Effects of formic acid, methanol and ethanol on the survival and detoxification immune-related gene expression in honeybees

In order to investigate the effects of formic acid, methanol and ethanol on the survival rate of honeybees, and the effects of these reagents of 48h median lethal dose and 48h-LD50 on the mRNA expression of detoxification immune-related genes in honeybees, the effects of three chemical reagents on the survival rate of honeybees and 48h median lethal dose were determined by feeding methods.

The effects of formic acid, methanol and ethanol at 48h-LD50 on the mRNA expression of detoxification immune-related genes in honeybees were studied by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the survival rate of honeybees in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group.The mRNA expression of Cyp6as5, Cyp9e2, Defensin1 and PPO in the experimental groups was significantly different from that in the control group.This study provides evidence at the molecular level that median lethal dose of formic acid, methanol, and ethanol affect the physiology and metabolism of honeybees by disrupting the normal immune system of these insects, which is expecting to provide some theoretical basis for the maintenance of bee health.