Publications

Jan 2019

A single SNP turns a social honey bee (Apis mellifera) worker into a selfish parasite

Aumer, Denise, Stolle, Eckart, Allsopp, M. H., Mumoki, Fiona N. et al.

Molecular Biology and Evolution

The evolution of altruism in complex insect societies is arguably one of the major transitions in evolution and inclusive fitness...

Nov 2019

Local variation in recombination rates of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) genome among samples from six disparate populations

DeLory, T., Funderburk, K., Miller, K., Zuluaga-Smith, W. et al.

Insectes Sociaux

Meiotic recombination is an essential component of eukaryotic sexual reproduction, but its frequency varies within and between...

Dec 2019

Antibiotic treatment impairs protein digestion in the honeybee, Apis mellifera

du Rand, Esther E., Stutzer, Christian, Human, Hannelie, Pirk, Christian W. W. et al.

Apidologie

Nutritional stress due to habitat transformation and loss is one of several factors contributing to current declines in global...

Jul 2019

Responses of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes to visually attractive stationary devices baited with 4-methylguaiacol and certain repellent compounds in waterbuck odour

Mbewe, Njelembo J., Saini, Rajinder K., Irungu, Janet, Yusuf, Abdullahi A. et al.

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Author summary Tsetse flies are divided into three taxonomic groups: morsitans, palpalis and fusca. Flies from the morsitans and...

Nov 2019

Hydroxylation patterns associated with pheromone synthesis and composition in two honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis laying workers

Mumoki, Fiona N., Yusuf, Abdullahi A., Pirk, Christian W. W., Crewe, Robin M.

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Colony losses due to social parasitism in the form of reproductive workers of the Apis mellifera capensis clones results from the...

2019

Nest Architecture as a Tool for Species Discrimination of Hypotrigona Species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

Ndungu, N.N., Yusuf , A.A., Raina, S.K., Masiga, D.K. et al.

African Entomology

May 2019

Increased response to sequential infections of honeybee, Apis mellifera scutellata, colonies by socially parasitic Cape honeybee, A. m. capensis, workers

Neumann, Peter, Pirk, Christian W. W.

Scientific Reports

Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis, workers can be social parasites and host colonies can defend themselves by rejection of...

Feb 2019

Tergal gland components of reproductively dominant honey bee workers have both primer and releaser effects on subordinate workers

Okosun, Olabimpe O., Yusuf, Abdullahi A., Crewe, Robin M., Pirk, Christian W. W.

Apidologie

The primer and releaser effects of dominant honey bee workers’ tergal gland pheromones are not known under queenless conditions....

Jun 2019

Zebra skin odor repels the savannah tsetse fly, Glossina pallidipes (Diptera: Glossinidae)

Olaide, Olabimpe Y., Tchouassi, David P., Yusuf, Abdullahi A., Pirk, Christian W. W. et al.

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Author summary The use of repellents from non-preferred hosts represents an innovative approach to control animal African...