Observations of ethanol exposure on the queen honey bee Apis mellifera anatoliaca (Preliminary note)

Abstract

Previous data from this laboratory has shown that consumption of ethanol by worker honey bees disrupts learning, communication and social behaviours. We extend our honey bee model of ethanol induced behaviour by reporting preliminary observations oil a queen honey bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca Maa) which had consumed 20 mu l of a 10%, 2.0 M ethanol Solution. Our observations reveal that the inebriated queen is accepted back into the colony but is replaced several days later by a new queen possibly as a result of decreased egg laying behaviour. The new queen - which was all offspring of the previous queen - had less hair oil the thorax and all unnatural darker colour. Egg laying was also reduced as suggested by the smaller brood area compared to a control queen. Recommendations are provided when to conduct ethanol experiments with queens.