The Beneficial Effect of Pollen on Varroa Infested Bees Depends on Its Influence on Behavioral Maturation Genes

Honey bees collect nectar and pollen to fulfill their nutritional demands. In particular, can influence longevity, the development of hypopharyngeal glands, immune-competence bees. Pollen also mitigate deleterious effects caused by parasitic mite Varroa destructor related deformed wing virus (DWV) infections. It has been shown that V. accelerates physiological behavioral maturation honey influencing interaction between two core factors, Vitellogenin juvenile hormone. this study, we test hypothesis beneficial on Varroa-infested are hormonal control underpinning maturation. By analyzing expression genes associated in pollen-fed mite-infested bees, show treatment with increases lifespan reversing faster induced parasite at gene level. As expected, from different nurse forager extension triggered is correlated a positive antimicrobial peptide DWV load, further reinforcing effect pollen. This study lay groundwork for future analyses underlying evolutionary processes applications improve bee health.