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Insects
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Current Advances in Pollinator Insects
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Current Advances in Pollinator Insects

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 5373

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nenad Zaric

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenzstr 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
2. Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: honey bee; metals; pesticides; metabolism; nutrition; biomonitoring
Prof. Dr. Ljubiša Stanisavljević

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: bees; apoidea; megachilidae; apivectoring; pollinators; solitary bees

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pollinator insects, including bees, butterflies, moths, and other important species, play a crucial role in global ecosystems and agriculture by facilitating the reproduction of flowering plants. Despite their importance, many pollinator populations are experiencing unprecedented declines due to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in research into the biology, ecology, and conservation strategies of pollinators.

The scope of this Special Issue will cover a range of topics, including the physiological and behavioral adaptations of pollinators, their interactions with plants and other species, their nutrition, and innovative conservation measures that enhance their habitats. We will also explore the use of pollinator insects as biomonitors of environmental pollution, the impact of technological advances in monitoring pollinator health and distribution, as well as the socio-economic impact of pollinator loss on food security and biodiversity.

Dr. Nenad Zaric
Prof. Dr. Ljubiša Stanisavljević
Guest Editors

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.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bees
  • pollinators
  • solitary bees
  • monitoring
  • wild bees
  • honey bees
  • pesticides
  • metals
  • nutrition
  • stressors
  • biodiversity
  • pollinator health
  • behavioral ecology
  • habitat loss
  • climate change

