Artículos Científicos

URI permanente para esta colecciónhttp://10.0.96.45:4000/handle/11056/17242

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Baltimora recta: a pollen and nectar plant for honey bees during dearth periods in Costa Rica
(Bee Worl, 2001-01-01) Ortiz Mora, Alberto; Ramíerez Arias, Fernando; Sánchez, Luis; Luis, Sánchez
Baltimora recta: a pollen and nectar plant for honey bees during dearth periods in Costa Rica. In the rainy season, during the short dry period that divides it, an extensive and dominant bloom of this herb is found on the pacific slope of Costa Rica, and it is an important food resource for honey bees.
Floral biology, pollination ecology and seed production of the ornamental plant Salvia splendens Sello
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica., 2002) Sánchez, Luis Alejandro; Picado, A.; Sommeijer, Marinus Jan; Slaa, Ester Judith
In this paper, the floral biology and pollination ecology of Salvia splendens are described. All flower characteristics (red corolla, large tubular flowers with abundant but dilute nectar) indicate that S. splendens is adapted to hummingbird pollination. Honeybees, however, were also found to be good pollinators of this plant. Apis mellifera was equally effective in pollinating S. splendens as hand pollination and open pollination, resulting in a 300% increase in seed set compared with bagged control plants. The much smaller stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula was not an effective pollinator of these flowers since during visitation its body failed to touch the stigma. Although pollination seemed not to be the only limiting factor in seed production, external pollinators enhance seed production in S. splendens, and Apis mellifera is an effective, commercially available pollination agent of this economically important ornamental plant.
Efficacy of Piper (Piperaceae) extracts for control of common home and garden insect pests
(Entomological Society of America, 2004) Scott, Ian; Jensen, Helen R.; Nicol, R.W.; LeSage, Laurent; Bradbury, Rod; Sánchez Vindas, Pablo; Poveda, Luis Jorge; Arnason, John; Philogéne, Bernard J.R.
Extracts from three species of the plant family Piperaceae, Piper nigrum [L.], Piper guineense [Schum & Thonn], and Piper tuberculatum [Jacq.], were tested for efficacy against insects from five orders. All three species contain isobutyl amides, plant secondary compounds that act as neurotoxins in insects. These materials are considered safe to mammals because Piper spp. were used for centuries for spice and medicinal purposes. When 24-h P. nigrum LC50 values were compared between common insect pests from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, the most sensitive species in order of increasing lethal concentration were eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum (F.) European pine sawfly larvae, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffroy) spindle ermine moth larvae, Yponomeuta cagnagella [Hübner] viburnum leaf beetle larvae, Pyrrhalta viburni [Paykull] stripped cucumber beetle adults, Acalymma vittatum (F.) Colorado potato beetle adults, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) Japanese beetle adults, Popillia japonica [Newman] hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtis [Montandon]. The life stage tested was the point at which each species causes the greatest amount of damage to the host plant and the point at which most gardeners would likely choose to treat with a conventional synthetic insecticide. Greenhouse trials revealed that the pepper formulations also had a repellent activity, thus protecting plant leaves from 1) herbivory (lily leaf beetle, Lilioceris lilii [Scopoli], adults and larvae and stripped cucumber beetle adults) and 2) oviposition [European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)]. Combinations with other botanical extracts were additive at best in toxicity and repellent trials. Nontarget toxicity to beneficial invertebrates is a possibility because the P. nigrum LC50 for beneficial ladybird beetles was 0.2%. P. nigrum extracts can provide a reasonable level of control against lepidopteran and European pine sawfly larvae and also will work as a short-term repellent and feeding deterrent. It is recommended that the use of Piper extracts be restricted to small-scale spot treatments in residential areas where insect pest outbreaks have occurred.
