Evaluating Effects of a Critical Micronutrient (24-Methylenecholesterol) on Honey Bee Physiology.

ABSTRACT: Although poor nutrition is cited as one of the crucial factors in global pollinator decline, the requirements and role of several important nutrients (especially micronutrients) in honey bees are not well understood. Micronutrients, viz. phytosterols, play a physiologically vital role in insects as precursors of important molting hormones and building blocks of cellular membranes. There is a gap in comprehensive understanding of the impacts of dietary sterols on honey bee physiology. In the present study, we investigated the role of 24-methylenecholesterol-a key phytosterol-in honey bee nutritional physiology. Artificial diets with varying concentrations of 24-methylenecholesterol (0%, 0.1%. 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% dry diet weight) were formulated and fed to honey bees in a laboratory c

SUBMITTER: Chakrabarti P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7212396 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature