An Overview of the Adverse Impacts of Old Combs on Honeybee Colonies and Recommended Beekeeping Management Strategies
Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Biological Functions of Combs
3. Aging Process of the Comb
3.1. Color Changes in the Comb
3.2. Structural Changes in the Comb Cells
3.3. Effects of Old Combs on the External Morphological Traits of the Workers
3.4. Impact of Old Combs on Colony Strength and Production Performance
3.5. Impact of Old Combs on the Quality of Bee Products
3.6. Accumulation of Environmental Pollutants in Old Combs
4. Bee Adaptations in Old Combs
4.1. Behavioral Adaptations to Structural Degradation
4.2. Molecular Mechanisms of Pollutant Detoxification
5. Beekeeping Management Practices
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Honeybee Species | Average Cell Diameter (mm) | Citation | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Worker | Drone | |||
Apis mellifera | A. m. carnica | 5.51 | 6.91 | Ruttner, 1988 [35] |
A. m. ligustica | 5.49 | 6.62 | Yang et al., 2021 [20] | |
A. m. scutellata | 4.80 | 6.15 | Smith et al., 1961 [36] | |
A. m. jemenitica | 4.75 | 6.19 | Dutton et al., 1981 [37] | |
A. m. litorea | 4.62 | 6.15 | Ruttner, 1988 [35] | |
Apis cerana | A. c. cerana | 4.82 | 5.62 | Yang et al., 2021 [20] |
A. c. japonica | 4.78 | / | Ruttner, 1988 [35] | |
A. c. indica | 4.37 | / | Ruttner, 1988 [35] | |
Apis dorsata | 5.32 | / | Khan et al., 2007 [38] | |
Apis laboriosa | 6.3 | / | Starr, 2021 [39] | |
Apis florea | 2.7–3.1 | 4.2–4.8 | Free, 1981 [40] | |
Apis andreniformis | 2.8 | 4.2 | Starr, 2021 [39] |
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Meng, Q.; Huang, R.; Yang, S.; Jiang, W.; Tian, Y.; Dong, K. An Overview of the Adverse Impacts of Old Combs on Honeybee Colonies and Recommended Beekeeping Management Strategies. Insects 2025, 16, 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040351
Meng Q, Huang R, Yang S, Jiang W, Tian Y, Dong K. An Overview of the Adverse Impacts of Old Combs on Honeybee Colonies and Recommended Beekeeping Management Strategies. Insects. 2025; 16(4):351. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040351
Chicago/Turabian StyleMeng, Qingxin, Rong Huang, Shunhua Yang, Wutao Jiang, Yakai Tian, and Kun Dong. 2025. "An Overview of the Adverse Impacts of Old Combs on Honeybee Colonies and Recommended Beekeeping Management Strategies" Insects 16, no. 4: 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040351
APA StyleMeng, Q., Huang, R., Yang, S., Jiang, W., Tian, Y., & Dong, K. (2025). An Overview of the Adverse Impacts of Old Combs on Honeybee Colonies and Recommended Beekeeping Management Strategies. Insects, 16(4), 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040351