Stingless Bees in applied pollination: practice and perspectives
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2006-06-22) Sánchez Chaves, Luis; Hofstede, Frouke; Slaa, Ester Judith; Malagodi-Braga, Kátia
En la actualidad, el número de colonias de abejas, tanto silvestres como manejadas, está disminuyendo rápidamente, lo que provoca una preocupación mundial por los servicios de polinización. Las abejas sin aguijón desempeñan un importante papel ecológico como polinizadoras de muchas especies de plantas silvestres y parecen buenas candidatas para futuras alternativas en la polinización comercial. Este artículo examina la eficacia de las abejas sin aguijón como polinizadoras de cultivos. En los últimos seis años se ha duplicado el número de cultivos polinizados eficazmente por abejas sin aguijón, hasta alcanzar la cifra de 18 cultivos. Se ha descubierto que once especies de seis géneros de abejas sin aguijón forrajean eficazmente en condiciones cerradas, lo que indica el potencial de las abejas sin aguijón como polinizadoras de cultivos de invernadero. Se analizan las características biológicas que convierten a las abejas sin aguijón en firmes candidatas a prestar servicios comerciales de polinización, así como sus limitaciones actuales. Se examinan los efectos de la vegetación natural y de las abejas silvestres en el rendimiento de los cultivos, y se exponen argumentos de peso a favor de la conservación del hábitat.
Reproductive biology of Varroa destructor in Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera)
(Experimental and applied Acaralogy Springer, 2009-10-23) Sánchez Chaves, Luis; Sommeijer, Marinus; Calderón, Rafael; Van Veen, Johan Wilhelm
Since its first contact with Apis mellifera, the population dynamics of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor varies from one region to another. In many regions of the world, apiculture has come to depend on the use of acaricides, because of the extensive damage caused by varroa to bee colonies. At present, the mite is considered to contribute to the recent decline of honey bee colonies in North America and Europe. Because in tropical climates worker brood rearing and varroa reproduction occurs all year round, it could be expected that here the impact of the parasite will be even more devastating. Yet, this has not been the case in tropical areas of South America. In Brazil, varroa was introduced more than 30 years ago and got established at low levels of infestation, without causing apparent damage to apiculture with Africanized honey bees (AHB). The tolerance of AHB to varroa is apparently attributable, at least in part, to resistance in the bees. The low fertility of this parasite in Africanized worker brood and the grooming and hygienic behavior of the bees are referred as important factors in keeping mite infestation low in the colonies. It has also been suggested that the type of mite influences the level of tolerance in a honey bee population. The Korea haplotype is predominant in unbalanced host-parasite systems, as exist in Europe, whereas in stable systems, as in Brazil, the Japan haplotype used to predominate. However, the patterns of varroa genetic variation have changed in Brazil. All recently sampled mites were of the Korea haplotype, regardless whether the mites had reproduced or not. The fertile mites on AHB in Brazil significantly increased from 56% in the 1980s to 86% in recent years. Nevertheless, despite the increased fertility, no increase in mite infestation rates in the colonies has been detected so far. A comprehensive literature review of varroa reproduction data, focusing on fertility and production of viable female mites, was conducted to provide insight into the Africanized bee host-parasite relationship.
Nest-specific composition of the trail pheromone of the stingless bee Trigona corvina within populations
(Springer, 2012) John, Lena; Aguilar, Ingrid; Ayasse, Manfredo; Jarau, Stefan
Social insects have evolved highly developed communication systems, enabling them to coordinate complex interactions in their colonies. Pheromones play a major role in the coordination of many tasks. In Trigona corvina, a stingless bee that occurs in Central America, foragers use pheromones produced in their labial glands to scent mark solid substrates between a food source and their nest. Newly recruited bees subsequently follow these scent marks until they reach the food source. A recent study has revealed nestspecific differences in the composition of these trail pheromones in colonies of T. corvina, suggesting that pheromone specificity may serve to avoid competition between foragers from different nests. However, the nests used in this study came from different populations and their foragers certainly never met in the field (Jarau et al., 2010). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether differences in the trail pheromones of foragers from different nests can also be found between neighbouring colonies within populations. We analysed the composition of trail pheromones from labial gland secretions extracted from workers from nine colonies collected at three different populations in Costa Rica. The differences in pheromone composition were even more distinct between neighbouring nests within a population than between nests of different populations. This finding corroborates the hypothesis that nest specificity of trail pheromones serves to communicate the location of a food source exclusively to nestmates, thereby avoiding intraspecific competition at resources. Resource partitioning by avoiding conspecific non-nestmates is particularly adaptive for aggressive bee species, such as T. corvina.
