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Environmental temperature modulates olfactory reception in Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2025

Lina Guo Open the ORCID record for Lina Guo [Opens in a new window] ,
Yu Zhang Open the ORCID record for Yu Zhang [Opens in a new window] ,
Jue Wang Open the ORCID record for Jue Wang [Opens in a new window] ,
Diandian Yu Open the ORCID record for Diandian Yu [Opens in a new window] ,
Min Wu Open the ORCID record for Min Wu [Opens in a new window]  and
Yuan Guo Open the ORCID record for Yuan Guo [Opens in a new window]
Lina Guo
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
Yu Zhang
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
Jue Wang
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
Diandian Yu
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
Min Wu
Affiliation:
College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
Yuan Guo*
Affiliation:
College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
*
Corresponding author: Yuan Guo; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Temperature is the most significant abiotic factor that affects the growth and behaviour of insects. However, the mechanism by which the olfactory system senses thermal stimulus and combines temperature and chemical signals to trigger certain behavioural outputs is unclear. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism by which environmental temperature affects olfactory perception in Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae). We used quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to analyse the expression of AcerOr1 and AcerOr2. We also used electroantennography (EAG) assays to detect bee antennal responses to odorants at different temperatures. The results revealed that the mRNA expression of AcerOr1 and AcerOr2 was significantly influenced by temperature. These genes exhibited both increases and decreases in expression over time, with the most significant differential observed at 25 °C. Protein expression was similarly affected at 2 hours after different temperature treatments. Electroantennography responses from the antennae revealed that six odorant volatiles – N-(4-ethylphenyl)-2-((4-ethyl-5-(3-pyridinyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)acetamide (VUAA1), linolenic acid, eugenol, hexyl acetate, 1-nonanol, and lauroleic acid – had the most dramatic effect at 25 °C. The results indicate that environmental factors affecting the expression of AcerOr1 and AcerOr2 modulate olfactory recognition behaviour in A. cerana cerana, suggesting that changes in environmental temperature can affect bees’ olfactory preferences.

Type
Research Paper
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 157 , 2025 , e10
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of Canada

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Footnotes

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Co-first authorship.

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