It has been known for many years that in temperate climates the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, exists in the form of two distinct populations within the year, short-living summer bees and long-living winter bees. However, there is only limited knowledge about the basic biochemical markers of winter and summer populations as yet. Nevertheless, the distinction between these two kinds of bees is becoming increasingly important as it can help beekeepers to estimate proportion of long-living bees in hives and therefore in part predict success of overwintering. To identify markers of winter generations, we employed the continuous long-term monitoring of a single honey bee colony for almost two years, which included measurements of physiological and immunological parameters. The results showed that the total concentration of proteins, the level of vitellogenin, and the antibacterial activity of haemolymph are the best three of all followed parameters that are related to honey bee longevity and can therefore be used as its markers.

Many species of insects display a disposition to move towards light. As a consequence, nocturnal artificial lighting often contributes to an increase in insect population among humans. We tested the hypothesis that residential white lamps can evoke significantly different attraction to insects even when their light outputs are nearly indistinguishable to humans. In a two-choice experiment using insect traps equipped with either a compact fluorescent or a LED light source with similar photometric specifications, about three times more insects were captured in the trap with a compact fluorescent lamp than in the LED trap. The results suggest that LED lamps are preferable to compact fluorescent lamps when the objective is to avoid attracting nocturnal insects to households.

The cuticle surface of insects displays functions in communication, such as recognition. It is known that oenocytes are responsible for the origin of the compounds found in the epicuticle. Secretion of exocrine glands might be added to the original composition during the insect’s life. The aims of the present study were (i) to quantify and to qualify the chemical compounds in cephalic salivary glands (CSG) and cuticle surface of workers of Apis mellifera L., 1758; (ii) to compare chemical profiles of both gland and cuticle; (iii) to verify if the epicuticular and CSG profile compositions allow separation of the workers into phase-related groups. Glands and wings of newly emerged workers, nurses, and foragers were analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The results have shown that the main compounds in both were hydrocarbons. The Mantel correspondence analysis showed that there was relatively strong correspondence between CSG and cuticular surface in all groups, mainly nurses and foragers. From a total of 37 detected compounds, 29 were the same in both compartments. The results indicated that the gland secretion might be used to replenish the cuticular compounds. In conclusion, glands and cuticle profiles were phase-related and the CSG may be a potential auxiliary source of cuticular hydrocarbon replenishment in the studied species.

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