Many agrochemicals disrupt redox homeostasis, yet the dynamics of oxidative stress responses in honey bees (Apis mellifera) remain insufficiently understood. This study established a controlled model to monitor ROS-related markers over time following paraquat injection, using Bayesian modeling to characterize time-dependent changes. We observed a transient rise in hydroperoxides and early fluctuation in adipokinetic hormone (AKH) levels, which declined and stabilized within 8 hours. No significant differences were detected in secondary lipid peroxidation products (TBARS) among treatments. While injection does not represent natural exposure pathways, it enables precise dosing and timing, avoiding variability from oral intake. This experimental design provides a tractable system to investigate oxidative stress mechanisms under defined conditions. Our findings underscore the importance of time-resolved analysis in redox physiology and offer a mechanistic framework to complement field-relevant toxicological studies in bees and other beneficial insects.

Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science Palacký University Olomouc Šlechtitelů 27 Olomouc 783 71 Czech Republic

Institute of Entomology Biology Centre CAS Branišovská 31 České Budějovice 370 05 Czech Republic; Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 31 České Budějovice 370 05 Czech Republic

USDA ARS Honey Bee Breeding Genetics and Physiology Research Baton Rouge LA United States

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