Article
Biology
Marcel Ethan Sayre, Rachel Templin, Johanna Chavez, Julian Kempenaers, Stanley Heinze
Summary: While bees and fruit flies share similarities in their central complex, there are also key functional differences that may impact their navigational abilities.
Article
Entomology
Jie Chen, Ziying Guan, Yunjie Ma, Qingxing Shi, Ting Chen, Muhammad Irfan Waris, Lihua Lyu, Yongyue Lu, Guojun Qi
Summary: This study identified a highly expressed miRNA, miR-1175-3p, in the red imported fire ant, which plays a critical role in regulating vitellin synthesis and oogenesis in workers. miR-1175-3p interacts with its target gene, Br-C, in the fat bodies and is involved in caste differentiation between queens and workers. The expression of miR-1175-3p is regulated by JH, and its suppression in queens leads to reduced fertility, which can be rescued by feeding with JH.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giovanni Tamburini, Maria-Helena Pereira-Peixoto, Jonas Borth, Simon Lotz, Dimitry Wintermantel, Matthew J. Allan, Robin Dean, Janine Melanie Schwarz, Anina Knauer, Matthias Albrecht, Alexandra-Maria Klein
Summary: The study demonstrates that exposure to sulfoxaflor can adversely affect bumblebees and that fungicide use during bloom could reduce bumblebee foraging performance and pollination services. The impacts of sulfoximines on pollinator development and reproduction, as well as the combined effects of different agrochemicals, remain areas for further exploration.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Baodi Guo, Jiao Tang, Guiling Ding, Shibonage K. Mashilingi, Jiaxing Huang, Jiandong An
Summary: In this study, the gut microbiota of workers and queens in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris at different developmental stages were explored using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The results showed significant differences in morphological indices and gut microbiota composition between workers and queens at different developmental stages. Age was also found to significantly affect the microbial alpha diversity. The findings suggest that the 5th instar larval stage can be used to judge the morphology of workers or queens in bumble bees, and key microbes may be involved in regulating phenotypic variations.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paolo Franchini, Carmelo Fruciano, Thomas J. Wood, Vivaswat Shastry, Dave Goulson, William O. H. Hughes, Julia C. Jones
Summary: Insect pollination is crucial for natural ecosystems and agriculture. The bumblebee species Bombus terrestris is widely used for commercial crop pollination due to its effectiveness and ease of mass rearing. However, the introduction of commercial non-native bumblebees poses a risk for global conservation and biological diversity. This study investigated the impact of utilizing commercial bumblebee subspecies in the UK using genomic data from wild populations and commercial populations. The results showed low levels of introgression between commercial and wild bees, with higher admixture near farms. Genomic regions associated with local and global adaptation were identified, with genes related to taste receptor activity, oxidoreductase activity, fatty acid, and lipid biosynthetic processes enriched in locally adaptive regions. Overall, the genetic integrity of local B. terrestris populations in the UK has been minimally affected, but even limited introgression may have negative effects on locally adapted populations.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hao Chen, Guang'an Wu, Hao Zhou, Xiaoyan Dai, Nicolaas W. F. Steeghs, Xiaolin Dong, Li Zheng, Yifan Zhai
Summary: The study identified differentially expressed proteins/genes and signaling pathways involved in reproductive diapause in Bombus terrestris at different ecophysiological phases. Understanding the regulation mechanisms of reproductive diapause contributes to a comprehensive insight into eusocial insect biology.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Nicolas Claverie, Pierrick Buvat, Jerome Casas
Summary: When sampling odors, many insects move their antennae in a complex but repeatable fashion. This study aims to test the relationship between scanning movements and odor properties. Researchers tracked the antennal movements of bumblebees at high frequency and found that the movement patterns were similar across bees and independent of the odor's properties. The amplitude and speed of the movements seem to be influenced by the internal state of the animal. Overall, bees display an active olfactory sampling strategy. Rating: 8/10
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angela Minnameyer, Verena Strobl, Selina Bruckner, Domenic W. Camenzind, Annette Van Oystaeyen, Felix Waeckers, Geoffrey R. Williams, Orlando Yanez, Peter Neumann, Lars Straub
Summary: The study shows that field-realistic concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam significantly impair Bombus terrestris sperm and hypopharyngeal glands, providing plausible mechanisms for bumblebee population decline. Drones and workers exposed to thiamethoxam in the laboratory showed negative effects on sperm viability and gland development, suggesting a trade-off between survival and fitness components due to costly detoxification. To mitigate ongoing biodiversity declines for eusocial insects, it is essential to evaluate the impact of insecticides on fitness parameters of both sexuals and workers.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Luke Hill, Maxence Gerard, Frida Hildebrandt, Emily Baird
Summary: Eusocial insect colonies can improve their ability to buffer anthropogenic stressors, but this effect can be influenced by factors that reduce colony size. The impact of a sudden change in group size on individual behavior within the colony is still unclear. This study showed that the associative learning capabilities of bumblebee workers were not affected by drastic reductions in colony size, indicating their resilience to this kind of change.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Cheng Sun, Aibing Zhang, Jinfeng Chen, Sarah Schaack
Summary: Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that play a major role in genome evolution and have phenotypic impacts. Recent studies suggest that TEs are the main contributor to genome size variation and are involved in the formation of new coding and regulatory sequences in bumblebees. Future research using advanced technologies will help uncover the functions and contributions of TEs in bumblebee biology.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
David H. Collins, David C. Prince, Jenny L. Donelan, Tracey Chapman, Andrew F. G. Bourke
Summary: In this study, it was found that reproductive costs are present but latent in bumblebee queens, and that there is a condition-dependent positive fecundity-longevity association. Additionally, the study suggests that a partial remodelling of genetic and endocrine networks underpinning ageing may have occurred in intermediately eusocial species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco E. Fonturbel, Isidora B. Sepulveda, Giselle Muschett, Gaston O. Carvallo, Lorena Vieli, Maureen M. Murua
Summary: Invasive species are a significant driver of worldwide biodiversity loss. This study examines the associations between bumblebees and native and exotic plant species in Chile, particularly focusing on flower color preferences. The findings suggest that exotic bumblebee species primarily visit flowers of exotic plants and show preferences for purple and pink flowers, while native bumblebees visit both native and exotic plant species in similar proportions and have preferences for white, pink, and purple flowers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amelie Saunier, Patrick Grof-Tisza, James D. Blande
Summary: This study investigated the effects of elevated ozone on the foraging behavior of Bombus terrestris on three species of the Brassicaceae. The results showed that elevated ozone had significant effects on the foraging parameters of B. terrestris, possibly by reducing olfaction-mediated orientation or directly impacting the bees. This suggests that high levels of ozone could have negative effects on the foraging efficiency of important pollinator species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shu-Ping Tseng, Hugo Darras, Po-Wei Hsu, Tsuyoshi Yoshimura, Chow-Yang Lee, James K. Wetterer, Laurent Keller, Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang
Summary: Clonal reproduction allows invasive species to avoid inbreeding depression, giving them an advantage in establishing themselves. The prevalence and significance of the double-clonal reproduction system in the invasive ant, Paratrechina longicornis, remains unclear. Our study found that double clonality is widespread in P. longicornis populations worldwide, suggesting its importance in facilitating global colonization.
Article
Ecology
Fang Zhao, Claire Morandin, Kai Jiang, Tianjuan Su, Bo He, Gonghua Lin, Zuhao Huang
Summary: The study revealed that in bumble bees, the conventional Vg gene experienced strong positive selection, while the Vg-like genes showed relaxation of purifying selection. This suggests that the conventional Vg gene may be evolving rapidly due to its various social functions.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)