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Effect of formic acid treatment on Apis mellifera foraging behavior using nanopore metabarcoding technologies
Claudia L Wiese1, Rodolfo S Probst1,2,3, Heather M Briggs1
1Science Research Initiative (SRI), College of Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.
Plos One
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Formic acid (FA) treatment for Varroa mites altered honeybee foraging, with treated hives showing less plant diversity. This study highlights FA
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Genomics
Background:
- Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) are vital for agriculture and ecosystems.
- Honeybee populations are declining due to Varroa mite infestations.
- Formic acid (FA) is used to control mites, but its impact on bee foraging is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how Formic Acid (FA) treatment affects honeybee (Apis mellifera) foraging preferences.
- To assess the influence of FA on the diversity of pollen collected by honeybees.
Main Methods:
- Pollen DNA metabarcoding using real-time nanopore sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies).
- Analysis of chloroplast DNA (trnL region) for plant identification.
- Comparison of pollen samples from FA-treated and control honeybee hives before, during, and after treatment.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in foraging composition were observed between FA-treated and control hives.
- Control hives exhibited foraging from a more diverse range of plant genera compared to FA-treated hives.
- Individual hives displayed unique foraging preferences irrespective of the FA treatment.
Conclusions:
- Formic acid treatment is associated with detectable changes in honeybee foraging behavior.
- Pollen DNA metabarcoding with nanopore technology is an effective tool for studying bee foraging ecology.
- Further research is needed to clarify the full impact of FA on honeybee foraging diversity.