Reproduction of Varroa destructor and offspring mortality in worker and drone brood cells of Africanized honey bees
(Springer, 2012-01-24) Calderón Fallas, Rafael A.; Ureña Rivera, Susana; Van Veen, Johan Wilhelm
Varroa destructor is known to be the most serious parasite of Apis mellifera worldwide. In order to reproduce varroa females enter worker or drone brood shortly before the cell is sealed. From March to December 2008, the reproductive rate and offspring mortality (mature and immature stages), focusing on male absence and male mortality of V. destructor, was investigated in naturally infested worker and drone brood of Africanized honey bees (AHB) in Costa Rica. Data were obtained from 388 to 403 single infested worker and drone brood cells, respectively. Mite fertility in worker and drone brood cells was 88. 9 and 93. 1%, respectively. There was no difference between the groups (X 2 = 3. 6, P = 0. 06). However, one of the most significant differences in mite reproduction was the higher percentage of mites producing viable offspring in drone cells (64. 8%) compared to worker cells (37. 6%) (X 2 = 57. 2, P < 0. 05). A greater proportion of mites in worker brood cells produced non-viable female offspring. Mite offspring mortality in both worker and drone cells was high in the protonymph stage (mobile and immobile). A significant finding was the high rate of male mortality. The worker and drone brood revealed that 23. 9 and 6. 9%, respectively, of the adult male offspring was found dead. If the absence (missing) of the male and adult male mortality are taken together the percentage of cells increased to 40. 0 and 21. 3% in worker and drone cells, respectively (X 2 = 28. 8, P < 0. 05). The absence of the male or male mortality in a considerable number of worker cells naturally infested with varroa is the major factor in our study which reduces the production of viable daughters in AHB colonies in Costa Rica.
Learnt information in species-specific ‘trail pheromone’ communication in stingless bees
(Elsevier, 2013) Reichle, Christian; Aguilar Monge, Ingrid; Ayasse, Manfred; Twele, Robert; Francke, Wittko; Jarau, Stefan
Specificity in biological signalling systems is often important to keep information private. Foragers of several species of stingless bees deposit chemical marking signals to guide nestmates to food sources. The markings show species- and colony-specific compositions and primarily attract a bee’s nestmates. An interesting question is whether the bees innately recognize specific trail markings or learn their particular composition from nestmates. To investigate this question, we tested whether Scaptotrigona pectoralis and Scaptotrigona subobscuripennis workers taken from their mother colonies and workers that emerged from combs transferred to foster colonies of the congeneric species are attracted to the marking compounds of workers from their natal colony or from the foster colony. A significant majority of workers were attracted to extracts prepared from foragers of the nest they inhabited, regardless of whether this was the original mother or the congeneric foster colony. Thus, the preference of stingless bee workers for specific food-marking scent mixtures is not innate, but is influenced by the odour they experience within their colony. Despite marked differences in the chemical composition of the scent marks in labial gland secretions of the two investigated species they also shared some main components. We hypothesize that recruitment trail information in stingless bees is composed of one or a few key pheromone compounds acting in conjunction with an additional signature mixture that is species and colony specific and must be learnt by recruited workers.
