Jun Li

Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Pathogens, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 3   doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0013
Received: 02 Apr., 2024    Accepted: 17 May, 2024    Published: 03 Jun., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Li J., 2024, Threats to honeybee populations: pathogens, pesticides, and environmental changes, Molecular Pathogens, 15(3): 129-141 (doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0013)

Honeybee populations are facing severe threats due to pathogens, pesticides, and environmental changes. These essential pollinators play a critical role in ecosystems and agriculture, contributing significantly to global food security. This study examines the multifaceted challenges to honeybee health, detailing the impacts of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. It also explores the detrimental effects of various pesticides, including acute and chronic toxicity, and their sublethal impacts on honeybee behavior and physiology. Environmental changes, such as habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and alterations in floral resources, further exacerbate these threats. The interplay between these stressors often results in compounded negative effects on honeybee populations. Current monitoring and diagnostic techniques are evaluated, alongside mitigation and conservation strategies like Integrated Pest Management (IPM), habitat restoration, breeding for disease resistance, and policy measures. Case studies from different regions illustrate the variability in threats and the success of various mitigation efforts. This review underscores the necessity of integrated approaches to safeguard honeybee populations and highlights recommendations for future research and policy to ensure their survival and the continued health of ecosystems and agriculture.

Honeybee health; Pathogens; Pesticides; Environmental changes; Conservation strategies