Scientific Reports
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2017
·Vol. 7
·期 1
·1-10
·
IF 4.259
Dong Shihao,Wen Ping,Zhang Qi,Li Xinyu,Tan Ken,Nieh James
In highly social bees, queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) is vital for colony life. Both Apis cerana (Ac ) and Apis mellifera (Am ) share an evolutionarily conserved set of QMP compounds: ( E )-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid (9-ODA), ( E )-9-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (9-HDA), ( E )-10-hydroxy-dec-2-enoic acid (10-HDA), 10-hydroxy-decanoic acid (10-HDAA), and methyl p –hydroxybenzoate (HOB) found at similar levels. However, evidence suggests there may be species-specific sensitivity differences to QMP compounds because Ac workers have higher levels of ovarian activation than Am workers. Using electroantennograms, we found species-specific sensitivity differences for a blend of the major QMP compounds and three individual compounds (9-HDA, 10-HDAA, and 10-HDA). As predicted, Am was more sensitive than Ac in all cases (1.3- to 2.7- fold higher responses). There were also species differences in worker retinue attraction to three compounds (9-HDA, HOB, and 10-HDA). In all significantly different cases, Am workers were 4.5- to 6.2-fold more strongly attracted than Ac workers were. Thus, Ac workers responded less strongly to QMP than Am workers, and 9-HDA and 10-HDA consistently elicited stronger antennal and retinue formation responses.
研究领域:
昆虫学
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动物行为学
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化学生态学
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高影响因子
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
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2024
·
IF 8.2
Qi Hua,Xuepeng Chi,Wei Zhang,Hongyu Song,Ying Wang,Zhenguo Liu,Hongfang Wang,Baohua Xu
Monocrotaline (MCT) is a toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid found in plants of the Crotalaria genus. As primary pollinators of Crotalaria plants, honeybees come into contact with this harmful substance. However, limited research has been conducted on the effects of MCT on Apis mellifera , particularly the risks of long-term exposure to sublethal concentrations. Through evaluating the proboscis extension reflex (PER) ability, analyzing the honeybee brain transcriptome, and analyzing the honeybee hemolymph metabolome, we discovered that sublethal concentrations of MCT impair the olfactory and memory capabilities of honeybees by affecting tryptophan (Trp) metabolism. Furthermore, MCT upregulates the expression of the corazonin receptor ( CrzR ) gene in the honeybee brain, which elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the brain while reducing glucose levels in the hemolymph, consequently shortening the honeybees' lifespan. Our findings regarding the multifaceted impact of MCT on honeybees lay the foundation for exploring its toxicological pathways and management in honeybee populations.
研究领域:
昆虫学
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毒理学
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分子生物学
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高影响因子
Insects
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2025
·Vol. 17
·期 1
·51
·
IF 2.9
Xufeng Zhang,Qian Cao,Qihang Sun,Yuting Tian,Yinyin Du,Yuan Guo
Simple SummaryThis study highlights the concerning impact of the compound fungicide Chunmanchun®on honey bees, which are crucial for pollination in agriculture. The research aimed to assess how different concentrations of this fungicide affect the bees’ sensitivity to sugar and their learning and memory abilities. The results indicated that exposure to Chunmanchun®significantly lowered the bees’ responses to sugar solutions and impaired their ability to learn and memory. Specifically, bees exposed to sublethal and semi-lethal doses of the fungicide struggled with memory tasks hours after exposure. These findings underscore the risks that such agricultural chemicals pose to pollinator health, which is vital for crop productivity. Protecting bees from the harmful effects of fungicides not only supports their health but also ensures the sustainability of agricultural systems and food production. This research serves as an important reminder for farmers and policy-makers to consider the implications of chemical use on pollinators, advocating for practices that protect these essential insects.Fungicides play a critical role in crop protection, yet their potential threats to pollinator remain a concern. This study investigated the sublethal effects of a commercial fungicide, Chunmanchun®(a suspension-emulsion of 7% propiconazole and 28% carbendazim), on cognitive functions of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Using the proboscis extension reflex (PER) assay, we evaluated sucrose sensitivity and olfactory learning and memory in workers exposed to the recommended field concentration (PC), along with sublethal (LD10) and semi-lethal (LD50) concentrations. Fungicide exposure significantly reduced sucrose sensitivity across all concentrations tested (0.1%, 1%, and 3%), with the strongest reductions occurring at the LD10and LD50levels. While olfactory associative learning was not significantly impaired, memory retention was adversely affected. Bees in the LD50group showed significantly reduced PER rates at both1 h and 6 h post-training, and LD10and LD50groups exhibited significant memory deficits by 1 h and 6 h relative to the control. These results demonstrate that Chunmanchun®impairs both sucrose responsiveness and olfactory memory in honey bees, which may impair foraging efficiency and ultimately affect colony performance. This study highlights a potential ecological risk posed by this fungicide to pollinators in agricultural environments.
