RNA interference (RNAi) is an important defence against viruses and transposable elements
(TEs). RNAi not only protects against viruses by degrading viral RNA, but hosts and viruses …

In this review, we provide a current reference on disease resistance in insect societies. We
start with the genetics of immunity in the context of behavioral and physiological processes …

Europe harbours several endemic honeybee (Apis mellifera) subspecies. Yet the distribution
of these subspecies is nowadays also much influenced by beekeeping activities. Large …

Diverse animals have evolved an ability to collect antimicrobial compounds from the
environment as a means of reducing infection risk. Honey bees battle an extensive …

The recent, unexpected discovery of a functional DNA methylation system in the genome of
the social bee Apis mellifera underscores the potential importance of DNA methylation in …

A prominent theory states that animal phenotypes arise by evolutionary changes in gene
regulation, but the extent to which this theory holds true for behavioral evolution is not …

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a mysterious disappearance of honey bees that has
beset beekeepers in the United States since late 2006. Pathogens and other environmental …

SNMPs are membrane proteins observed to associate with chemosensory neurons in
insects; in Drosophila melanogaster, SNMP1 has been shown to be essential for the …

The emerging threat of pollinator decline has motivated research on bee conservation
biology in order to both understand the causes of declines and to develop appropriate …

Ejaculates contain sperm but also seminal fluid, which is increasingly recognized to be of
central importance for reproductive success. However, a detailed biochemical composition …