Individual and social defenses in Apis mellifera: a playground to fight against synergistic stressor interactions

The honeybee is an important species for the agri-food and pharmaceutical industries through bee products crop pollination services. However, health a major concern, because beekeepers in many countries are experiencing significant colony losses. This phenomenon has been linked to exposure of bees multiple stresses their environment. Indeed, several biotic abiotic stressors interact with synergistic or antagonistic way. Synergistic often act disruption defense systems (immune response detoxification). Antagonistic interactions most caused by between disruptive activation defenses. Honeybees have developed behavioral strategies produce antimicrobial compounds prevent various pathogens chemicals. Expanding our knowledge about these processes could be used develop shield from exposure. review aims describe current honeybees mechanisms they protect themselves. effect multi-stress mainly due immune response, detoxification, excessive itself. In addition, defenses against stressors, some behavioral, others involving production antimicrobials, exploiting beneficial external factors.