Effects of Nosema apis, N. ceranae, and coinfections on honey bee (Apis mellifera) learning and memory

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2016 papers

Abstract

Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) face an increasing number of challenges that in recent years have led to significant economic effects on apiculture, with attendant consequences for agriculture. Nosemosis is a fungal infection of honey bees caused by either Nosema apis or N. ceranae. The putative greater virulence of N. ceranae has spurred interest in understanding how it differs from N. apis. Little is known of effects of N. apis or N. ceranae on honey bee learning and memory. Following a Pavlovian model that relies on the proboscis extension reflex, we compared acquisition learning and long-term memory recall of uninfected (control) honey bees versus those inoculated with N. apis, N. ceranae, or both. We also tested whether spore intensity was associated with variation in learning and memory. Neither learning nor memory differed among treatments. There was no evidence of a relationship between spore intensity and learning, and only limited evidence of a negative effect on memory; this occurred only in the co-inoculation treatment. Our results suggest that if Nosema spp. are contributing to unusually high colony losses in recent years, the mechanism by which they may affect honey bees is probably not related to effects on learning or memory, at least as assessed by the proboscis extension reflex.

Related Papers

• → The levels of natural Nosema spp. infection in Apis mellifera iberiensis brood stages(2019)22 cited
• → The pathological effects of a Nosema ceranae infection in the giant honey bee, Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793(2021)6 cited
• → Cold stress induces specific antioxidant responses in honey bee brood(2021)14 cited
• Effect of early supplemental feeding honey bee colonies with a substitute of bee bread made of drone brood candy, glucose and honey on colony strength(2005)