The Effects of Sub-lethal dose of Insecticides on Honeybee Behavior and Transcriptome

Abstract

Exposure to insecticides is the main cause of honeybee (Apis mellifera) population decline. At sub-lethal doses, these chemicals have been shown to negatively affect honeybee physiological development and behavior. Previously, we found the insecticide imidacloprid and deltamethrin significant reduced honeybee dancing and foraging efficiency. As a follow up, we performed a deep RNA-seq analysis to reveal the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying the altered foraging behavior. Genes involved in detoxification were up-regulated in both imidacloprid and deltamethrin treatment groups. Gene members in immune pathways, odorant receptors and major royal jelly protein families showed significant up or down regulation in treatment groups compared with controls. This fluctuating gene expression profile reflects that multifaceted aspects of honeybee physiology were affected by the two insecticides, leading to inaccurate communication and impaired learning and memory. Our findings reveal candidate molecular mechanisms under impaired dance performance in honeybees exposed to insecticides.