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 1304 KiB  
Article
New Regional Species Records for the Moroccan Bee Fauna (Hymenoptera, Apoidea), with a Special Focus on the Marrakesh-Safi Region
by Ayyoub Skaou, Abdessamad Aglagane, Omar Er-Rguibi, Houda Benkhalifa, Ahlam Sentil, Patrick Lhomme, Denis Michez and El Hassan El Mouden
Insects 2025, 16(9), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090873 - 22 Aug 2025
Abstract
Although Morocco is a biodiversity hotspot for wild bees, much of its bee fauna remains underexplored. This study aims to enhance knowledge on the regional diversity of Moroccan bees by monitoring wild bee species across nine regions during the 2022–2024 period. A total [...] Read more.
Although Morocco is a biodiversity hotspot for wild bees, much of its bee fauna remains underexplored. This study aims to enhance knowledge on the regional diversity of Moroccan bees by monitoring wild bee species across nine regions during the 2022–2024 period. A total of 245 bee species—representing 34 genera and 6 families—are documented, accounting for ~25% of the country’s bee species, including 74 species newly recorded at the regional level. We recorded 42 species as new for the Marrakech-Safi region, bringing the total to 597 species and confirming this region as a biodiversity hotspot. New records were also observed in the southern and desert regions, such as Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra and Guelmim-Oued Noun (12 species for each), as well as Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab (7 species), highlighting the need for further exploration in these under-sampled areas. The genera Andrena, Lasioglossum, and Eucera were the most diverse, collectively representing 61% of the newly recorded species documented in this study. This research provides valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of Morocco’s bee fauna and calls for standardized monitoring, conservation efforts, and expanded research—particularly in underexplored areas such as the southern regions—to preserve Morocco’s vital bee populations and ensure the sustainability of its agroecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pollinator Insects)
10 pages, 863 KiB  
Article
FlowerPatch: New Method to Measure Nectar Volume in Artificial Flowers
by Edwin Lara-Perez, Jose Agosto Rivera, Tugrul Giray, Remi Megret Laboye and Edwin Flórez Gómez
Insects 2025, 16(7), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16070714 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 439
Abstract
This article proposes a new Flower Patch Nectar Sensor to address the problem of detecting and measuring nectar in artificial flowers used in experiments on pollinator behavior. Traditional methods have focused mainly on recording the visits of pollinators to the flowers, without addressing [...] Read more.
This article proposes a new Flower Patch Nectar Sensor to address the problem of detecting and measuring nectar in artificial flowers used in experiments on pollinator behavior. Traditional methods have focused mainly on recording the visits of pollinators to the flowers, without addressing the dynamic variations in nectar in terms of volume and concentration. The proposed approach provides more detailed information about the nectar consumption by bees and allows for the determination of the optimal time to refill the flowers. This study introduces an innovative method that uses electrodes and an oscillator circuit to measure the volume of nectar present in the flower. The system correlates the concentration of nectar with a frequency signal that can be processed by a microcontroller. It was evaluated using initial volumes ranging from 1 μL to 4 μL, demonstrating its ability to accurately detect variations in nectar, even up to the point where the frequency approaches zero. The results confirm that this method allows us to identify how the reward offered to pollinators (represented by nectar) varies over time, in terms of concentration, under both controlled and natural conditions. Additionally, graphs are presented that show the relationship between an initial volume of 4 μL and variations in the frequency signal over a period of 25 min, highlighting the influence of these factors on nectar dynamics. This work not only introduces an innovative approach for the dynamic monitoring of nectar in artificial flowers but also lays the groundwork for future studies on the physical and chemical modeling of nectar in response to environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pollinator Insects)
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10 pages, 3033 KiB  
Article
Glycosidase Isoforms in Honey and the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.): Differentiating Bee- and Yeast-Derived Enzymes and Implications for Honey Authentication
by Ratko Pavlović, Sanja Stojanović, Marija Pavlović, Nenad Drulović, Miroslava Vujčić, Biljana Dojnov and Zoran Vujčić
Insects 2025, 16(6), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060622 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 727
Abstract
The enzymes in honey can originate not only from bees and the plants from which the bees collect pollen and nectar but also from feed provided by beekeepers. Enzymes that hydrolyze sucrose—present in honey (α-glucosidase) or honey adulterated with invert syrup (β-fructofuranosidase)—can be [...] Read more.
The enzymes in honey can originate not only from bees and the plants from which the bees collect pollen and nectar but also from feed provided by beekeepers. Enzymes that hydrolyze sucrose—present in honey (α-glucosidase) or honey adulterated with invert syrup (β-fructofuranosidase)—can be distinguished using zymography, where enzymatic bands are detected with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) after sugar removal via ultrafiltration. This method enables the identification of honey produced in hives that have been improperly fed with invert syrup, leading to the mixture of natural honey and syrup, and offers a practical tool to detect indirect adulteration. The NBT assay, in combination with ultrafiltration, was used to determine the isoelectric point of honey bee α-glucosidases. The pI value of 6.63 for isoforms found in the head, midgut, and natural honey extracts during winter can be attributed to α-glucosidase III. Two additional isoforms with isoelectric points of 5.20 and 5.77 were observed in the midgut extract and may correspond to α-glucosidase I and II. The difference between α-glucosidase and β-fructofuranosidase was confirmed using a substrate specificity test, followed by thin-layer chromatography, where it was confirmed that α-glucosidase from natural honey, bee head, and bee midgut does not hydrolyze raffinose, in contrast to yeast β-fructofuranosidase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pollinator Insects)
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15 pages, 2221 KiB  
Article
A Field Trial to Demonstrate the Potential of a Vitamin B Diet Supplement in Reducing Oxidative Stress and Improving Hygienic and Grooming Behaviors in Honey Bees
by Nemanja M. Jovanovic, Uros Glavinic, Jevrosima Stevanovic, Marko Ristanic, Branislav Vejnovic, Slobodan Dolasevic and Zoran Stanimirovic
Insects 2025, 16(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16010036 - 2 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1881
Abstract
The honey bee is an important insect pollinator that provides critical pollination services for natural and agricultural systems worldwide. However, inadequate food weakens honey bee colonies, making them vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic factors. In this study, we examined the impact of [...] Read more.
The honey bee is an important insect pollinator that provides critical pollination services for natural and agricultural systems worldwide. However, inadequate food weakens honey bee colonies, making them vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic factors. In this study, we examined the impact of supplementary feeding on bees’ genes for antioxidative enzymes and vitellogenin, oxidative stress parameters, and the hygienic and grooming behavior. The colonies were divided into two experimental groups (with ten hives each): a treatment group that received the plant-based supplement and a control group. The experiment was conducted in two seasons, spring and summer. After the treatment, in both seasons, all the monitored parameters in the treatment group differed from those in the control group. The expression levels of genes for antioxidative enzymes were significantly lower, but the vitellogenin gene transcript level was significantly higher. Values of oxidative stress parameters were significantly lower. The levels of hygienic and grooming behavior were significantly higher. Therefore, our field study indicates that the tested supplement exerted beneficial effects on bees, reflected in reduced oxidative stress and enhanced hygienic and grooming behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pollinator Insects)
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15 pages, 5247 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Disturbance on Plant–Pollinator Interactions in the Native Forests of an Oceanic Island (Terceira, Azores)
by Mário Boieiro, Mariana Ferreira, Ana Ceia-Hasse, Fabiana Esposito, Renata Santos, Gabor Pozsgai, Paulo A. V. Borges and Carla Rego
Insects 2025, 16(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16010014 - 27 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1677
Abstract
The native biodiversity of oceanic islands is threatened by human-driven disturbance and by the growing number of species introductions which often interfere with natural ecological processes. Here, we aim to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on plant–pollinator interactions in the native forest [...] Read more.
The native biodiversity of oceanic islands is threatened by human-driven disturbance and by the growing number of species introductions which often interfere with natural ecological processes. Here, we aim to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on plant–pollinator interactions in the native forest communities of an oceanic island (Terceira, Azores, Portugal). We found that native species predominated in preserved sites compared to disturbed ones and that the extant plant–pollinator interactions were mostly dominated by generalist species. Dipterans, particularly hoverflies, emerged as the primary flower visitors, while introduced hymenopterans (Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris) and native beetles were locally important, respectively, in disturbed and preserved sites. Human-driven disturbance seems to be responsible for the observed differences in flower abundance and species composition between sites and to drive changes in specific network metrics (namely nestedness, interaction strength asymmetry, and specialization), particularly in one of the study areas. Our findings also suggest that native generalist species provide ecological opportunities that can facilitate the establishment of introduced species through their broad interaction networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pollinator Insects)
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