The effects of pesticide exposure on gene expression, chemical communication, and hormone production in honey bees

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are frequently exposed to pesticides both within the hive and while foraging. The magnitude of impact from pesticide exposure on honey bee queen chemistry, pheromone-mediated queen-worker interactions and worker gene expression is relatively unknown. In our study, we examined the role of commonly encountered pesticides, namely coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate, on the chemical composition of the queen mandibular gland and attraction of workers to pesticide-exposed queens. In addition, we performed a comprehensive microarray study to fully characterize the differences in gene expression between untreated and pesticide-treated workers. Lastly, an analysis of juvenile hormone (JH) and Methyl Farnesoate (JH precursor) was performed. Our findings have aided us in a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of pesticide stress on honey bee physiology and behavior.