Journal article
Authors list: Bachert, Antonia; Scheiner, Ricarda
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Scientific Reports
Volume number: 13
Issue number: 1
ISSN: 2045-2322
Open access status: Gold
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35540-7
Publisher: Nature Research
Abstract:
Formic acid is the main component of the ant's major weapon against enemies. Being mainly used as a chemical defense, the acid is also exploited for recruitment and trail marking. The repelling effect of the organic acid is used by some mammals and birds which rub themselves in the acid to eliminate ectoparasites. Beekeepers across the world rely on this effect to control the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Varroa mites are considered the most destructive pest of honey bees worldwide and can lead to the loss of entire colonies. Formic acid is highly effective against Varroa mites but can also kill the honeybee queen and worker brood. Whether formic acid can also affect the behavior of honey bees is unknown. We here study the effect of formic acid on sucrose responsiveness and cognition of honey bees treated at different live stages in field-relevant doses. Both behaviors are essential for survival of the honey bee colony. Rather unexpectedly, formic acid clearly improved the learning performance of the bees in appetitive olfactory conditioning, while not affecting sucrose responsiveness. This exciting side effect of formic acid certainly deserves further detailed investigations.
Citation Styles
Harvard Citation style: Bachert, A. and Scheiner, R. (2023) The ant's weapon improves honey bee learning performance, Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35540-7
APA Citation style: Bachert, A., & Scheiner, R. (2023). The ant's weapon improves honey bee learning performance. Scientific Reports. 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35540-7
Keywords
COLONY; GUSTATORY RESPONSIVENESS; OCTOPAMINE; PROTEIN-KINASE-A; SUCROSE RESPONSIVENESS; VARROA-DESTRUCTOR ACARI