Scientific research on the impact of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial systems is still emerging, but it has confirmed adverse health effects organisms exposed to plastics. Although recent studies have shown toxicological individual MPs polymers honey bees, different polymer combinations cognitive and behavioural performance remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated oral exposure spherical brain accumulation bee Apis mellifera. We evaluated acute toxicity, after a two-day...

Microplastics (MPs) are growing and ubiquitous environmental pollutants represent one of the greatest contemporary challenges caused by human activities. Current research has predominantly examined singular toxicological effects individual polymers, neglecting prevailing reality organisms confronted with complex contaminant mixtures potential synergistic effects. To fill this gap, we investigated lethal sublethal two common MPs, polystyrene (PS - 4.8-5.8 μm) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA...

Agrochemicals play a vital role in protecting crops and enhancing agricultural production by reducing threats from pests, pathogens weeds. The toxicological status of honey bees can be influenced number factors, including pesticides. While extensive research has focused on the lethal sublethal effects insecticides individual colonies, it is important to recognise that fungicides herbicides also affect bee health. Unfortunately, field, are exposed mixtures compounds rather than single...

Many plants defend themselves against herbivores by chemical deterrents in their tissues and the presence of such substances floral nectar means that pollinators often encounter them when foraging. The effect on foraging behaviour is poorly understood. Using artificial flowers tightly-controlled laboratory settings, we examined effects alkaloid nicotine bumblebee performance. We found bumblebees confronted simultaneously with two equally rewarded nicotine-containing nicotine-free flower...

<ns4:p>The presence of antimicrobial secondary metabolites in nectar suggests that pollinators, which are threatened globally by emergent disease, may benefit from the consumption nectars rich these metabolites. We tested whether nicotine, a metabolite common in<ns4:italic>Solanaceae</ns4:italic>and<ns4:italic>Tilia</ns4:italic>species, is used parasitized bumblebees as source self-medication<ns4:italic>,</ns4:italic>using series toxicological, microbiological and behavioural experiments....

The presence of antimicrobial secondary metabolites in nectar suggests that pollinators, which are threatened globally by emergent disease, may benefit from the consumption nectars rich these metabolites. We tested whether nicotine, a metabolite common Solenaceae and Tilia species, is used parasitized bumblebees as source self-medication , using series toxicological, microbiological behavioural experiments. Caged bees infected with Crithidia bombi [TI1] had slight preference for sucrose...

Since their discovery in insects, pheromones are considered as ubiquitous and stereotyped chemical messengers acting intraspecific animal communication. Here we studied the effect of a different context investigated capacity to induce persistent modulations associative learning memory. We used honey bees, Apis mellifera, combined olfactory conditioning pheromone preexposure with disruption neural activity two-photon imaging brain circuits, characterize on Geraniol, an attractive component,...

<ns4:p>The presence of antimicrobial secondary metabolites in nectar suggests that pollinators, which are threatened globally by emergent disease, may benefit from the consumption nectars rich these metabolites. We tested whether nicotine, a metabolite common in<ns4:italic>Solanaceae</ns4:italic>and<ns4:italic>Tilia</ns4:italic>species, is used parasitized bumblebees as source self-medication<ns4:italic>,</ns4:italic>using series toxicological, microbiological and behavioural experiments....

Abstract Complex insect societies are formed by thousands to millions of individuals which incessantly interact in the sheltered nest space under constant pressure different challenges, such as infectious disease and group coordination. Understanding how colony members time may therefore help unravelling evolutionary pressures have moulded societies. We investigated spatial positions association network workers queen honeybee ( A pis mellifera ) society using high‐resolution recordings...

While our conceptual understanding of emotions is largely based on human subjective experiences, research in comparative cognition has shown growing interest the existence and identification 'emotion-like' states non-human animals. There still ongoing debate about nature animals (especially invertebrates), certainly their certain expressive behaviors displaying internal emotional raise a number exciting challenging questions. Interestingly, at least superficially, insects (bees flies), seem...

Floral nectar is a pivotal element of the intimate relationship between plants and pollinators. Nectars are composed plethora nutritionally valuable compounds but also hundreds secondary metabolites (SMs) whose function remains elusive. Here we performed set behavioural experiments to study whether five ubiquitous non-protein amino acids (NPAAs: β-alanine, GABA, citrulline, ornithine taurine) interact with gustation, feeding preference, learning memory in Apis mellifera. We showed that...

In mammals, nocifensive behaviors are modulated by neuroactive compounds indicating a complex pain-processing system. This study aimed to assess the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in modulating bumble bee Bombus terrestris better understand how pain-like regulated insects. Results showed that oral administration gabapentin (0.24 mg/mL), GABAergic analgesic acting at central level, reduced heat sensitivity, making bees more likely pass through tunnel heated 50°C, and suppressed their...

Microplastics pose a significant ecological threat, yet their actual impact on terrestrial ecosystems and organisms remains poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of two common microplastics, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polystyrene (PS), pollinator Bombus terrestris , exploring combined sublethal at three different concentrations (0.5, 5 50 mg l –1 ). PMMA PS single exposure reduced bee survival in concentration-dependent manner, whereas (MIX) had no effect. sucrose...

Abstract The predatory behaviour of Vespa crabro hornets on the honeybee Apis mellifera ligustica and counter strategy prey were observed described in two apiaries 27 41 colonies Central Italy. Observations carried out second half October accompanied by experiments aimed at determining mechanisms defence. We confirmed that V. represents a relatively mild predator for A. but it can have considerable impact already debilitated colonies. Hornet is to spot then swoop returning foragers. Honeybee...

Social insects have evolved sophisticated recognition systems enabling them to accept nest-mates but reject alien conspecifics. In the social wasp, Liostenogaster flavolineata (Stenogastrinae), individuals differ in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles according colony membership; each female also possesses a unique (visual) facial pattern. This species represents model understand how vision and olfaction are integrated extent which wasps prioritize one channel over other discriminate aliens...

Pheromones are chemical messengers that trigger stereotyped behaviors and/or physiological processes in individuals of the same species. Recent reports suggest pheromones can modulate not directly related to pheromonal message itself and contribute, this way, behavioral plasticity. We tested hypothesis by studying effect on sucrose responsiveness habituation honey bees. exposed workers three pheromone components: geraniol, which nature is used an appetitive context, isopentyl acetate (IPA)...

The expertise of humans for recognizing faces is largely based on holistic processing mechanism, a sophisticated cognitive process that develops with visual experience. various features face are thus glued together and treated by the brain as unique stimulus, facilitating robust recognition. Holistic known to facilitate fine discrimination highly similar stimuli, involves specialized areas in other primates. Although most typically employed subjects can also learn apply image analysis...

Viral infections can be detrimental to the foraging ability of western honey bee, Apis mellifera. The deformed wing virus (DWV) is most common bee and has been proposed as a possible cause learning memory impairment. However, evidence for this phenomenon so far come from artificially infected bees, while less known about implications natural with virus. Using proboscis extension reflex (PER), we uncovered no significant association between simple associative task DWV load. when assessed...