研究领域:
生态毒理学
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昆虫学
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传粉者健康
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农业科学
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认知神经科学
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高影响因子
Insects
·
2022
·Vol. 13
·期 11
·973
·
IF 3.139
Jiangchao Zhang,Jinjia Liu,Fei Gao,Min Chen,Yusuo Jiang,Huiting Zhao,Weihua Ma
Simple SummaryHoneybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) are often used to pollinate melon flowers in facilities. The researchers identified the volatiles in male and female flowers of a common melon species (Cucumis melo) grown in facilities and measured the EAG and behavioral responses of honeybees and bumblebees when exposed to isolated volatiles from the melon flowers. These results provide basic data for the rational utilization of bees.AbstractAs important pollinators, honeybees and bumblebees present a pollination behavior that is influenced by flower volatiles through the olfactory system. In this study, volatile compounds from melon flowers were isolated and identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their effects onApis melliferaandBombus terrestriswere investigated by electroantennogram (EAG) and behavior tests (Y-tube olfactometer). The results showed that 77 volatile compounds were detected in melon flowers, among which the relative content of aldehydes was the highest (61.34%; 82.09%).A. melliferashowed a strong EAG response to e-2-hexenal, e-2-octenal, and 1-nonanal.B. terrestrisshowed a strong EAG response to e-2-hexenal, e-2-octenal, 2,5-dimethyl-benzaldehyde, benzaldehyde and benzenepropanal. In behavior tests, the volatiles with the highest attractive rate toA. melliferawere e-2-hexenal (200 μg/μL, 33.33%) and e-2-octenal (300 μg/μL, 33.33%), and those toB. terrestriswere e-2-hexenal (10 μg/μL, 53.33%) and 2,5-dimethyl-benzaldehyde (100 μg/μL, 43.33%). E-2-hexenal and e-2-octenal were more attractive toA. melliferathanB. terrestris, respectively (10 μg/μL, 10 μg/μL, 200 μg/μL). In conclusion, the volatiles of melon flowers in facilities have certain effects on the electrophysiology and behavior of bees, which is expected to provide theoretical and technical support for the pollination ofA. melliferaandB. terrestrisin facilities.Keywords:Apis mellifera;Bombus terrestris;flower volatiles;electroantennography (EAG);olfactory behavior;melon
研究领域:
昆虫学
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植物科学
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授粉生物学
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
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2025
·
IF 3.5
Haoming Guo,Nan Xiao,Yabo Liang,Xueke Liu,Peng Wang,Donghui Liu
BACKGROUND The threat to bees of neonicotinoid pesticides (NEOs) has raised concern. However, data on the disruption of the bee nervous system following long-term low-dose exposure are lacking. In this study, six NEOs were quantified in 31 honey samples from China, and their behavioral effects on bees were evaluated. RESULTS Neonicotinoid pesticide detection rates ranged from 35.48% to 83.87%, with mean residue concentrations of 2.39–6.73 μg kg⁻¹. Clothianidin showed the highest detection frequency (83.87%), with an average residue of 5.54 μg kg −1 . To assess neurotoxic effects at actual residue levels, bees were fed NEO-contaminated syrup for 21 days. This exposure significantly downregulated eight neurotransmitters, particularly 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and tryptophan (Trp), impairing normal physiological function. Behavioral assays showed reductions of 31.71% to 68.53% in displacement distance, 27.13% to 40.06% in movement rate, and 64.58% to 77.14% in inter-individual contact time. CONCLUSION This study confirmed that the NEO residues in honey could hinder bees' ability to communicate and forage, with potential adverse effects on the development of bee populations. It demonstrated that bees exposed to real-world residue levels of NEOs exhibit neurological impairments. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
研究领域:
环境毒理学
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昆虫学
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神经科学
