Clodronate Liposomes Untangle the Role of Hemocytes in Apis mellifera Response to Temperature Variation and Microbial Infection

Our findings show that hemocyte function is non-uniform, with specific subtypes being essential for overall resilience. The results highlight a previously underappreciated role for temperature as a key modulator of immune capacity, particularly in immunocompromised bees. The age-related decreases in hemocyte abundance, coupled with increased survival after an immune challenge, suggests a life history trade-off where older bees rely less on cellular immunity and more on other physiological mechanisms for resilience. This work establishes CLD as a powerful tool for insect immunology and sets a precedent for using precise immune manipulation to study host-pathogen-environment interactions.