Preliminary investigation on the combination of GC-MS and HPLC-UV/PDA methodologies for monitoring honeybee (Apis mellifera) metabolic and foraging status

Pesticide exposure, spread of parasites and environmental and climate changes are among the reasons hypothesized for bee colonies reduction observed over the past decade. However, limited data on the individual and combined impact exerted by the influence of these factor on honeybee health status are available. In the present study we investigated the potential of GC-MS and HPLC-UV/DAD approaches to furnish data useful to the description of the metabolic and foraging status of honeybees. Bees were sampled on-field and then the solvent-extractable components present in their head, thorax and abdomen analysed (a) directly by HPLC-UV/DAD and by (b) GC-MS after derivatization (BSFTA/pyridine). The results indicated the complementary capability of the two techniques to provide information on (A) bee metabolic (thorax) and (B) foraging status (abdomen) based on the selective detection and semiquantitative determination of specific bee and plant derived metabolites. In abdomen, the detected presence of plant-derived flavonoids detected by HPLC-UV/PDA, and a metabolomic profile including mono-, di- and tri-saccharides, amino acids, lipids (FA, sterols) detected by GC-MS, provide direct indications about bees’ nutritional status. In parallel, metabolites detected in the thorax related to energy metabolism and protein turn-over furnish useful indications about physical performance. Taken together, the results of this preliminary study suggest the potential utility of such analytical approach for the evaluation of the health status of honeybees in different environmental conditions.