Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to detect the expression differences of microRNAs ame-miR-31a and ame-miR-13b in brains of nurses and foragers of Apis mellifera ligustica and to explore their regulation function in the behavioral transition between nurses and foragers of honeybee. 【Methods】 The expression levels of ame-miR-31a and ame-miR-13b in brains of nurses and foragers from both typical colonies and single-cohort colonies of A. m. ligustica workers were detected by qPCR. 【Results】 ame-miR-31a showed significantly higher expression level in brains of nurses than in brains of foragers in both the typical colonies and single-cohort colonies of A. m. ligustica workers, while ame-miR-13b showed significantly higher expression level in brains of foragers than in brains of nurses in the typical colonies. In the single-cohort colonies, ame-miR-13b had extremely significantly higher expression level in brains of old nurses than in brains of foragers at the same age, but showed no significant difference in the expression level between young nurses and young foragers. 【Conclusion】 The expression of ame-miR-13b shows no distinct pattern in brains of nurses and foragers of A. m. ligustica, while ame-miR-31a shows significantly higher expression level in brains of nurses, suggesting that ame-miR-31a may play an important role in regulating the behavioral transition between nurses and foragers.

Key words: Apis mellifera ligustica, caste differentiation, division of labour, nurses, foragers, microRNA, ame-miR-31a, ame-miR-13b