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农业化学
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iScience
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2022
·
IF 6.107
Wenxin Zhang,Liangliang Wang,Yinjiao Zhao,Yufei Wang,Chaoyang Chen,Yu Hu,Yuanxiang Zhu,Hao Sun,Ying Cheng,Qinmiao Sun,Jian Zhang,Dahua Chen
Summary The honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) is a well-known eusocial insect. In honeybee colonies, thousands of sterile workers, including nurse and forager bees, perform various tasks within or outside the hive, respectively. The queen is the only fertile female and is responsible for reproduction. The queen and workers share similar genomes but occupy different caste statuses. We established single-cell transcriptomic atlases of brains from queens and worker subcastes and identified five major cell groups: Kenyon, optic lobe, olfactory projection, glial, and hemocyte cells. By dividing Kenyon and glial cells into multiple subtypes based on credible markers, we observed that vitellogenin ( vg ) was highly expressed in specific glial-cell subtypes in brains of queens. Knockdown of vg at the early larval stage significantly suppressed the development into adult queens. We demonstrate vg expression as a "molecular signature" for the queen caste and suggest involvement of vg in regulating caste differentiation.
研究领域:
昆虫学
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分子生物学
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神经科学
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Biology-Basel
·
2026
·Vol. 15
·期 14
·1124
·
IF 4.3
Zhe Wang,Zhenguo Liu,Ge Zhang,Hongfang Wang,Xuepeng Chi,Ying Wang,Baohua Xu
Simple SummaryHoneybees are essential for crop pollination and ecological balance, yet their health is increasingly compromised by environmental stressors such as heavy metals and pesticides. These stressors induce oxidative stress, a cellular imbalance that damages tissues and impairs bee survival. This study investigated whether leucine, a common amino acid in pollen, can enhance the natural antioxidant defenses of honeybees. Our experiments showed that supplementing bees with leucine significantly increased their capacity to counteract oxidative stress, reduced cellular damage, and improved survival under stress conditions. Further analysis revealed that leucine acts by activatingsestrin, which serves as a key regulator of antioxidant responses. Notably, the protective effect of leucine did not primarily depend on the previously recognized TOR pathway. Whensestrinwas experimentally silenced, bees became highly susceptible to stress and developed gut damage, confirming its essential role. Importantly, leucine partially restored resilience even whensestrinwas absent, suggesting additional protective mechanisms. These findings demonstrated that dietary leucine supplementation offers a feasible nutritional strategy to strengthen honeybee health and stress resistance.Environmental stressors such as heavy metals and pesticides pose significant threats to honeybee health by inducing oxidative stress. Enhancing nutritional supply has emerged as a potential strategy for honeybees to enhance stress resistance. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the role of leucine (Leu) in regulating antioxidant responses in honeybees (Apis melliferaL.), with a focus on the involvement ofsestrinand the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway. The results showed that Leu supplementation activated the TOR signaling pathway and upregulatedsestrinexpression, leading to enhanced antioxidant capacity and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Silencingsestrindisrupted antioxidant homeostasis, increased stress susceptibility, and caused midgut damage, confirming its essential role in oxidative stress resistance. Notably, inhibition of TOR did not prohibit the protective effects of Leu, suggesting thatsestrin, rather than TOR, serves as a key mediator. Furthermore, Leu fine-tuned antioxidant responses under different stress conditions throughsestrin. Overall, this study demonstrates that Leu andsestrinplay a central role in maintaining antioxidant homeostasis and provide a theoretical basis for nutritional strategies to improve honeybee health and stress resilience.
