Eur. J. Entomol. 120: 9-14, 2023 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2023.002

Comparative micro-computed tomographic analysis of the structure of brood cells and its effect on the development of the pupae of honey bee (Apis mellifera)Original article

Tamás SIPOS1, 3, Tamás DONKÓ1, 2, Ádám CSÓKA2, 3, Tamás KISS4, Sándor KESZTHELYI1
1 Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Agronomy, Kaposvár Campus, Sándor Guba str. 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary; e-mails: sipostomi97@gmail.com, ostrinia@gmail.com
2 Medicopus Ltd., Sándor Guba str. 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary; e-mails: Donko.Tamas@sic.medicopus.hu, Adam.Csoka@sic.medicopus.hu
3 Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Doctoral School in Animal Science, Kaposvár Campus, Sándor Guba str. 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
4 János Szentágothai Research Centre & Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Ifjúság str. 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; e-mail: kiss891012@gmail.com

Most beekeepers worldwide use the same combs in their hives for many years, which can result in alterations in the inner volume of the comb cells. The objective of this survey using microcomputed tomography was to reveal developmental disorders caused by this beekeeping practice. The extent of the thickening of the wall of brood cells that occurs as a result of the long-term use of the combs was determined. This alteration resulted in a reduction in the inner volume of the comb cells, which had a significant effect on the size of the pupae and possibly the health of the imagoes. The walls of the cells can be divided into two well-determined parts, which can be exactly visualized using micro-CT. In addition, the inner structure of the wall in the first part of the cell was altered by very radio dense remains of cocoons. The material in the other part of the cell is less radio dense and as previously suggested is mainly wax. The decrease in the length, surface and volume of these cells adversely affected the developing pupae, which according to previous studies results in a reduction in the production of workers, colony strength and honey yield. The extent of the reduction in the body regions of pupae was on average 4.98%. Overall, the volume of the pupae that developed in these narrow comb cells were smaller by an average of 12.22%.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Apidae, comb cell volume and size, developmental disorders, computer tomography, wax structure

Received: July 18, 2022; Revised: November 21, 2022; Accepted: November 21, 2022; Published online: January 18, 2023  Show citation

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SIPOS, T., DONKÓ, T., CSÓKA, Á., KISS, T., & KESZTHELYI, S. (2023). Comparative micro-computed tomographic analysis of the structure of brood cells and its effect on the development of the pupae of honey bee (Apis mellifera). EJE, 120, Article 9-14. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2023.002
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