biostudies-literatureKaya-Zeeb SDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschafte74334https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8923666biostudies-literatureUnknown11In times of environmental change species have two options to survive: they either relocate to a new habitat or they adapt to the altered environment. Adaptation requires physiological plasticity and provides a selection benefit. In this regard, the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) protrudes with its thermoregulatory capabilities, which enables a nearly worldwide distribution. Especially in the cold, shivering thermogenesis enables foraging as well as proper brood development and thus survival. In this study, we present octopamine signaling as a neurochemical prerequisite for honeybee thermogenesis: we were able to induce hypothermia by depleting octopamine in the flight muscles. Additionally, we could restore the ability to increase body temperature by administering octopamine. Thus, we ceLifeOctopamine drives honeybee thermogenesis.PMC8923666TH2264/2-1Straßburger MSeifert RKaya-Zeeb SBahre HThamm MBayer JEngelmayer LScherf-Clavel OfalseOctopamine drives honeybee thermogenesis.In times of environmental change species have two options to survive: they either relocate to a new habitat or they adapt to the altered environment. Adaptation requires physiological plasticity and provides a selection benefit. In this regard, the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) protrudes with its thermoregulatory capabilities, which enables a nearly worldwide distribution. Especially in the cold, shivering thermogenesis enables foraging as well as proper brood development and thus survival. In this study, we present octopamine signaling as a neurochemical prerequisite for honeybee thermogenesis: we were able to induce hypothermia by depleting octopamine in the flight muscles. Additionally, we could restore the ability to increase body temperature by administering octopamine. Thus, we c2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-19T21:44:24.411Z2025-04-19T21:44:24.411ZS-EPMC89236663528974310.7554/eLife.74334