Honey bees use propolis to defend against invaders and disease organisms. As some colonies produce much more propolis than others, we investigated whether propolis collecting is associated with disease resistance traits, including hygienic behavior and resistance to the parasitic bee mite, Varroa destructor. The three highest (HP) and three lowest propolis-producing (LP) colonies among 36 Afric...

In Iran and the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, bread has always been considered as the staple food of choice. Because of having high quantities of minerals and vitamins in bread, the hygienic condition of its production is of prime importance. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 302 bakeries in Kerman city, Kerman Province, Iran, from April 2004 to March 2005. Variables ...

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and honey bee pathogenic viruses have been implicated in the recent demise of honey bee colonies. Several studies have shown that the combination of V. destructor and deformed wing virus (DWV) poses an especially serious threat to honey bee health. Mites transmitting virulent forms of DWV may cause fatal DWV infections in the developing bee, while pupae ...

OBJECTIVES Grooming has important utilitarian and social functions in primates but little is known about grooming and its functional analogues in traditional human societies. We compare human grooming to typical primate patterns to test its hygienic and social functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Bayesian phylogenetic analyses were used to derive expected human grooming time given the potential a...