Weakness and collapse of bee colonies in Brazil: are there cases of CCD?

Authors

  • Carmen Silvia Soares Pires Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Parque Estação Biológica, Avenida W5 Norte (Final), Caixa Postal 02372, CEP 70770‑917 Brasília, DF, Brasil.
  • Fábia de Mello Pereira Embrapa Meio‑Norte, Avenida Duque de Caxias, no 5.650, Buenos Aires, Caixa Postal 001, CEP 64006‑220 Teresina, PI, Brasil.
  • Maria Teresa do Rêgo Lopes Embrapa Meio‑Norte, Avenida Duque de Caxias, no 5.650, Buenos Aires, Caixa Postal 001, CEP 64006‑220 Teresina, PI, Brasil.
  • Roberta Cornélio Ferreira Nocelli Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Rodovia Anhanguera, Km 174, CEP 13600‑970 Araras, SP, Brasil.
  • Osmar Malaspina Universidade Estadual Paulista, Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Avenida 24, no 1.515, Bela Vista, CEP 13506‑900 Rio Claro, SP, Brasil.
  • Jeffery Stuart Pettis United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg. 306 BARC‑E, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, 20705 Beltsville, Maryland, Estados Unidos.
  • Érica Weinstein Teixeira Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, SAA‑SP, Avenida Professor Manoel Cesar Ribeiro, no 1.920, CEP 12400‑970 Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2016.v51.22708

Keywords:

Apis mellifera, Africanized honey bees, colony collapse disorder, bee nutrition, honey bee health, pollination

Abstract

In the last decades, the decline of wild bee populations and the collapse of Apis mellifera colonies have concerned researchers and beekeepers. The objective of this review was to compile some of the most relevant studies related to the possible causes of these problems – such as nutrition, management, pathogens, parasites, and the effects of pesticides –, besides presenting a brief history of the colony collapse disorder syndrome (CCD) in the United States and Europe. The studies developed in Brazil were presented in more detail, mainly those on pesticides used in agriculture and on pathogens and parasites that attack the colonies of Africanized A. mellifera. Cases of weakening, decline, and collapse have been recorded in Brazil, mainly in the states of São Paulo and Santa Catarina, which add up to great losses. Results of the analyzed occurrences indicated that the recorded mass mortalities were not associated with pathogens or parasites. Only two cases with characteristics similar to those described for CCD were recorded, but without defined causes. In order to know the causes of the weakening and collapses of colonies, the implementation of official programs is urgent for the systematic survey of bee health, associated with research focusing on assessments of possible impacts of habitat fragmentation and agricultural practices on bee communities. 

Published

2016-08-03

How to Cite

Pires, C. S. S., Pereira, F. de M., Lopes, M. T. do R., Nocelli, R. C. F., Malaspina, O., Pettis, J. S., & Teixeira, Érica W. (2016). Weakness and collapse of bee colonies in Brazil: are there cases of CCD?. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 51(5), 422–442. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2016.v51.22708