Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

7-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Julie Mustard

Second Advisor

Megan Keniry

Third Advisor

Arnulfo O. Mar

Abstract

Learning is linked to nutritional state and metabolic signaling. In insects, both sweet taste and post-ingestive nutrient feedback contribute to memory formation. However, whether glucose uptake supports reward-based associative learning in honey bees remains unclear.

In this study, the role of glucose uptake during associative olfactory conditioning was investigated in Apis mellifera. Bees were trained to associate the odor hexanol with a glucose reward using the proboscis extension response paradigm. To examine the contribution of glucose processing, the glucose transporter inhibitor phlorizin was added to the reward solution during conditioning. Acquisition across eight conditioning trials and memory retention at 10 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours were compared among bees receiving the vehicle control and bees receiving glucose with low or high concentrations of phlorizin.

Bees receiving phlorizin showed significantly reduced recall of the conditioned odor at each memory test. Bees previously exposed to the low phlorizin concentration also successfully learned a new odor-reward association during reconditioning. These results provide behavioral evidence consistent with glucose uptake contributing to the formation or retention of odorreward memories and highlight the importance of nutrient processing in honey bee learning and memory.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Daniela Rivera. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3408970479

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