The antimicrobial activity and microbiological safety of stingless bee honeys from Costa Rica
(International Bee Research Association, 2014) Zamora Fallas, Gabriel; Beukelman, Kees; van den Berg, Bert; Arias Echandi, María Luisa; Umaña Rojas, Eduardo; Aguilar Monge, Ingrid; Sánchez Chávez, Luis Alejandro; Fallas Matamoros, Natalia; Quarles van Ufford, Linda; Gross, Norma
Stingless bee honeys from Costa Rica possess etnopharmacological value mainly as a wound dressing. The microbiological study by APHA methods reported that 83 % of the honeys analysed had microbial counts that comply with European Pharmacopoeia's acceptance criteria for microbiological quality of non-sterile substances for pharmaceutical use. All samples reported the absence of Clostridium botulinum spores by PCR. Over 90 % of Tetragonisca angustula and Melipona beecheii honeys inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at minimum inhibitory concentrations lower than Medihoney™. Under the conditions tested, Medihoney™ was not active against Candida albicans, whereas 53% of T. angustula honeys rendered inhibition. The melissopalynological analyses reported a homogeneous (monofloral) botanical composition for the Meliponini honeys, which emphasizes the contribution of nectar constituents to the antimicrobial activity and provides foundation to the standardization of a desired inhibitory effect. The traditional use of Costa Rican stingless bee honey as a dressing for burns and wounds reveals the application of a proficient antiseptic agent with low health associated risks.
Comparación de la habilidad reproductiva y mortalidad del ácaro Varroa destructor en celdas con cría de obrera y zángano en abejas africanizadas de Costa Rica
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2014-10-31) Van Veen, Johan; Chacón, Luis Zamora; Quesada, Mariela; Calderón Fallas, Rafel Ángel
Se estudió la reproducción del ácaro Varroa destructor en celdas con cría de obrera y zángano. Además se evaluó la mortalidad de la progenie de V. destructor, especialmente la muerte o ausencia del macho. El estudio se realizó de marzo a diciembre de 2010, utilizando 15 colmenas de abejas africanizadas ubicadas en Barreal de Heredia y Ciudad Colón, San José. Se examinaron 388 celdas de obrera y 403 celdas de zángano infestadas de manera natural con un ácaro adulto. La reproducción de cada ácaro se determinó analizando los siguientes parámetros: fertilidad, fecundidad, producción de hijas viables, producción de cría inmadura, producción de únicamente hijas o únicamente machos y la ausencia de reproducción. La fertilidad de V. destructor en celdas de obrera fue de un 88.9%, con un promedio de 3.2 descendientes por ácaro. Mientras que la fertilidad del ácaro en celdas de zángano correspondió a un 93.1%, produciéndose 4.0 descendientes por ácaro. En cría de obrera, el 37.6% de los ácaros produjo hijas viables, el 14.7% hijas no viables, el 4.6% produjo cría inmadura y el 32.0% cría de un solo sexo. En celdas de zángano, el 64.8% de los ácaros produjo hijas viables, el 5.2% hijas no viables, el 1.0% cría inmadura, mientras que el 22.1% cría de un solo sexo. Además, en cría de obrera se observó una alta mortalidad en los estadios de protoninfa móvil (66.4%), protoninfa inmóvil (45.2%), deutoninfa móvil (17.6%) y el macho adulto (23.9%). En el 40.0% de las celdas de obrera con reproducción, se registró la muerte o ausencia del macho. En cría de zángano la mortalidad se registró principalmente en el estadio de protoninfa móvil (78.4%) e inmóvil (42.6%). Además, la muerte o ausencia del macho se observó en el 21.3% de las celdas de zángano. La fertilidad de V. destructor fue similar en celdas de obrera y zángano. Sin embargo, el número de hijas viables producidas por el ácaro fue mayor en la cría de zángano comparado con la cría de obrera. Por otro lado, la mortalidad o ausencia del macho fue significativamente mayor en cría de obrera. Por lo anterior, se debe indicar que el ácaro V. destructor presentó un mayor éxito reproductivo en cría de zángano, siendo está cría más apta para su reproducción.
