Influence of 20-hydroxyecdyzone on the honey bee under heat stress

Abstract

In order to identify the potential danger for the honey bee used for pollination of Leuzea safflower, a study was carried out of the effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone at a concentration of 10-10 M to 10-7 M in sugar syrup on life espectancy and motor activity of worker bees under extremely high temperatures (50°C). The addition of 20E to the feed has an effect on survival time under conditions of hyperthermia, probably due to the transport of water from the honey goiter and rectum to the hemolymph, as well as on the development of the stress response. A non-linear, non-monotonic relationship was found out. It has been suggested that when consuming food with 2×10-9 M 20E, the enzymatic oxidation of 20E is activated, which causes a decrease in the 20E titer in the hemolymph and the observed change in the sign of the effect.