial activity. This is the first comprehensive study concerning the antimicrobial activity of propolis samples collected from a wide area around the Aegean Sea.

Proceedings of the 2017 COLOSS Conference

Nowadays, commercial mass rearing of honeybee queens combined with their storage in cages or in mating hives (ca. 2500 bees) is a standard procedure, particularly in Central Europe, e.g. in Poland. The cage environment, however, is significantly different from the hive one. It may be assumed that the commercial intensification of queen rearing, particularly the cage storage of queens, leads to reduction in their quality, including their biochemical defense system, which comprises, i.a. the hemolymph antioxidant system. The aim of the research was to determine enzymatic antioxidant activities (SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase)) and TAC (total antioxidant capacity) levels in the hemolymph of 8-dayold virgin queens which had been kept in queen cages or in mating hives from their emergence. Two queen groups were created on the day of their emergence. In the first one, the queens (n = 70) were individually placed into 70 queen cages, 10 worker bees with candy in each, and kept for 7 days there. Then, 10 pooled hemolymph samples, with the hemolymph of 7 queens in each, were taken. In the second group, the queens (n = 70) were individually placed in 70 mating hives without the possibility of mating flights and kept there for 7 days. The hemolymph sampling protocol was the same as in the first group (10 pooled samples). The activities of SOD, CAT and the level of TAC were determined with a commercial kit in each sample. The enzymatic antioxidant activities and TAC levels were higher in the hemolymph of the queens kept in the mating hives than in those kept in the cages. As expected, the queens kept in the mating hives had more sufficient biochemical defense. Higher antioxidant system in the mating hives may be associated with a more diverse diet, better care of bees, defensive mechanism of neutralization of xenobiotics, and better protection against ROS (reactive oxygen species) and oxidative damage of proteins and DNA. Consequently, the higher activity of the antioxidant system may make for better biochemical defense, that in turn is related to less stress. It also affects the ability to detoxify metabolites and shows higher antipathogen activities compared to the caged queens.

Preventive and antimicrobial activities of alkoxysilane against the American foulbrood pathogen Paenibacillus larvae in Apis mellifera L.

Summary The aim of this study was to test the hydrolysis product of a quaternary amine-containing organosilicon salt (Si-QAC) for its preventive and antimicrobial activity against the American foulbrood (AFB) pathogen Paenibacillus larvae, a major cause of colony losses worldwide. The effects of Si-QAC were examined on 28 different local strains of P. larvae in the spore, vegetative and spore-vegetative forms, as well as the P. larvae strain ATCC 9545. The experiment was set up for spore and vegetative forms in four different ways. The results show that Si-QAC inhibits bacterial growth significantly in in vitro experiments. The extended studies were completed by cage experiments to identify toxicity levels. It was found that there is no toxic effect on honey bees by direct or indirect contamination with Si-QAC. These studies suggest that the preventive activity of Si-QAC against P. larvae is most effective as a disinfectant.

Beekeeping in Turkey: Bridging Asia and Europe

Turkey contains the second largest number of honeybee colonies in the world. Beekeeping is managed by beekeepers affiliated with 79 provincial beekeeper associations and the national Turkish Central Beekeepers Association (TAB) (www.tab.org.tr). Turkey is located at the geographic crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and encompasses a wide range of climates and habitats within its borders. Not surprisingly, honeybees of Turkey are also very diverse. Genetic variations among honeybee populations may be attributed by two factors: (1) adaptation to their local environments and (2) movement by humans. Migratory beekeeping has become widespread in Turkey within the last 20–30 years although beekeeping in Turkey is known since 8000–7000 BC. Like other countries, Turkish beekeepers face several challenges to producing their unique, highly respected honeys.