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-The genetic structure of Apis mellifera carnica bee from Slovenia, collected from 269 localities of ten Slovenian districts, was assessed by mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. The level of genetic variability within and among districts was low. All of the samples were fixed for one newly found mtDNA haplotype of the C phylogenetic lineage, designated as C2C. A low level of variability was observed for all microsatellite loci, showing a very homogenous structure of the Carniolan bee population.

Modern European beekeeping is facing numerous challenges due to a variety of factors, mainly related to globalisation, agrochemical pollution and environmental changes. In addition to this, new pathogens threaten the health of European honeybees. In that context, correct colony management should encompass a wider vision, where productivity aspects are linked to a One Health approach in order to protect honeybees, humans and the environment. This paper describes a novel tool to be applied in beekeeping operations: good beekeeping practices (GBPs). The authors ranked a list of GBPs scored against their importance and validated by an international team, including researchers, national animal health authorities and international beekeepers' associations. These activities were carried out in the project 'BPRACTICES', approved within the transnational call of the European Research Area Network on Sustainable Animal Production Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz., 38 (3) 3 3/27 (ERA-NET SusAn) in the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme of the European Union. This study, created through an international collaboration, aims to present an innovative and implementable approach, similar to applications already adopted in other livestock production systems.

-About 250 bumblebee species in 15 subgenera are known in the world. Identification of some species is difficult due to small morphological differences. In this study, wing venation patterns were analysed to obtain characters for species identification. Four hundred and sixty-nine bumblebees from 121 localities in Slovenia and 61 imported individuals were included in the analyses. The coordinates of 19 vein junctions on the forewings were measured and used in the calculation of 37 wing characters. Based on discriminate method, more than 97% of all analysed bumblebees were assigned to the correct species. The most informative characters were angles J16, A4 and discoidal shift. Wing venation pattern also differed between autochthonous and imported Bombus terrestris individuals.bumblebees / identification / wing venation / Slovenia

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