Behavioral Changes in Worker Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Induced by Injections of a Juvenile Hormone Mimic1

Abstract

Behavior of newly-emerged honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) workers was studied following injections with the juvenile-hormone (JH) mimic called Law-Williams or hydrochlorination reaction mixture (HR mixture). Bees injected with 100 µg HR mixture consumed 49.5% less pollen than untreated bees and their hypopharyngeal glands failed to develop. Treated bees also moved out of the brood nest sooner than untreated ones. Guarding at the hive entrance, flight activity, and pollen collection began up to 3 days sooner by bees injected with the JH mimic. Differences in timing of the onset of activity outside the colony were accentuated by increased dosage, but hypopharyngeal gland development was inhibited at all dosages tested. Longevity of treated bees was up to 39% shorter than untreated bees under laboratory conditions.