Presence of Nosema ceranae in Africanized honey bee colonies in Costa Rica
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2015-03-25) Sánchez Chaves, Luis; Calderón, Rafael; Yanez, Orlando; Fallas, Natalia
Nosemosis is a severe disease caused by the microsporidian Nosema sp. affecting adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) (Bailey and Ball, 1991). Nosema spores infect the epithelial layer of the ventriculus and midgut of adult bees, causing digestive disorders and shortening the life span of bees, with a resulting decrease in bee population (Ritter, 2001). So far only two microsporidian parasites have been described in honey bees: N. apis and N. ceranae. Nosema apis was the first described microsporidian in honey bees (Zander, 1909)
An unusual recruitment strategy in a mass-recruiting stingless bee, Partamona orizabaensis
(Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2016-07-13) Flaig, Isabelle; Schmitt, Thomas; Jarau, Stefan; Aguilar, Ingrid
Foragers of several stingless bee species deposit attractive scent marks on solid substrates to precisely recruit nestmates to food. Interestingly, Partamona workers quickly recruit large numbers of nest mates to resources, likely even without the deposition of attractive scent marks. However, systematic studies of the recruitment system of these bees are lacking. We now studied the recruitment behavior of P. orizabaensis. Our findings show that foragers of this species can recruit large numbers of nestmates to food sources at a particular location. The precise nestmate recruitment does not rely on attractive scent marks deposited on substrates. We never observed any scent marking behavior and feeders baited with labial or mandibular gland extracts were not attractive for the bees. Chemical analyses showed that the foragers' labial gland secretions exclusively contain long chain hydrocarbons, which render their role in recruitment communication unlikely. Whether mandibular gland secretions, which contain esters and alcohols that are known as attractive pheromones in other bee species, are used to guide recruits toward food during flight, remains elusive. We conclude that Partamona's quick recruitment system that does not rely on conspicuous scent marks has evolved as a strategy against competition with sympatrically occurring and more aggressive bee species.
An insight into the antibiofilm properties of Costa Rican stingless bee honeys
(Journal of Wound Care, 2017-04-05) Zamora, Luis; Beukelman, Kees; van den Berg, Arjen; Aerts, P.C.; Quarles van Ufford, H.C.; Nijland, R.; Arias, M.L.
Our objective is to examine the the antibiofilm properties of stingless bee honeys. Meliponini honeys from Costa Rica were examined along with Medihoney as a reference. All honeys were submitted to a screening composed of minimum inhibitory concentration, inhibition of biofilm formation and biofilm destruction microplate-based assays against a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm forming strain. Dialysis led to the isolation of an antibiofilm fraction in Tetragonisca angustula honeys. The honey antibiofilm fraction was evaluated for protease activity and for any synergistic effect with antibiotics on a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. The active fraction was then separated through activity guided isolation techniques involving SDS-PAGEs, anion exchange and size exclusion fast protein liquid chromatographies. The fractions obtained and the isolated antibiofilm constituents were tested for amylase and DNase activity. About the results, a total of 57 Meliponini honeys from Costa Rica were studied in this research. The honeys studied belonged to the Tetragonisca angustula (n=36) and Melipona beecheii (n=21) species. Costa Rican Tetragonisca angustula honeys can inhibit the planktonic growth, biofilm formation, and are capable of destroying a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. The antibiofilm effect was observed in the protein fraction of Tetragonisca angustula honeys. The biofilm destruction proteins allowed ampicillin and vancomycin to recover their antimicrobial activity over a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. The antibiofilm proteins are of bee origin, and their activity was not due to serine, cysteine or metalloproteases. There were 2 proteins causing the antibiofilm action; these were named the Tetragonisca angustula biofilm destruction factors (TABDFs). TABDF-1 is a monomeric protein of approximately 50kDa that is responsible of the amylase activity of Tetragonisca angustula honeys. TABDF-2 is a protein monomer of approximately 75kDa. In conclusion the Tetragonisca angustula honeys from Costa Rica are a promising candidate for research and development of novel wound dressings focused on the treatment of acute and chronic Staphylococcus aureus biofilm wound infections.
SOLATINA: A Latin-American society for bee research to foster the interactions between scientists and coordinate large-scale research programs
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica , 2018) Antúnez, Karina; Requier, Fabrice; Aldea Sánchez, Patricia; Basualdo, Marina; Branchiccela, Belén; Calderón, Rafael; Correa Benítez, Adriana; Delgado Cañedo, Andres; Fuselli, Sandra; Morales, Carolina; Pérez Castro, Eleazar; Plischuk, Santiago; Porrini, Martin Pablo; Segui Goncalves, Lionel; Tapia González, José María; Torres, Alexandra; Velarde, Rodrigo; Invernizzi, Ciro
Bees (members of the super family Apoidea) are the main pollinators in modern agro-ecosystems, where they have a critical positive effect on yield improve ment for about 75% of world's crops (Klein et al., 2007; Potts et al., 2016). However, there is evidence of a worldwide decline in the populations of wild bees, and numerous reports of high colony losses of managed bees, which may disrupt crop pollination, honey produc tion and the reproduction of bee-polli nated wild plants (Potts et al., 2010), leading to negative social, economic and ecological effects (Potts et al., 2016). Latin America (hereafter, LA) is home to about 8 million managed honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) which produce more than 200000 tons of honey annually (FAOSTAT, 2018). Several Latin American countries are among the global top 20 in terms of honey production and beehives stock, such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico (García, 2018; Requier et al., 2018). Moreover, LA hosts a unique fauna of native bees, with about 5,000 identified species, including 391 species of the native stingless bees in the tribu Meliponini (Camargo & Pedro, 2008; Freitas et al., 2009). Some of those native stingless bees are managed since ancient times to produce honey through the practice of “Meliponiculture” (Jaffé et al., 2015). Latin American bee research has contributed to improve our understanding of problems relevant for apiculture, bee diversity and the causes of bee population decline in the region among other topics (see e.g., Maggi et al., 2016; Morales, Arbetman, Cameron, & Aizen, 2013; Vandame & Palacio, 2010). These scientific achievements are mostly the result of research efforts led by groups working independently rather than the product of cooperative research efforts between different countries. We argue that the strength, impact, and relevance of these research efforts, for apiculture and bees in the region, can be improved by promoting interactions between Latin American bee scientists and coordinating large-scale research programs.
Diagnóstico automático de infección por Nosemiasis en abejas melíferas mediante procesado de imágenes
(Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, 2018) Prendas Rojas, Juan Pablo; Figueroa Mata, Geovanni; Ramírez Montero, Marianyela; Calderón, Rafael; Ramírez Bogantes, Melvin; Travieso González, Carlos Manuel
Las abejas polinizan una gran variedad de especies de plantas, incluyendo los cultivos agrícolas. Se estima que cerca del 30% del alimento consumido por la población mundial es derivado de cultivos polinizados por abejas. La infección por Nosemiasis es una de las principales causas de la pérdida de colmenas a nivel mundial. Los métodos de laboratorio para el diagnóstico del nivel de infección por este microsporidio son lentos, caros y demandan la presencia de un experto. Se propone un sistema automático, confiable y económico de cuantificación de infección por Nosema, a partir del procesamiento digital de imágenes. Con el uso de técnicas de segmentación de imágenes, caracterización de objetos y conteo de formas se han reproducido las técnicas de Cantwell y Hemocitómetro de manera automática. Para el conteo de esporas se implementaron tres descriptores el tamaño, la excentricidad y la circularidad, de manera tal que son invariantes a la escala y rotación de las imágenes. Se trabajó con un total de 375 fotografías agrupadas en carpetas de 5, las cuales fueron previamente etiquetadas por un experto según el nivel de infección (muy leve, leve, moderado, semifuerte y fuerte). Con ello se alcanzó un porcentaje de diagnóstico correcto de infección del 84%.
