Practical protocol for honey bee immobilization and oral administration of drugs and pathogens

ARSLAN O. C., SEVİN S., Erdem B.

Journal of Apicultural Research, vol.62, no.4, pp.932-935, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 62 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00218839.2021.2014645
  • Journal Name: Journal of Apicultural Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.932-935
  • Keywords: Honey bee, immobilization, oral administration, harnessing, proboscis extension reflex, MEMORY
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Some fields in honey bee research require oral administration of substances to bees individually. This paper describes a relatively easy, practical, and reversible method for harnessing and oral feeding of honey bees. Individual bees are immobilized on a piece of balsa wood stick with two pins crossed on the junction between thorax and abdomen. Restrained bees can then easily be fed with a specific amount of chemical or pathogen in sucrose solution by inducing proboscis extension reflex. Important aspects and possible drawbacks of the method are also discussed.