Development of Exposure Biomarkers for the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera): Neonicotinoids Versus Traditional Pesticides

Pollination is a vital ecosystem service crucial for reproduction of flowering plants, including agricultural crops. The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is the most used managed pollinator worldwide. The use and overuse of agrochemicals is hypothesized to have played a role in increasing rates of colony mortality in Canada and globally. The identity of stressors affecting a colony is difficult to discern; information critical for diagnosing and managing honey bee colony health. Here, I explored the potential of using gene expression profiles as diagnostic biomarkers for exposure to various agrochemicals in honey bees. I found genes differentially expressed unique to each stressor, which could be putative biomarkers for specific agrochemical exposure. I found genes common between pesticides, which could be a putative general agrochemical stress signal. My research indicates that gene expression profiles can be an excellent tool for discovering stressor-specific biomarkers and diagnosing stressors found in honey bee colonies.