Recent Advances in Bee Parasite, Pathogen, and Predator Interactions
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Insects and Apiculture".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 193
Special Issue Editor
Interests: host–parasite interactions; varroidae; behavior mechanisms; antimicrobial peptides; ants venom; ectoparasite infestations
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Honeybees are major pollinators, and besides pesticides, global changes, and urbanization, parasites, pathogens, and predators are important factors responsible for the very alarming colony decline. The microsporidium Nosema ceranae (a fungus) and ectoparasite Varroa destructor (a mite) are common biotic stressors of honeybees that cause serious damage to colonies. Concerning V. destructor, what makes the mite so dangerous to Apis mellifera is that it has the capacity to transmit and replicate viruses such as deformed wing virus (DWV) and acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV). In addition, infections with N. ceranae, Paenibacillus, or infestations with the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) have devastating consequences for the respective colonies. More recently, A. mellifera appeared to be very sensitive to the predator V. velutina.
The aim of this Special Issue, “Recent Advances in Bee Parasite, Pathogen, and Predator Interactions”, is to highlight original advanced research or reviews and to provide an updated integrated picture of honeybee-associated pests while encouraging further innovative research to improve the health status of honeybee colonies. Several topics, including new detection tools, epidemiological approaches, biotechnical approaches (e.g. RNA replication approaches), chemical communication management in the hive, new techniques reducing stress factors, integrated management based on coevolutive processes allowing the colony to tolerate pests, and colony selection approaches of resistance to pests, will be welcome in this issue.
Dr. Angélique Vétillard
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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Keywords
- honeybee-associated pests
- innovative research
- new detection tools
- integrated pest management
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