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Insects
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2026
·Vol. 17
·期 5
·507
·
IF 3
Yingying Sun,Jisu Jin,Guangyuan Jiao,Xiaolei Huang,Chao Chen,Hong Zhang
Simple SummaryThe yields of solanaceous crops, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), and eggplant (Solanum melongena), depend particularly on the pollination services provided by insects. However, whereas bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) are highly efficient pollinators of these crop plants, honeybees (Apis mellifera) frequently avoid their flowers. The mechanisms associated with this behavioral divergence have yet to be sufficiently clarified, and given the potential commercial implications, in this study, we investigated the olfactory perception and behavioral responses of these two bee species to volatiles emitted by the flowers of tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Compared withA. mellifera,B. terrestrisdisplayed significantly higher olfactory sensitivity to specific floral volatiles, whereas these compounds often failed to elicit preferential response in honeybees. Our findings thus enabled us to characterize the olfactory interactions between plants and bees mediated by floral volatiles, and will provide a scientific basis for developing novel strategies to attract pollinators in agricultural ecosystems, thereby enhancing crop pollination efficiency and promoting sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural production.The efficiency with which solanaceous crops are pollinated is determined by pollinator behavioral preferences. AlthoughBombus terrestristypically outperformsApis melliferain this respect, the chemo-ecological mechanisms underlying their divergent olfactory responses remain insufficiently determined. We combined behavioral assays, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and electroantennogram recordings to compare the responses of these bee species to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by tomato, pepper, and eggplant flowers. WhereasB. terrestrisshowed a strong foraging preference for all three crop plants,A. melliferadisplayed distinct avoidance. Chemical analyses identified 82, 63, and 60 VOCs in tomato, pepper, and eggplant flowers, respectively. Among the 14 VOCs commonly emitted by all three crops, linalool, nerol, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-hexenal, tridecanal, and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal elicited significantly different electrophysiological responses in the two bee species, and are, thus, considered key compounds mediating their behavioral differences. Moreover, in behavioral assays,A. melliferaandB. terrestrisshowed significantly different responses to four concentration levels of linalool, nerol, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, and tridecanal. This study elucidates the plant–pollinator olfactory interactions that contribute to determining the different foraging behaviors of two bee species in pollinating solanaceous crops, thereby providing a theoretical basis for optimizing pollinator attraction strategies.
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
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2025
·
IF 2.4
Shangning Yang,Zhichu Huang,Ruike Wei,Dandan Liu,Xiaoling Su,Huoqing Zheng
The Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), widespread in honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) colonies, causes paralysis, tremors, and eventual mortality, while strongly associated with colony collapse disorder (CCD). Currently, there are no widely approved antiviral therapies for IAPV infection; however, several natural compounds have shown promising antiviral efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of eight natural compounds (myrcene, citral, menthol, chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, and tea polyphenols) on IAPV-infected honeybees. Bees were artificially or naturally infected with IAPV and subsequently fed sucrose solution supplemented with these compounds. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that curcumin was the most effective compound in reducing viral load. After seven days of treatment with 10 µM curcumin, IAPV levels decreased by 46.2 % in artificially infected bees and 84.0 % in naturally infected bees. Transcriptomic analysis showed that curcumin upregulated genes involved in nutritional metabolism (e.g., Vg ) and the RNA interference (RNAi) pathways (e.g., dicer , hsp90 ), which play a critical role in antiviral defense. Interestingly, it downregulated antimicrobial peptide genes ( hymenoptaecin , abaecin , defensin 1 ). These findings demonstrated that curcumin mediated a strategic immune reconfiguration in honeybees, concentrating more resources on the RNAi pathway, while reducing energetically costly antimicrobial peptide synthesis. This optimized antiviral defense, combined with improved vitellogenin expression, suggests a metabolic efficiency adaptation that preferentially directs resources toward more effective IAPV countermeasures. Our results suggest that curcumin is a dual-action therapeutic candidate that simultaneously strengthens crucial antiviral defenses and maintains host vitality, offering significant promise for sustainable honeybee health management.
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JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
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2022
·
IF 5.895
Zhen Li,Qiang Huang,Yu Zheng,Yong Zhang,Xin Li,Shiqing Zhong,Zhijiang Zeng
Identifying the components of Camellia oleifera honey and pollen and conducting corresponding toxicological tests are essential to revealing the mechanism of Camellia oleifera toxicity to honey bees. In this research, we investigated the saccharides and alkaloids in honey, nectar, and pollen from Camellia oleifera, which were compared with honey, nectar, and pollen from Brassica napus, a widely planted flowering plant. The result showed that melibiose, manninotriose, raffinose, stachyose, and lower amounts of santonin and caffeine were found in Camellia oleifera nectar, pollen, and honey but not in B. napus nectar, pollen, and honey. Toxicological experiments indicated that manninotriose, raffinose, and stachyose in Camellia oleifera honey are toxic to bees, while alkaloids in Camellia oleifera pollen are not toxic to honey bees. The toxicity mechanism of oligosaccharides revealed by temporal metabolic profiling is that oligosaccharides cannot be further digested by honey bees and thus get accumulated in honey bees, disturbing the synthesis and metabolism of trehalose, ultimately causing honey bee mortality.
