Gut microbiota influences onset of foraging-related behavior but not physiological hallmarks of division of labor in honeybees.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbes can impact cognition and behavior, but whether they regulate the division of labor in animal societies is unknown. We addressed this question using honeybees since they exhibit division of labor between nurses and foragers and because their gut microbiota can be manipulated. Using automated behavioral tracking and controlling for co-housing effects, we show that gut microbes influence the age at which bees start expressing foraging-like behaviors in the laboratory but have no effects on the time spent in a foraging arena and number of foraging trips. Moreover, the gut microbiota did not influence hallmarks of behavioral maturation such as body weight, cuticular hydrocarbon profile, hypopharyngeal gland size, gene expression, and the proportion of bees maturing into foragers. O

SUBMITTER: Liberti J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11389387 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature