From larva to adult: In vitro rearing protocol for honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones.

ABSTRACT: Development of a successful in vitro rearing protocol has been essential for pesticide safety assessment of immature honey bee workers under laboratory conditions. In contrast, pesticide safety testing of honey bee drones is limited, in part due to the lack of successful laboratory rearing protocols for this reproductive caste. Considering that healthy drones are essential for successful mating and reproduction of the honey bee queen, a standardized in vitro rearing protocol for honey bee drones is necessary to support reproductive safety studies, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of honey bee drone development. Using the established in vitro rearing protocol for honey bee workers, we modified the days of grafting and pupal transfer, as well as the diet volume, pupation plate orien

SUBMITTER: Bezerra da Silva MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11824949 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature