A research team at Gyeongbuk National University demonstrates that caged European honey bee workers fed undiluted corn syrup exhibit a 26.5-day LT50, outperforming other sugars by enhancing hypopharyngeal gland development, gene expression, and gut microbiome balance to bolster colony resilience.

Key points

• Feeding method: Undiluted corn syrup provided ad libitum to caged Apis mellifera workers.
• Survival metric: Corn syrup group achieved highest LT50 at 26.5 days compared to other carbohydrates.
• Physiological effects: CS increased HPG acini size, upregulated Ilp2 and Vg, and altered gut microbiome diversity.

Why it matters: This work reveals a simple dietary intervention that significantly extends worker bee lifespan and gland function, potentially improving colony resilience.