Neuromodulatory bases of behavioral specialization in honey bee dance followers (Apis mellifera)

In the honey bee (Apis mellifera), the waggle dance coordinates colony foraging by recruiting followers that specialize in distinct resources (nectar vs. pollen). While the neurobiology of dancers has been extensively investigated, the neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying behavioral biases in dance followers remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigated how individual differences in dance following relate to gustatory responsiveness and neuropeptidergic signaling across the nervous system. We assessed sugar sensitivity in situ using proboscis extension response (PER) assays during dance following in observation hives. Nectar followers exhibited the highest sugar sensitivity (lowest response thresholds), non-followers displayed intermediate sensitivity, and pollen followers showed the lowest sensitivity (highest thresholds). To elucidate the molecular correlates of these differences, we quantified the expression of neuropeptides and receptors linked to appetitive motivation (NPF, sNPF, sNPFR, TK, and TKR) in antennae, antennal lobes, and protocerebrum via RT-qPCR. Transcript levels varied significantly according to follower profile in a tissue-dependent manner, evidencing coordinated regulation between the sensory periphery and central brain areas. Together, these findings suggest that dance following involves neuromodulatory adjustments across the nervous system, where neuropeptide pathways may play a role in modulating sensory thresholds relevant to foraging tasks.