You are what you eat: relative importance of diet, gut microbiota and nestmates for honey bee, Apis mellifera, worker health

Abstract In eusocial honey bees, Apis mellifera , diet, gut microbiota and nestmates can all contribute to the health of freshly emerged individual workers, but their relative importance for longevity body weight is currently unknown. Here, we show that diet most relevant, followed by presence nestmates. Freshly workers were randomly assigned eight treatments (with or without honey/pollen, protein-substitute lactalbumin, antibiotic tetracycline 24 h) maintained under standardised laboratory conditions. Longevity food consumption measured daily fresh was assessed at day 7. The data a significantly better survival higher in supplied with honey/pollen. Survival lactalbumin compared ones restricted sucrose only, lower those highlighting micronutrients. contrast, treatment had significant negative effect on weight, which may be explained inactivated and/or toxicity antibiotics. There no positive nestmates, probably due short exposure period. showed antibiotic-treated possibly transmitting pathogens antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. conclusion, macro- micronutrient-rich appears key bee worker health. Providing an optimal promising way promote managed A.