Status of Pollinators in North America

Status of Pollinators in North America

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2007-05-13

Total Pages: 327

ISBN-13: 0309102898

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Pollinators-insects, birds, bats, and other animals that carry pollen from the male to the female parts of flowers for plant reproduction-are an essential part of natural and agricultural ecosystems throughout North America. For example, most fruit, vegetable, and seed crops and some crops that provide fiber, drugs, and fuel depend on animals for pollination. This report provides evidence for the decline of some pollinator species in North America, including America's most important managed pollinator, the honey bee, as well as some butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds. For most managed and wild pollinator species, however, population trends have not been assessed because populations have not been monitored over time. In addition, for wild species with demonstrated declines, it is often difficult to determine the causes or consequences of their decline. This report outlines priorities for research and monitoring that are needed to improve information on the status of pollinators and establishes a framework for conservation and restoration of pollinator species and communities.


Honey Bee Diseases and Pests

Honey Bee Diseases and Pests

Author: Wolfgang Ritter (Bee pathologist)

Publisher: FAO

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13:

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Control of diseases and pests of honey bees is one of most challenging tasks in improving quality of honey and honey bee by-products, especially for the beekeepers in developing countries. This publication describes common diseases and pests of honey bees and their importance and provides a practical guide to the basic technology available to beekeepers for their control and prevention.


Insect Pathology

Insect Pathology

Author: Yoshinori Tanada

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2012-12-02

Total Pages: 681

ISBN-13: 0080926258

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Insect Pathology is designed for a broad spectrum of readers. Is should be useful to students, lecturers, and researchers requiring information about the principles in insect pathology and the biology of pathogens. It should serve as a resource for specialists to learn about other insect pathogen systems, for generalists to become aware of advances in insect pathology, and for scientists and students, beginning or otherwise, interested in learning about insect pathology. This book was originally intended to update the 1949 test by E. A. Steinhaus entitled Principles of Insect Pathology. The purpose for this book was twofold: To serve (1) as a text for an insect pathology and/or biological control class and (2) as a comprehensive reference source. Because this book summarizes much of the available information, its usefulness as a textbook for an insect pathology class is apparent. Although the literature citations are extensive, they are far from complete. The literature in insect pathology is voluminous and for the past decade has been expanding at an almost exponential rate. A complete review of the literature is beyond the scope of the book, and an omission of a reference does not preclude its importance. Our citations, however, should serve as a good starting point for those who wish to obtain further information. We have attempted to cover equally all subdisciplines, but shortcomings are unavoidable. For these, we take full responsibility.


Insect Molecular Genetics

Insect Molecular Genetics

Author: Marjorie A. Hoy

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2013-10-22

Total Pages: 569

ISBN-13: 1483293718

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Developed as an introduction to new molecular genetic techniques, Insect Molecular Genetics also provides literature, terminology, and additional sources of information to students, researchers, and professional entomologists. Although most molecular genetics studies have employed Drosophila, this book applies the same techniques to other insects, including pest insects of economic importance. As a text, as a reference, as a primer, and as a review of a vast and growing literature, Insect Molecular Genetics is a valuable addition to the libraries of entomologists, geneticists, and molecular biologists. - Features offered by this unique reference source: Detailed illustrations - Suggested readings at the end of each chapter - Glossary of molecular genetic terms


Environmental ScienceBites

Environmental ScienceBites

Author: Kylienne A. Clark

Publisher: The Ohio State University

Published: 2015-09-15

Total Pages: 594

ISBN-13:

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This book was written by undergraduate students at The Ohio State University (OSU) who were enrolled in the class Introduction to Environmental Science. The chapters describe some of Earth's major environmental challenges and discuss ways that humans are using cutting-edge science and engineering to provide sustainable solutions to these problems. Topics are as diverse as the students, who represent virtually every department, school and college at OSU. The environmental issue that is described in each chapter is particularly important to the author, who hopes that their story will serve as inspiration to protect Earth for all life.


Bad Beekeeping

Bad Beekeeping

Author: Ron Miksha

Publisher: Trafford Publishing

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781412006279

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A million pounds of honey. Produced by a billion bees! This memoir reconstructs the life of a young man from Pennsylvania as he drops into the bald prairie badlands of southern Saskatchewan. He buys a honey ranch and keeps the bees that make the honey. But he also spends winters in Florida swamps, nurse-maid to ten thousand dainty queen bees. From the dusty Canadian prairie to the thick palmetto swamps of the American south, the reader meets with simple folks who shape the protagonist's character - including a Cree rancher with three sons playing NHL hockey, a Hutterite preacher who yearns to roam the globe, a reclusive bee-eating homesteader, and a grey-headed widow who grows grapefruit, plays a nasty game of scrabble, and lives with four vicious dogs. Encompassing a ten-year period, this true story evolves from the earnest inexperience of the young man as he learns an art and builds a business. Carefully researched natural biology runs counterpoint to human social activities. Bee craft serves as the setting for expositions that contrast American and Canadian lifestyles, while exemplifying the harsh reality of a man working with and against the physical environment.


The Tears of Re

The Tears of Re

Author: Gene Kritsky

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2015-10-08

Total Pages: 159

ISBN-13: 0199361401

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According to Egyptian mythology, when the ancient Egyptian sun god Re cried, his tears turned into honey bees upon touching the ground. For this reason, the honey bee was sacrosanct in ancient Egyptian culture. From the art depicting bees on temple walls to the usage of beeswax as a healing ointment, the honey bee was a pervasive cultural motif in ancient Egypt because of its connection to the sun god Re. Gene Kritsky delivers a concise introduction of the relationship between the honey bee and ancient Egyptian culture, through the lenses of linguistics, archeology, religion, health, and economics. Kritsky delves into ancient Egypt's multifaceted society, and traces the importance of the honey bee in everything from death rituals to trade. In doing so, Kritsky brings new evidence to light of how advanced and fascinating the ancient Egyptians were. This richly illustrated work appeals to a broad range of interests. For archeology lovers, Kritsky delves into the archeological evidence of Egyptian beekeeping and discusses newly discovered tombs, as well as evidence of manmade hives. Linguists will be fascinated by Kritsky's discussion of the first documented written evidence of the honeybee hieroglyph. And anyone interested in ancient Egypt or ancient cultures in general will be intrigued by Kritsky's treatment of the first documented beekeepers. This book provides a unique social commentary of a community so far removed from modern humans chronologically speaking, and yet so fascinating because of the stunning advances their society made. Beekeeping is the latest evidence of how ahead of their times the Egyptians were, and the ensuing narrative is as captivating as every other aspect of ancient Egyptian culture.


Neurobiology of Chemical Communication

Neurobiology of Chemical Communication

Author: Carla Mucignat-Caretta

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2014-02-14

Total Pages: 614

ISBN-13: 1466553413

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Intraspecific communication involves the activation of chemoreceptors and subsequent activation of different central areas that coordinate the responses of the entire organism—ranging from behavioral modification to modulation of hormones release. Animals emit intraspecific chemical signals, often referred to as pheromones, to advertise their presence to members of the same species and to regulate interactions aimed at establishing and regulating social and reproductive bonds. In the last two decades, scientists have developed a greater understanding of the neural processing of these chemical signals. Neurobiology of Chemical Communication explores the role of the chemical senses in mediating intraspecific communication. Providing an up-to-date outline of the most recent advances in the field, it presents data from laboratory and wild species, ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates, from insects to humans. The book examines the structure, anatomy, electrophysiology, and molecular biology of pheromones. It discusses how chemical signals work on different mammalian and non-mammalian species and includes chapters on insects, Drosophila, honey bees, amphibians, mice, tigers, and cattle. It also explores the controversial topic of human pheromones. An essential reference for students and researchers in the field of pheromones, this is also an ideal resource for those working on behavioral phenotyping of animal models and persons interested in the biology/ecology of wild and domestic species.