Impact of Atrazine on Sucrose Sensitivity in Honey Bees

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are essential pollinators, responsible for the pollination of over 80% of crops and flowering Plants globally. However, there is concern that the extensive use of pesticides, particularly atrazine, can harm pollinators. Despite the widespread use of atrazine, the sublethal effects on honey bees remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of atrazine on honey bee sucrose sensitivity and clarified the underlying molecular mechanisms using transcriptomic analyses. Atrazine exposure reduced the sucrose sensitivity of honey bees substantially, likely through the inhibition of functional genes associated with cognition in the brain. Genes related to neurodegenerative diseases and behavior were differentially expressed in response to atrazine. These findings provide novel insights into the neurophysiological and behavioral effects of atrazine on honey bees, contributing to a better understanding of pesticide risks and informing future environmental regulations.

RNA sequencing; atrazine; honey bees; neurotoxicity; sucrose sensitivity.