Peripheral taste detection in honey bees: What do taste receptors respond to?

Understanding the neural principles governing taste perception in species that bear economic importance or serve as research models for other sensory modalities constitutes a strategic goal. Such is case of honey bee (Apis mellifera), which environmentally and socioeconomically important, given its crucial role pollinator agent agricultural landscapes has served traditional model visual olfactory neurosciences on communication, navigation, learning memory. Here we review current knowledge gustatory receptors to provide an integrative view peripheral detection this insect, highlighting specificities commonalities with insect species. We describe behavioral electrophysiological responses several tastant categories relate these responses, whenever possible, known molecular receptor mechanisms. Overall, adopted evolutionary comparative perspective understand define key questions should be answered future centered insect.