A novel bee host cannot detect a microbial parasite, in contrast to its original host

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Choppin, M.;Lach, L.
Lori Lach
Abstract

Organisms that can detect parasites may have a greater likelihood of avoiding exposure to them. We would expect hosts that share an evolutionary history with a parasite to be more likely to detect and avoid it compared to novel hosts. Nosema ceranae is a gut parasite of the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana, that has relatively recently been detected in the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Using a Proboscis Extension Response assay, we found that A. cerana was significantly more likely than A. mellifera to avoid sucrose solutions with concentrations above 1 x 10(6) N. ceranae spores per mL. However, neither species avoided the sucrose solutions with lower N. ceranae concentrations, similar to those detected on flowers.

Journal

Insectes Sociaux

Publication Name

Insectes Sociaux

Volume

69

ISBN/ISSN

1420-9098

Edition

N/A

Issue

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Pages Count

4

Location

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Publisher

Springer

Publisher Url

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Publisher Location

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Publish Date

N/A

Url

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Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1007/s00040-022-00860-w