<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The presence of nanoparticles on the body of the honeybee Apis dorsata Fabricius, was investigated for the first time to better understand the bee’s behaviour. These have been observed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Our study clearly denotes that the Indian rock honey bee Apis dorsata possess calcium silicate and calcium phosphate nanoparticles on its body surface of 5-50 nm in diameter. In particular, the nanoparticles on the abdomen and thorax of A. dorsata have an average diameter of about 10 nanometers and they are smaller than those found on wings of the same bees which are about 20 nanometers. The nanoparticles found are different of the ones previously observed on honey bees or other insects. The origin and role of these natural nanoparticles on the body of the Indian rock bee need to be to be further investigated; more research in the subject might raise important aspects in relation to the conservation of these unique pollinators.</p></abstract>

The presence of nanoparticles on the body of the honeybee Apis dorsata Fabricius, was investigated for the first time to better understand the bee’s behaviour. These have been observed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Our study clearly denotes that the Indian rock honey bee Apis dorsata possess calcium silicate and calcium phosphate nanoparticles on its body surface of 5-50 nm in diameter. In particular, the nanoparticles on the abdomen and thorax of A. dorsata have an average diameter of about 10 nanometers and they are smaller than those found on wings of the same bees which are about 20 nanometers. The nanoparticles found are different of the ones previously observed on honey bees or other insects. The origin and role of these natural nanoparticles on the body of the Indian rock bee need to be to be further investigated; more research in the subject might raise important aspects in relation to the conservation of these unique pollinators.

First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

Nanotechnology Section, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology and Research Center, Cholanagar, R.T. Nagar Post, Hebbal, 560 032 Bangalote, India

Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, 58005 Dharwad, Karnataka, India

Division of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Sciences, Hellenic Agriculture Organization “DEMETER”, 63 200 Nea Moudania, Greece

Department of Material Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, 700032 Kolkata, India

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The presence of nanoparticles on the body of the honeybee Apis dorsata Fabricius, was investigated for the first time to better understand the bee’s behaviour....

First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

Published Online: Jun 03, 2016

Page range: 87 - 96

Received: Sep 25, 2015

Accepted: Feb 29, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2016-0008

Keywords
nanoparticles, calcium silicate, calcium phosphate, Apis dorsata Fabricius, behaviour, pollinator

© by Fani Hatjina

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

Published Online: Jun 03, 2016

Page range: 87 - 96

Received: Sep 25, 2015

Accepted: Feb 29, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2016-0008

Keywordsnanoparticles, calcium silicate, calcium phosphate, Apis dorsata Fabricius, behaviour, pollinator

© by Fani Hatjina

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
nanoparticles, calcium silicate, calcium phosphate, Apis dorsata Fabricius, behaviour, pollinator