1UGC-Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, Bangalore University, Bengaluru - 560 056, Karnataka, India
2Environment Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai - 400 085, Maharashtra, India
3Radiation Biology and Health Science Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai - 400 085, Maharashtra, India
Centre for Applied Genetics, Bangalore University, Bengaluru - 560 056, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding authors’ E-mail : shetty_nj@yahoo.co.in
Online Published on 24 December, 2025.
Honeybees are used in ecotoxicological studies to evaluate various pollutants, including ionizing radiation in terrestrial ecosystems. Nonetheless, knowledge on the sub-lethal effects of ionizing radiation on the behaviour of honeybees is meagre. The studies on effect of gamma radiation doses (1 to 60 Gy) on the homing and foraging behaviour of Apis mellifera worker bees was conducted. The results indicated a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the number of returning bees and foragers irradiated with radiation doses of 20 to 60 Gy. Compared to control, the number of bees returning to the colonies was reduced by 13.70 and 40.74% in 20 and 60 Gy radiation doses, respectively. Similarly, the bees irradiated with similar doses of radiation showed a reduction in foraging activity by 16.30 and 48.46%, 18.35 and 45.41%, 27.78 and 52.99%, 21.86 and 50.23% in 3, 24, 48, and 72 h post-irradiation period, respectively. The findings of the study indicate that acute radiation doses of 20 to 60 Gy significantly affect the homing and foraging behaviour of A. mellifera workers.
Foraging activity, Gamma irradiation, Homing behaviour, Honeybees
