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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Communications Biology

Phenotypic and neuropeptidergic control of appetitive behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

  • Rafael C. da Silva1,2,3
  • Mariana P. Cassinelli4
  • Rodrigo Velarde5
  • Bérénice Nahmias1,2
  • Louise Bestea1,2
  • Martin Giurfa1,2
  • Maria Gabriela de Brito Sánchez1,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1Neuro-SU, CNRS, Inserm, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
  2. 2Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, IBPS CNRS, Inserm, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
  3. 3Institut d’Écologie et des Sciences de l’Environnement de Paris (UMR7618) CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Université Paris Est Créteil, Paris, France
  4. 4Departamento de Biologia, Laboratory Comportamento e Ecologia de Insetos Sociais, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil
  5. 5Latin American Society for Bee Research (SOLATINA), Cochabamba, Bolivia
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Abstract

Neuropeptide activity in honey bees varies with age, behavioral role, and season. The short neuropeptide F (sNPF) modulates foraging-related behaviors in summer foragers, including food intake, sucrose sensitivity, and sensory processing, but its role in other castes remains unknown. Winter bees and nurses are two phenotypes, which are considered similar due to their substantial internal energetic reserves. Yet, their appetitive profiles have never been characterized. Here, we combined electrophysiological, behavioral and neuropeptide supplementation approaches to compare appetitive behaviors across bees of different behavioral castes and ages, with or without sNPF supplementation. sNPF treatment enhanced sucrose responsiveness in winter bees and olfactory responses in nurses. Our results reveal distinct appetitive profiles, challenge the assumption that nurses and winter bees behave similarly, and highlight that appetitive motivation is multidimensional. Specifically, they show that phenotype and season can decouple peripheral sensitivity, central responsiveness, learning performance, and food consumption.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{silva2026phenotypic,
  title = {{Phenotypic and neuropeptidergic control of appetitive behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera)}},
  author = {Rafael C. da Silva and Mariana P. Cassinelli and Rodrigo Velarde and Bérénice Nahmias and Louise Bestea and Martin Giurfa and Maria Gabriela de Brito Sánchez},
  journal = {Communications Biology},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s42003-026-10484-6},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10484-6},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Phenotypic and neuropeptidergic control of appetitive behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
AU  - Rafael C. da Silva
AU  - Mariana P. Cassinelli
AU  - Rodrigo Velarde
AU  - Bérénice Nahmias
AU  - Louise Bestea
AU  - Martin Giurfa
AU  - Maria Gabriela de Brito Sánchez
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/04
JO  - Communications Biology
DO  - 10.1038/s42003-026-10484-6
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10484-6
AB  - Neuropeptide activity in honey bees varies with age, behavioral role, and season. The short neuropeptide F (sNPF) modulates foraging-related behaviors in summer foragers, including food intake, sucrose sensitivity, and sensory processing, but its role in other castes remains unknown. Winter bees and nurses are two phenotypes, which are considered similar due to their substantial internal energetic reserves. Yet, their appetitive profiles have never been characterized. Here, we combined electrophysiological, behavioral and neuropeptide supplementation approaches to compare appetitive behaviors across bees of different behavioral castes and ages, with or without sNPF supplementation. sNPF treatment enhanced sucrose responsiveness in winter bees and olfactory responses in nurses. Our results reveal distinct appetitive profiles, challenge the assumption that nurses and winter bees behave similarly, and highlight that appetitive motivation is multidimensional. Specifically, they show that phenotype and season can decouple peripheral sensitivity, central responsiveness, learning performance, and food consumption.
SN  - 2399-3642
ER  -