Social insects, including honey bees, live in close contact, increasing pathogen transmission…

Social insects, including honey bees, live in close contact, increasing pathogen transmission risk. Colonies reduce this risk through social immunity. Australian researchers demonstrated that chemical defenses enhance colony-level immunity, with antimicrobial activity increasing toward the hive center, correlating with microbiota changes.

Chemical analysis identified hive immunity factors: H₂O₂ in honey, flavonoids in propolis and wax, and polar aliphatic compounds in pollen. Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition depended on hive location and available resources.