A5063665913- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
- Flowering Plant Growth and Cultivation
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Nuts composition and effects
- Historical and Environmental Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Diverse academic and cultural studies
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Integrated Water Resources Management
Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops
2018-2025
University of Bologna
2015-2024
National University of Comahue
2020-2024
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
2020-2023
Centro Agricoltura Ambiente (Italy)
2017-2023
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria
2013-2021
Centro di Ricerca per l’Orticoltura
2019
Honey bee and Silkworm Research Unit
2010-2016
Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura
2010
Abstract BACKGROUND Neonicotinoid insecticides have been identified as an important factor contributing to bee diversity declines. Nonetheless, uncertainties remain about their impact under field conditions. Most studies conducted on Apis mellifera and tested single compounds. However, in agricultural environments, bees are often exposed multiple pesticides. We explore the synergistic mortality between a neonicotinoid (clothianidin) ergosterol‐biosynthesis‐inhibiting fungicide...
SummaryModern agriculture often involves the use of pesticides to protect crops. These substances are harmful target organisms (pests and pathogens). Nevertheless, they can also damage non-target animals, such as pollinators entomophagous arthropods. It is obvious that undesirable side effects on environment should be reduced a minimum. Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) very important from an agricultural perspective vulnerable pesticide-induced impacts. They contribute actively...
SummaryAdult honey bees (Apis mellifera) usually maintain colony brood rearing temperature between 34–35°C by thermoregulation. The may, however, also be subjected to suboptimal temperature. Here we investigated whether a decrease of may have effects on larval mortality, adult emergence, longevity, morphology and susceptibility poisoning pesticides (dimethoate). Using the in vitro protocol Aupinel (2005), were able for first time control not only during pupal stage but stage. Honey bee...
Floral nectar is the primary reward directly consumed by floral visitors and its chemical composition affects their behaviour fidelity. In turn, are expected to alter or indirectly through introduction of external contaminants, such as pollen grains microorganisms. To understand effect exogenous factors on chemistry, we investigated modifications sugar amino acid in relation perennial herb Gentiana lutea . We quantified contamination visitor exclusion experiments field, estimating yeast...
Abstract To investigate the effects of two nectar nonprotein amino acids, β‐alanine and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), on Osmia bicornis survival locomotion, groups caged bees were fed with sugar syrup enriched GABA, respectively. A further control group was syrup. Five behavioural categories chosen according to principle parsimony intrinsic unitary consistency from start end, recorded by scan sampling: states (remaining under paper or in tubes) three events (walking net, feeding flower...
Abstract Plant diversity is critical to ensure the future of humanity, as it provides essential ecosystem services and functioning. As recent estimates showed that animal-mediated pollination crucial for reproduction approximately 90% flowering plants, playing an role in maintaining biodiversity agricultural productivity, effort preserve plants cannot be disjoined from pollinator conservation initiatives. Despite their importance, pollinators have experienced alarming declines. The LIFE 4...
Abstract Amino acids (AAs) are an abundant class of nectar solutes, and they involved in the attractiveness to flower visitors. Among various AAs, proline is most proteogenic AA, γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) β‐alanine two non‐proteogenic AAs. These three AAs known affect insect physiology, being flight metabolism neurotransmission. The aim this study was investigate effects artificial diets enriched with either β‐alanine, GABA, or on consumption, survival, hemolymph composition honey bees...
Abstract In bumble bee colonies, pollen is the only protein source for larval feeding and its shortage causes a distress in development. Adult bees need development of glands reproductive system. rearing, honey collected used as main source, either fresh-frozen or dried pellets, provisioning most problematic expensive aspect mass rearing. breeding, substitutes are during period food to stimulate colony strength. We tested different diets (five commercial two natural sources) maintenance...
The interplay between insect and plant traits outlines the patterns of pollen transfer subsequent reproductive fitness. We studied factors that affect pollination efficiency a pollinator community Dictamnus albus L. by evaluating behaviour morphological characteristics in relation to flowering phenology. In order extrapolate importance single taxa whole guild, we calculated an index distinguishing potential (PPI) realized (RPI) importance. Although species spectrum appeared rather constant,...
Abstract From the 1990s, Southeast Asia native giant resin bee Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853) was introduced first to North America, and then many countries in Europe. Despite increasing studies on its invasive potential geographical expansion, information nesting behaviour of this species is still extremely scarce. To increase knowledge biology M. , we studied multiple aspects pollen provisioning three consecutive years artificial nests Bologna, Italy. We observed 166 bees visiting...
Geometric morphometrics is used to study the shape of biological structures through cartesian landmark coordinates. In honey bees, geometric typically applied bee forewings for subspecies identification. Both genetic and environmental factors may affect wing morphology, latter including nutritional status, brood temperature, Varroa infestation. Honey bees are threatened by several pathogens that can infect juvenile stages, so impairing their development. Consequently, an effect on morphology...