Situación del pequeño escarabajo, Aethina tumida, en colmenas de abejas africanizadas (Apis mellifera) en Costa Rica: Muestreo de apiarios 2014-2017
(2018-05-18) Ramírez, Marianyela; Calderón, Rafael
El primer reporte sobre la presencia del pequeño escarabajo de la colmena, Aethina tumida en Centroamérica se dio en El Salvador en el 2013, luego se confirmó en Nicaragua en el 2014, lo cual aumenta el riesgo de su ingreso a Costa Rica. Por lo anterior, en el presente estudio se realizó un muestreo que va de junio 2014 a setiembre 2017, mediante el cual se analizaron 359 colmenas pertenecientes a 62 apiarios ubicados en las provincias de Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, San José y Heredia. Se realizaron observaciones de la cría y de las abejas adultas, además se colocaron dos trampas por colmena tipo Cutts Beetle Blaster®, las que permanecieron durante ocho a quince días. Posteriormente las trampas se analizaron en el laboratorio de Patología Apícola del CINAT-UNA. Del total de apiarios muestreados, se confirmó la presencia del pequeño escarabajo únicamente en un apiario centinela ubicado en La Cruz-Guanacaste, en agosto 2015. Por lo anterior, se puede indicar la presencia del pequeño escarabajo A. tumida en colmenas de abejas africanizadas en Costa Rica, con una distribución limitada a la Cruz-Guanacaste. Tomando en cuenta que el escarabajo adulto puede volar y desplazarse junto a enjambres silvestres y la trashumancia de colmenas por parte del apicultor, es importante mantener un monitoreo constante de los apiarios, ya que las condiciones actuales de ausencia en la mayoría de zonas apícolas del país, reportadas en el presente estudio, pueden cambiar
Asociación entre abejas sin aguijón (Apidae, Meliponini) y la flora del bosque seco en la región norte de Guanacaste, Costa Rica
(Revista De Ciencias Ambientales, UNA, 2018-11-12) Barquero Elizondo, Ana Isabe; Aguilar Monge, Ingrid; Méndez Cartín, Ana Lucía; Hernández Sánchez, Gustavo; Sánchez Toruño, Henry; Montero Flores, William; Herrera González, Eduardo; Sánchez Chaves, Luis Alejandro; Barrantes Vásquez, Alejandra; Gutiérrez Leitón, Milena; Mesén Montano, Isaac; Bullé Bueno, Francisco Bullé
Las abejas sin aguijón son importantes polinizadores en regiones tropicales y subtropicales; están asociadas a la flora que les proporciona alimento, sitios para anidamiento, resinas, savia y exudados. Se buscó determinar la asociación entre abejas y flora en el sector cerro El Hacha (bosque primario intervenido) y sector Pocosol (bosque secundario) del Parque Nacional Guanacaste, donde se inventariaron los nidos en 33 parcelas de 20 x 20 m². Se colectó polen de plantas dentro de las parcelas y alrededor de los nidos (radio de 500 m) y se recolectaron y analizaron cargas corbiculares de polen de abejas atrapadas con redes entomológicas en la entrada de los nidos. En el cerro El Hacha se colectó polen de tres nidos de Scaptotrigona pectoralis y en Pocosol se colectó polen de dos nidos de Trigona fulviventris. Se obtuvo una densidad de 4.43 nidos/ha-1, de las especies: Tetragonisca angustula, Tetragona ziegleri, Plebeia frontalis y Trigona fulviventris. Los nidos se encuentran en los troncos de árboles, con preferencia por el Quercus oleoides, donde se halló el 50 % de estos. Las plantas alimenticias utilizadas por S. pectoralis en el cerro El Hacha, fueron: Cupania guatemalensis (30 %), Byrsonima crassifolia (21 %) y Cedrela odorata (15 %). Mientras para T. fulviventris en el sector Pocosol las plantas más importantes fueron Baltimora recta (26 %), Dorstenia contrajerva (9 %) y Desmodium sp. (9 %). Es evidente el importante papel que cumple la especie arbórea Quercus oleoides para la conservación de las poblaciones de estos insectos.
