Preliminary investigation into the effect of ethanol exposure on body temperature in Apis mellifera

Abstract

Comparative studies of physiological effects of toxicants with social insects can be useful to understand effects in humans. These studies can yield insight into the biochemical mechanisms that underlie addictive behavior and other substance use. The aim of the current study is to assess the physiological influence of ethanol on body temperature change in Apis mellifera. It is part of a project to establish honey bees as a comparative model to humans for ethanol and other toxicant studies using social insects. Bees have shown a variety of responses to alcohol that make them viable research subjects, and are an easily obtainable and ethical alternative to humans in alcohol-behavior assays. Using an infrared laser thermometer, 125 harnessed bees (25 per condition) were measured at 30s intervals to record temperature change after exposure to either 0%, 1%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10% ethanol solution. The data collected in this experiment did not show significant variation between dose conditions. This experiment demonstrates a new protocol design and an apparatus that can be used for future study of ethanol's effect on honey bee physiology. More control, better instruments, and greater sample size may yield more insight into the viability and utility of honey bee body temperature as a measures for response to toxicants. The results of this experiment give necessary preliminary data to better study the body temperature effects of ethanol in honey bees.