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Missing Nurse Bees-Early Transcriptomic Switch From Nurse Bee to Forager Induced by Sublethal Imidacloprid
Yun-Ru Chen1, David T W Tzeng2, Chieh Ting1
1Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Frontiers in Genetics
|July 5, 2021
Summary
Neonicotinoid insecticides like imidacloprid harm honey bees. Larval exposure alters gene expression, potentially causing early foraging and impacting hive dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Entomology
Background:
- Neonicotinoid insecticides pose risks to pollinators.
- Sublethal environmental doses can negatively affect honey bees.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate imidacloprid's impact on honey bee worker gene expression.
- Determine effects of larval exposure on adult bee behavior and gene profiles.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome profiling of honey bees exposed to varying imidacloprid doses during larval stage.
- Analysis of gene expression in different age groups of treated and control bees.
Main Results:
- Imidacloprid larval exposure significantly altered gene expression.
- Precocious foraging behavior may be induced by imidacloprid.
- Low doses (1 ppb) had long-term gene expression impacts comparable to higher doses (50 ppb).
Conclusions:
- Larval imidacloprid exposure has lasting effects on honey bee gene expression.
- Neonicotinoid-induced precocious foraging may contribute to nurse bee disappearance from hives.
