FoxO directly regulates the expression of odorant‐binding protein genes to mediate olfactory plasticity in response to starvation in <i>Apis cerana cerana</i>

Internal energy fluctuations drive biological processes that influence behavior and enhance organismal efficiency and adaptability. This study investigated the effects of starvation and foraging-induced energy changes on olfactory sensitivity in Apis cerana cerana. Compared with the high-energy state, the low-energy state impaired antennal olfactory sensitivity and reduced the expression of olfactory-related genes. These deficits were rescued by supplemental feeding or insulin injection, demonstrating that insulin modulates olfactory perception under low-energy conditions. These findings suggest that the insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway mediates the regulation of olfactory function in response to energy changes in A. cerana cerana. Further investigation of combined AccFoxO silencing (a key IIS component expressed in the antennae) and starvation revealed that AccFoxO regulates olfactory gene expression in response to energy fluctuations in A. cerana cerana. This study provides novel insights into the energy-dependent modulation of olfactory behavior.