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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Side effects of a fungus-based biopesticide on stingless bee guarding behaviour

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Author(s):
Rocha Almeida, Felipe Chagas [1] ; Magalhaes, Diego Martins [1] ; Favaris, Arodi Prado [1] ; Rodriguez, Jonathan [2] ; Xavier Azevedo, Kamila Emmanuella [1] ; Simoes Bento, Jose Mauricio [1] ; Alves, Denise Araujo [1]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Entomol & Acarol, Lab Chem Ecol & Insect Behav, Ave Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Entomol & Acarol, Lab Pathol & Microbial Control, Piracicaba - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Chemosphere; v. 287, n. 2 JAN 2022.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Pathogenic fungi have been used worldwide to control crop pests and are assumed to pose negligible threats to the survival of pollinators. Although eusocial stingless bees provide essential pollination services and might be exposed to these biopesticides in tropical agroecosystems, there is a substantial knowledge gap regarding the side effects of fungal pathogens on behavioural traits that are crucial for colony functioning, such as guarding behaviour. Here, we evaluated the effect of Beauveria bassiana on the sophisticated kin recognition system of Tetragonisca angustula, a bee with morphologically specialized entrance guards. By combining behavioural assays and chemical analyses, we show that guards detect pathogen-exposed nestmates, preventing them from accessing nests. Furthermore, cuticular profiles of pathogen-exposed foragers contained significantly lower amounts of linear alkanes than the unexposed ones. Such chemical cues associated with fungal conidia may potentially trigger aggression towards pathogen-exposed bees, preventing pathogen spread into and among colonies. This is the first demonstration that this highly abundant native bee seems to respond in a much more adaptive way to a potentially infectious threat, outweighing the costs of losing foraging workforce when reducing the chances of fungal pathogen outbreaks within their colonies, than honeybees do. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/50871-0 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology of Semiochemicals in Agriculture
Grantee:José Roberto Postali Parra
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants