Propolis Counteracts Some Threats to Honey Bee Health

Honey bees ( ) are constantly dealing with threats from pathogens, pests, pesticides and poor nutrition. It is critically important to understand how honey bees' natural immune responses (individual immunity) and collective behavioral defenses (social immunity) can improve bee health and produc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insects (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2017-04, Vol.8 (2), p.46
Main Authors: Simone-Finstrom, Michael, Borba, Renata S, Wilson, Michael, Spivak, Marla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agrochemicals
Antioxidants
Apiculture
Apis mellifera
Ascosphaera apis
Beekeeping
Bees
Beetles
Colonies
Contamination
Detoxification
Health
Honey
Immune response
Immune system
Immunity
Larvae
Longevity
Nosema
Nutrition
Paenibacillus
Parasites
Pathogens
Pesticides
Pests
Propolis
Resins
Review
Royal jelly
Varroa destructor
Viruses
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Summary:Honey bees ( ) are constantly dealing with threats from pathogens, pests, pesticides and poor nutrition. It is critically important to understand how honey bees' natural immune responses (individual immunity) and collective behavioral defenses (social immunity) can improve bee health and productivity. One form of social immunity in honey bee colonies is the collection of antimicrobial plant resins and their use in the nest architecture as propolis. We review research on the constitutive benefits of propolis on the honey bee immune system, and its known therapeutic, colony-level effects against the pathogens and . We also review the limited research on the effects of propolis against other pathogens, parasites and pests ( , viruses, , and hive beetles) and how propolis may enhance bee products such as royal jelly and honey. Although propolis may be a source of pesticide contamination, it also has the potential to be a detoxifying agent or primer of detoxification pathways, as well as increasing bee longevity via antioxidant-related pathways. Throughout this paper, we discuss opportunities for future research goals and present ways in which the beekeeping community can promote propolis use in standard colonies, as one way to improve and maintain colony health and resiliency.
ISSN:2075-4450
2075-4450
DOI:10.3390/insects8020046