Abstract:
Honey bees likely undergo stress in densely populated apiaries as a result of inter-colony
competition.
Furthermore, overcrowding of honey bee colonies in an area may negatively affect the
regional ecosystem. We aim to define markers for early identification of inter-colony competition
stress to allow beekeepers to take timely action and maximize the health and productivity of their
colonies. Thisstudy investigates the male reproductive output of drones, energetic costs of
competition such as rate of respiration and glycogen storage in foragers, and the expression of
heat shock proteins in larvae to detect the physiological markers of competitive stress in honey
bees. An experimental competition trial was set up where honey bee colonies were transported and
distributed amongst three sites with high (120 colonies), medium (30 colonies), and low (8
colonies) density for four weeks. The samples collected at four time points showed that the
respiratory rate of honey bee foragers might be rigid, but the glycogen reserves were depleted in
foragers at high density site. Heat shock protein expression was highest after transportation and
not due to inter-colony competition. The glycogen stores of honey bees can be used as a potential
marker of competitive stress. Analyzing more such physiological indicators, can help identify
markers of stress at an early stage to prevent the detrimental effects of stress on honey
bees, which will benefit the beekeeping industry and the ecosystem