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The ant’s weapon improves honey bee learning performance

Summary

Formic acid, a natural chemical used by ants for defense, is commonly used by beekeepers to kill harmful Varroa mites that damage honey bee colonies. Researchers found that treating bee colonies with formic acid unexpectedly improved the bees’ ability to learn and remember new scents, even though it didn’t change their preference for sugar solutions. This beneficial side effect might help bee colonies recover faster after treatment by improving their foraging abilities.

Background

Formic acid, the primary chemical weapon of ants, is widely used by beekeepers to control Varroa destructor mites, which are destructive parasites of honey bees. While formic acid effectively kills Varroa mites, its effects on honey bee behavior and cognition remain largely unknown. This study investigates whether formic acid treatment affects honey bee learning performance and sucrose responsiveness.

Objective

To determine whether formic acid treatment affects sucrose responsiveness and cognitive abilities of honey bees exposed at different developmental stages and treatment durations. The study used proboscis extension response (PER) and differential olfactory conditioning to assess these behaviors in field-relevant doses.

Results

Formic acid treatment did not affect sucrose responsiveness in either foragers or young hive bees. However, formic acid significantly improved learning performance of the CS+ odor in both foragers (odds ratio: 4.18, P<0.001) and young hive bees (odds ratio: 1.72, P<0.01). Treatment duration did not significantly affect learning outcomes in either group.

Conclusion

Formic acid unexpectedly improves appetitive olfactory learning performance in honey bees regardless of age or treatment duration, possibly through stress-induced octopamine release in the mushroom bodies. This beneficial side effect may improve foraging efficiency in treated colonies and could offset losses from brood mortality during treatment.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 37225773, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35540-7
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