Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 129-141 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 129 Feature Review Open Access Threats to Honeybee Populations: Pathogens, Pesticides, and Environmental Changes JunLi Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: jun.li@cuixi.org 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 Copyright © 2024 Li, 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. Preferred citation for this article: 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) Abstract 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. Keywords Honeybee health; Pathogens; Pesticides; Environmental changes; Conservation strategies 1 Introduction Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are vital pollinators, playing a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural productivity. However, honeybee populations have been experiencing significant declines globally, raising concerns about the sustainability of pollination services and the broader implications for ecosystems and food security. Over the past few decades, honeybee populations have faced numerous challenges that have led to their decline. These challenges include exposure to various pathogens, the widespread use of pesticides, and significant environmental changes (Kom et al., 2019; Morales et al., 2019). The decline in honeybee populations has been documented in many regions, including North America, Europe, and Asia, with some areas experiencing more severe losses than others (Goulson et al., 2015; Lin et al., 2023). The intensification of agriculture, habitat loss, and climate change have further exacerbated these issues, making it increasingly difficult for honeybee colonies to thrive (García-Valcárcel et al., 2019). Honeybees are among the most important pollinators, contributing to the pollination of approximately 87.5% of flowering plants and a significant portion of food crops (Moorthy et al., 2023). Their role in pollination is essential for the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, which are critical components of human diets and agricultural economies. The decline in honeybee populations poses a direct threat to food security and biodiversity, as many plants rely on bees for reproduction and genetic diversity (Gill and Raine, 2014). Additionally, honeybees support the health of ecosystems by pollinating wild plants, which in turn provide habitat and food for other wildlife (Halvorson et al., 2021). This study examines the various threats to honeybee populations, focusing on pathogens, pesticides, and environmental changes. By synthesizing current research, this study aims to provide a comprehensive
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