Parasite infection accelerates age polyethism in young honey bees

Antoine Lecocq, Annette Bruun Jensen, Per Kryger, James C Nieh

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)
488 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators and their health is threatened worldwide by persistent exposure to a wide range of factors including pesticides, poor nutrition, and pathogens. Nosema ceranae is a ubiquitous microsporidian associated with high colony mortality. We used lab micro-colonies of honey bees and video analyses to track the effects of N. ceranae infection and exposure on a range of individual and social behaviours in young adult bees. We provide detailed data showing that N. ceranae infection significantly accelerated the age polyethism of young bees, causing them to exhibit behaviours typical of older bees. Bees with high N. ceranae spore counts had significantly increased walking rates and decreased attraction to queen mandibular pheromone. Infected bees also exhibited higher rates of trophallaxis (food exchange), potentially reflecting parasite manipulation to increase colony infection. However, reduction in queen contacts could help bees limit the spread of infection. Such accelerated age polyethism may provide a form of behavioural immunity, particularly if it is elicited by a wide variety of pathogens.

Original languageEnglish
Article number22042
JournalScientific Reports
Volume6
Number of pages11
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Journal Article

Cite this