Gene expression changes in response to a juvenile hormone analog in Bombus impatiens

The Common Eastern Bumblebee, Bombus impatiens is a species of particular importance for native plant pollination. Understanding the physiological response of bumblebees to environmental stimuli across diverse foraging landscapes can enable us to better understand the impact of environmental stressors on pollinator health. Juvenile hormone (JH) is a key regulator of development among insect taxa, where its circulating presence inhibits metamorphosis. As a result, its analog, Methoprene, is a widely used mosquito larvicide due to its ability to disrupt development to adulthood, thus reducing the number of pests. Despite its success in mosquito control, methoprene also impacts adult insects. JH is associated with task plasticity and the onset of foraging in Apis mellifera, and in B. impatiens, JH titers also influence the onset of foraging through expression of genes and proteins associated with nutritional signaling. In this study we looked at the influence of a JH analog on gene expression in the brain of B. impatiens that could be associated with nutrient signaling and foraging behavior. We conducted a comparative transcriptome of the brain to determine expression of genes of interest that could serve as potential markers for indicators of stress. Here, we identify genes of interest that may be impacted by this juvenile hormone analog and subsequently influence the behavior and physiological signaling of these important pollinators.