New insight into molecular mechanisms underlying division of labor in honeybees

Schilcher, Felix; Scheiner, Ricarda

doi:10.1016/j.cois.2023.101080

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Honey bee workers perform several tasks inside and outside the nest during their lifetime. The task performance of each worker is influenced by its age, sucrose responsiveness, genotype, environmental conditions, and previous experience [61][62][63][64][65][66][67]. The most pronounced differences in behaviour and physiology occur between nurse bees and foragers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

Rodríguez-León,

Uzunov,

Costa

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies exhibit local adaptive traits that evolved in response to the different environments that characterize their native distribution ranges. An important trait is the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which helps preventing desiccation and mediating communication. We compared the CHC profiles of six European subspecies (A. m. mellifera,A. m. carnica,A. m. ligustica,A. m. macedonica,A. m. iberiensis, andA. m. ruttneri) and investigated potential factors shaping their composition. We found that forager CHC profiles were more subspecies- specific than those of nurse bees. These differences could be partially explained by their molecular phylogeny, indicating genetic drift as an important factor. We did not find adaptation of the CHC profiles of the subspecies to the climatic conditions in their distribution range. Nurse bees showed a larger variation in subspecies-specific CHC profiles, likely due to a controlled environment with less desiccation stress inside the hive. The strongest profile differences appeared between nurse bees and foragers in all subspecies, suggesting an adaptation to social task and a role in communication. Foragers also showed an increase in the relative amount of alkanes in their profiles compared to nurses, indicating adaptation to climatic conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

Rodríguez-León,

Uzunov,

Costa

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

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“…Honey bee workers exhibit an age-dependent division of labor, transitioning from nurse to forager bees as they age, which is accompanied by a series of physiological changes (Johnson, 2008;M. Elekonich et al, 2001;Reim and Scheiner, 2014;Scheiner et al, 2017;Scheiner et al, 2014;Schilcher and Scheiner, 2023;Siegel et al, 2013). Therefore, the observed difference in CHC composition between nurse and forager bees could be influenced by shifts in the expression of CHC biosynthesis-related genes that occur along their task transition.…”

Section: Nurse and Forager Bees Elicit Different Chc Compositionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression of elongase- and desaturase-encoding genes shapes the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of honey bees

Rodríguez-León,

Schmitt,

Pinto

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Most terrestrial insects have a layer of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) that protects them from desiccation and mediates chemical communication. CHC composition is regulated by the expression of genes coding for enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of hydrocarbons. The diversity and expression of these enzymes determine the abundance and richness of compounds in the CHC profile of an insect. For instance, elongases and desaturases are enzymes that respectively lengthen the hydrocarbon chain and introduce double bonds into it. CHC profiles of honey bees (Apis mellifera) vary among castes, social roles, and subspecies. However, little is known about the genetic basis for this variation. Here, we examined the expression of specific elongase- and desaturase-encoding genes and correlated gene expression with CHC composition in nurse and forager bees of two highly divergent A. mellifera subspecies: A. m. carnica (lineage C) and A. m. iberiensis (lineage M). We provide evidence of the difference in specificity among specific desaturases and elongases and demonstrate how such differences shape the CHC profiles of A. mellifera workers during their transition from nursing to foraging. Our results expand the current understanding of the genetic basis of CHC biosynthesis and highlight the benefit of further investigating different subspecies of A. mellifera to better understand the mechanisms underlying the CHC diversity of honey bees`.

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“…Age-based polyethism, the transition from inside to outside nest tasks, has been intensively studied in the honeybee A. mellifera [13], mediated by physiological changes such as alterations in juvenile hormone (JH) [11,18]. In bumblebees, task allocation appears to be more complex, with workers not experiencing age-dependent changes in JH levels [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age dominates flight distance and duration, while body size shapes flight speed in Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Gilgenreiner,

Kurze

2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Flight plays a crucial role in the fitness of insect pollinators, such as bumblebees. Despite their relatively large body size compared with their wings, bumblebees can fly under difficult ambient conditions, such as cooler temperatures. While their body size is often positively linked to their foraging range and flight ability, the influence of age remains less explored. Here, we studied the flight performance (distance, duration and speed) of ageing bumblebee workers using tethered flight mills. Additionally, we measured their intertegular distance and dry mass as proxies for their body size. We found that the flight distance and duration were predominantly influenced by age, challenging assumptions that age does not play a key role in foraging and task allocation. From the age of 7 to 14 days, flight distance and duration increased sixfold and fivefold, respectively. Conversely, the body size primarily impacted the maximum and average flight speed of workers. Our findings indicate that age substantially influences the flight distance and duration in bumblebee workers, affecting foraging performance and potentially altering task allocation strategies. This underscores the importance of considering individual age and physiological changes alongside body size/mass in experiments involving bumblebee workers.

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New insight into molecular mechanisms underlying division of labor in honeybees

Cited by 7 publications

References 86 publications

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

Expression of elongase- and desaturase-encoding genes shapes the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of honey bees

Age dominates flight distance and duration, while body size shapes flight speed in Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

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