研究领域:
昆虫学
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毒理学
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植物科学
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农业科学
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SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
·
2024
·
IF 8.2
Wenmin Li,Yikun Zan,Tong Wu,Sa Yang,Linlin Liu,Shanshan Li,Pingli Dai,Jing Gao
Chlorantraniliprole (CAP), a diamide insecticide, is extensively applied to combat pests in various crops. However, the widespread use of insecticides has raised concerns about their potential impact on pollinators. In the present study, we explored the toxic effects of CAP in two important honey bee species, Apis mellifera and Apis cerana . The 48 h LC 50 values of CAP for A. mellifera and A. cerana was 256.052 mg/L and 109.709 mg/L, implying that A. cerana is more sensitive to CAP. Prolonged exposure to 40 mg/L CAP significantly impaired sucrose responsiveness and climbing activity in both bee species. Both species showed a decrease in GR activity and GSH content with increasing CAP concentration. By contrast, the activities of GST, CAT, P450 and NAD-MDH were increased in both A. mellifera and A. cerana , but the differences between the 10 mg/L and 40 mg/L treatments were less pronounced in A. mellifera . Moreover, the immune related genes exhibited differential responses to CAP when comparing the two species. Low CAP concentrations led to down-regulation in expression of toll but up-regulation in expression of apideacin and hymeopatecin in A. mellifera , whereas A. cerana exhibited minimal changes in these genes. Additionally, CAP significantly inhibited the expression of ER stress response genes gp - 93 and P58 in A. mellifera , while 10 mg/L of CAP promoted P58 expression in A. cerana . Our results highlight species-specific effects with the possible, distinct detoxification mechanisms and immune responses between A. mellifera and A. cerana . These findings serve as a foundation for further evaluating the safety of CAP for honey bee species and offer insights into the scientific use of pesticides.
研究领域:
昆虫学
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毒理学
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环境科学
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高影响因子
Metabolites
·
2023
·Vol. 13
·期 1
·80
·
IF 4.1
Jing Yu,Hongfang Wang,Wenfeng Chen,Hongyu Song,Ying Wang,Zhenguo Liu,Baohua Xu
The hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and the ecdysone receptors (ECR and USP) play critical roles in the growth and metabolism of insects, including honeybees. In this study, we investigated the effect of 20E on the growth and development of honeybee larvae by rearing them in vitro and found reduced food consumption and small-sized pupae with increasing levels of 20E. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based analysis of widely targeted metabolomics was used to examine the changes in the metabolites after an exogenous 20E application to honeybee larvae and the underlying mechanisms. A total of 374 different metabolites were detected between the control group and the 20E treatment group, covering 12 subclasses. The most significant changes occurred in 7-day-old larvae, where some monosaccharides, such as D-Glucose and UDP-galactose, were significantly upregulated. In addition, some metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and galactose metabolism, were affected by the 20E treatment, suggesting that the 20E treatment disrupts the metabolic homeostasis of honeybee larvae hemolymph and that the response of honeybee larvae to the 20E treatment is dynamic and contains many complex pathways. Many genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, including genes of the glycolysis and glycogen synthesis pathways, were downregulated during molting and pupation after the 20E treatment. In contrast, the expression levels of the genes related to gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis were significantly increased, which directly or indirectly upregulated glucose levels in the hemolymph, whereas RNA interference with the 20E receptor EcR-USP had an opposite effect to that of the 20E treatment. Taken together, 20E plays a critical role in the changes in carbohydrate metabolism during metamorphosis.Keywords:20-hydroxyecdysone;metabolomics;hemolymph;glucose;ecdysone receptors
研究领域:
昆虫学
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分子生物学
·
代谢
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高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）