Principales plantas de importancia alimenticia para la abeja nativa sin aguijón Trigona fulviventris (Guérin- Méneville) en Pocosol, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
(Revista Forestal Mesoamericana Kurú, 2018-12-18) Barrantes-Vásquez, Alejandra; Sánchez-Chaves, Luis; Hernández- Sánchez, Gustavo; Montero-Flores, William
En este estudio, se determinaron las principales plantas de importancia nutricional para la abeja sin aguijón Trigona fulviventris (Guérin- Méneville), en un fragmento de bosque seco secundario en Pocosol, Área de Conservación Guanacaste durante la época lluviosa. Mediante la colecta de individuos de T. fulviventris se obtuvo un total de 26 tipos polínicos, cuyas especies más representativas correspondieron a los estratos de herbáceas y arbustos. Adicionalmente, pese a no observar el comportamiento fenológico habitual a la época del año, se realizó una colecta de plantas con el propósito de abarcar las especies de mayor importancia dentro del rango de vuelo de esta especie de abeja. Para el análisis del polen se utilizaron métodos palinológicos cuyos resultados mostraron una convergencia del 27 % de coincidencia, al comparar el polen extraído de las abejas con el de las plantas colectadas. Asimismo, con ayuda de índices ecológicos se midió la riqueza, dominancia y uniformidad de las plantas colectadas. De esta forma se determinó la presencia de las especies de mayor representatividad al momento del estudio en el sitio (Baltimora recta y Dorstenia contrajerva). Finalmente, se logró documentar el comportamiento de T. fulviventris con respecto a la búsqueda de recursos nutricionales limitados (2015)
Actual situation of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in Africanized honeybee colonies in Costa Rica
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2019) Calderón, Rafael; Ramírez, Marianyela
In the present study, the presence of the beetle Aethina tumida in Central American countries such as El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica is analyzed by visual sampling in which all individual frames, hive covers and bottom boards of each colony are examined. In addition, two Cutts Beetle Blaster® traps per colony were set for eight to 15 days with 25 ml of vegetable oil. The contents of the traps were examined for beetles at the Bee Pathology Laboratory of the Centro de Investigaciones Apícolas Tropicales (CINAT).
Estudio preliminar sobre la presencia de enfermedades en enjambres de abejas africanizadas (Apis mellifera) en diferentes zonas de Costa Rica.
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2019) Calderón, Rafael A.; Padilla, Sergio; Ramírez, Marianyela
Se estudió la presencia de enfermedades en 34 enjambres de abejas africanizadas, recientemente establecidos en diferentes zonas de Costa Rica. De cada enjambre, se colectaron aproximadamente 100 abejas adultas de la cámara de cría (interior), en un frasco plástico de boca ancha. A cada muestra se le adicionó alcohol al 70 %, de manera que las abejas quedaran cubiertas, con la finalidad de conservarlas para su posterior análisis. Las muestras de abejas se analizaron en el Laboratorio de Patología Apícola del Centro de Investigaciones Apícolas Tropicales (CINAT-UNA), donde se realizó diagnóstico de varroosis, nosemiasis y acariosis. Con base en el estudio realizado, se debe indicar la presencia de varroosis y nosemiasis en enjambres de abejas africanizadas recién constituidos, así como la ausencia de acariosis. En el 41.0 % de las muestras positivas a Varroa, se detectó un nivel de infestación leve, con un promedio de 2.0 ± 0.05 (ácaros/100 abejas); mientras que solamente en un 6.0 % de las muestras positivas el nivel de infestación fue fuerte. Por otro lado, en el 26.0 % de las muestras positivas a Nosema spp., se determinó un nivel de infección muy leve, mientras que el 18.0 % mostró uno leve. No se detectaron niveles de infección moderados ni fuertes de Nosema spp. Por lo anterior y debido a que la mayoría de los productores captura e introduce los enjambres directamente al apiario, se recomienda cuarentena y realizar diagnóstico de laboratorio, para conocer la situación sanitaria. Lo dicho permitirá tomar acciones inmediatas relacionadas con el control de enfermedades y, de esta manera, prevenir el contagio de colmenas sanas en el apiario.

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