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Insects
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Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health...
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Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health - 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2922

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ivana Tlak Gajger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: insect
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Franco Mutinelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: animal pathology; animal experimentation and welfare; honeybee diseases; disease control; environmental monitoring; regulations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue deals with global stressors, which are reducing the number of honeybee and bumblebee colonies as well as Osmia spp. and other solitary bees. Many factors, such as pathogens, pests, predators, invasive species, nest destructors, negative environmental drivers, agricultural intensification, habitat loss, and managing practices, are reported as the main causes of bee depopulation and losses in rearing operations and apiaries. We want to publish articles focusing on the impact of environmental factors and management practices on bee health. Therefore, we are searching for papers that focus on novel epidemiology studies, diagnostic tools and technologies, monitoring programs, managing practices, biosecurity–control–eradication measures, and disinfection methods as well as the development of new bee disease control strategies. Considering the success of the earlier Special Issue, we are pleased to launch a second Special Issue, Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health – 2nd edition, welcoming results from laboratory and field studies. 

Prof. Dr. Ivana Tlak Gajger
Dr. Franco Mutinelli
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

  • honeybees
  • bumblebees
  • Osmia spp. bees
  • solitary and wild bees
  • diseases
  • pathogens
  • pests
  • predators
  • nest destructors
  • environmental factors
  • managing practices
  • biosecurity–control–eradication measures
  • disinfection methods

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

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

24 pages, 764 KiB  
Review
Sensitivity and Resistance of Parasitic Mites (Varroa destructor, Tropilaelaps spp. and Acarapis woodi) Against Amitraz and Amitraz-Based Product Treatment: A Systematic Review
by Michela Bertola and Franco Mutinelli
Insects 2025, 16(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16030234 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 997
Abstract
Resistance to amitraz in Varroa destructor mites poses a significant challenge to global beekeeping, leading to the declining efficacy of treatments and increased colony losses. This study aims to comprehensively map, characterize, and analyze the status of amitraz efficacy and resistance in Varroa [...] Read more.
Resistance to amitraz in Varroa destructor mites poses a significant challenge to global beekeeping, leading to the declining efficacy of treatments and increased colony losses. This study aims to comprehensively map, characterize, and analyze the status of amitraz efficacy and resistance in Varroa and other parasitic mites such as Tropilaelaps spp. and Acarapis woodi. A systematic review, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examined 74 studies, revealing substantial variability in experimental protocols, mite origins, and environmental factors, all of which impacted toxicity assessments. These findings highlight the urgent need for standardized methodologies to ensure consistency and reliability. Resistance ratios (RR) and indices (RI) showed significant geographical variation, reflecting localized resistance development. Laboratory studies highlighted inconsistencies in detecting resistance, underscoring the importance of combining bioassays, molecular diagnostics, and field efficacy tests. Understanding the genetic and physiological mechanisms driving amitraz resistance, as well as their prevalence, is vital to devising sustainable management strategies. Establishing national monitoring programs and revising testing protocols are pivotal steps toward ensuring the continued effectiveness of acaricides. These measures, combined with coordinated efforts by researchers, beekeepers, and policymakers, are essential to safeguarding global honey bee populations and supporting the long-term sustainability of apiculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health - 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 273 KiB  
Review
Influence of Hyperthermia Treatment on Varroa Infestation, Viral Infections, and Honey Bee Health in Beehives
by Xinjian Xu, Shujing Zhou, Jinrong Huang, Fa Geng, Xiangjie Zhu and Hossam F. Abou-Shaara
Insects 2025, 16(2), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020168 - 5 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1507
Abstract
The mite Varroa destructor is widely acknowledged as the most destructive threat to honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies on a global scale. Varroa mite infestations in bee colonies are intricately linked with viral infections, collaboratively leading to diminished bee populations and [...] Read more.
The mite Varroa destructor is widely acknowledged as the most destructive threat to honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies on a global scale. Varroa mite infestations in bee colonies are intricately linked with viral infections, collaboratively leading to diminished bee populations and accelerated colony losses. Extensive research has firmly established the correlation between varroa mites and viruses, underscoring the mite’s efficiency in spreading viruses among bees and colonies. The effective control of varroa mites is expected to result in a decrease in viral infections within bee colonies. Research suggests that thermal treatments (hyperthermia) present a viable approach to combat varroa mites, with studies demonstrating the role of heat stress in reducing viral infections in affected bees. This article examines the extant literature surrounding the utilization of hyperthermia as a potential method to ameliorate the adverse impacts of varroa mites and their associated viral infections on honey bee colonies. It also outlines the thermal characteristics of these stressors. Diverse devices can be used for subjecting colonies to hyperthermia treatment, targeting mites both within and outside of brood cells. The application of thermal treatments, typically ranging between 40 and 42 °C for 1.5–3 h, as a method to reduce varroa mites and viral infections, has shown promise. Notably, the precise effectiveness of hyperthermia treatment in comparison with alternative varroa mite control measures remains uncertain within the available literature. The potential deleterious repercussions of this control mechanism on immature and mature honey bees are evaluated. Concurrently, the detrimental implications of prolonged treatment durations on colonies are discussed. Regarding viral infections, hyperthermia treatment can impact them negatively by either reducing varroa mite infestations or by inducing the production of heat shock proteins that possess potential antiviral properties. Various factors are identified as influential on hyperthermia treatment efficacy within bee colonies, including the device type and treatment duration, necessitating further empirical investigations. Additionally, this article highlights the existing gaps in the knowledge and provides insights into the prospective directions of research concerning this control method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health - 2nd Edition)
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