Ares, Manuel

Honey bee colonies are highly organized societies in which workers perform different tasks throughout their lifetime while retaining the flexibility to adjust their behaviour according to the colony's needs. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate this division of labour is one of the central questions in social insect biology.

My research focuses on the role of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in honey bee social organization. Although CHC profiles are known to change during transitions between different social tasks, particularly between nurse bees and foragers, their biological significance remains poorly understood. I am particularly interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these task-related changes and whether they contribute to the coordination of social interactions within the colony.

By combining molecular and behavioural approaches, my work aims to identify the genetic pathways involved in CHC regulation and to better understand the role of chemical signals in the flexibility and organization of honey bee societies.

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