D. Baracchi

Unravelling the microplastic menace: different polymers work in synergy to increase bee vulnerability

This study shows that mixtures of microplastics PS and PMMA synergistically harm bee survival and immune response, alter cuticle profiles, and reduce colony detection of contaminated foragers.

Learning performance and GABAergic pathway link to deformed wing virus in the mushroom bodies of naturally infected honey bees

This study finds that naturally infected honey bees with higher DWV loads show improved reversal learning, linked to increased GABAergic gene expression in mushroom bodies.

Microplastics reach the brain and interfere with honey bee cognition

This study investigates the effects of microplastics on honey bee cognition and shows that they can reach the brain and impair learning and memory.

Habituation to visual stimuli is personality-independent in a jumping spider

This study tests if personality affects habituation and dishabituation in jumping spiders, finding no link between personality and learning.

Nectar non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) do not change nectar palatability but enhance learning and memory in honey bees

This study investigates the effects of nectar non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) on honey bee behavior, finding they do not alter nectar palatability but enhance learning and memory in specific contexts.

Formic acid modulates latency and accuracy of nestmate recognition in carpenter ants

This study shows that formic acid exposure in ants increases response latency and accuracy to nestmate recognition cues, contradicting the speed-accuracy trade-off theory.