Blocking Honeybee Preference for Neonicotinoids by Interfering With Dopamine Signaling

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) prefer nectar containing neonicotinoids despite severe exposure risk leading to colony collapse. The neural mechanisms underlying this preference behavior remain unknown, impeding the development of effective blocking strategies. Neonicotinoids act as acetylcholine receptor agonists, and dopamine is a vital neuromodulator in addictive behavior. We hypothesize that neonicotinoids could activate brain dopamine signaling in honeybees, reinforcing their feeding behavior. Here, we show that thiamethoxam-laden food is preferred over uncontaminated options, and that prolonged consumption is associated with transient, state-dependent increases in brain dopamine concentrations. Introducing the dopamine receptor antagonist, fluphenazine, reduces thiamethoxam preference. Our study first reveals a key dopamine-associated mechanism underlying neonicotinoid-induced preference behavior in honeybees and provides a potential basis for future strategies to reduce honeybee attraction to insecticide-containing food source through modulation of the preference-related dopamine pathway, thereby helping to preserve honeybee pollination services.