Zach’s main research interest is in honey bee biology. His lab uses computational, behavioral, physiological, and biochemical methods to understand the social organization of a bee colony. He attempts to combine basic and applied research to develop a program that would benefit the beekeeping industry in the the state of Michigan and in the country.
There are three reasons honey bees are widely studied. First, honey bees play a critical role in US agriculture. The most important role honey bees play is actually not honey production, but pollination. The value of crops that require pollination by honey bees, in the United States alone, is estimated to be around $24 billion each year and commercial bee pollination was valued around $10 billion annually. Second, honey bees share one feature with the humans: they also have a highly organized society, albeit without the extensive government that we have. Finally, honey bees are easy to rear and can serve as a model organism for many basic questions in biology. For these reasons honey bees have been well studied but still many questions remain.
One central question is how their division of labor is regulated. In other words, how does each worker know what to do in a crowded city with 40,000 other members? Zach has studied the physiological mechanisms of division of labor the last 18 years, first with Prof. Gard Otis (University of Guelph), then at the Robinson lab (University of Illinois), and still maintains a keen interest in this area. Currently they are studying various aspects of juvenile hormone in relation to task performance in honey bee workers. On the applied research front, he studies how various stresses affect honey bees. Zach has studied Varroa mite reproductive biology and has found a few candidate genes which can be used to control mites by using the cutting edge technology like RNA interference. He has studied how Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae affect honey bees. Zach has recently began to study how transportation and relocation can affect honey bees and how temperature and other factors affect toxicity of pesticides to honey bees.
MSU is one of the few universities with two honey bee scientists. Prof. Fred Dyer studies honey bee navigation and dances, he and Zachary share the same field laboratory. For research in the laboratory of Prof. Fred Dyer, please check http://www.msu.edu/user/fcdyer.
H-index=29, according to http://www.researcherid.com/rid/D-5485-2011
H-index=38, according to http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xp-pOcMAAAAJ&hl=en
MSU also keeps track of our publications:
* Indicates correspondence author(s).
High social impact papers, ranked by “Attention scores” by Altmetric, 24 or above represents top 5% in impacts.
122. Yang, W., C. Zhang, C. Li, Z.Y. Huang, X. Miao. 2019. Pathway of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde formation in honey. J Food Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-03708-7
121. Liu, F., T. Shi, L. Qi, X. Su, D. Wang, J. Dong, Z.Y. Huang. 2019. lncRNA profile of Apis mellifera and its possible role in behavioural transition from nurses to foragers. BMC Genomics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-019-5664-7.
120. Zhang, C.#, S. Pokhrel#, Z. Wu, X. Miao, Z. Y. Huang*, W. Yang. 2019. Longevity, food consumption and foraging performance of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera in mixed colonies. Apidologie. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-018-0626-7.
119. Fine, J.D.*, Shpigler, H.Y.*, A. Ray, N. J. Beach, A. Sankey, A. Cash-Ahmed, Z. Y. Huang, I. Astrauskaite, R. Chao, W. Streyer, H. Zhao, G. E. Robinson. 2018.. Quantifying the effects of pollen nutrition on honey bee queen egg laying with a new laboratory system. PLoS ONE 13(9): e0203444.
118. Tibbetts*, M.L. Fearon, E. Wong, Z.Y. Huang, R.M. Tinghitella. 2018. Rapid juvenile hormone downregulation in subordinate wasp queens facilitates stable cooperation. Proc. R. Soc. B 285: 20172645.
117. Li, Y., L. Zhang, Y. Yi, W. Hu, Y. Guo, Z. Zeng, Z. Y. Huang, Z. Wang. 2017. Genome-wide DNA methylation changes associated with olfactory learning in Apis mellifera. Scientific Reports.
116. Liu, F., T. Shi, W. Yin, X. Su, L. Qi, Z. Y. Huang, S. Zhang, L. Yu, B. Grace. 2017. microRNA ame-miR-279a regulates sucrose responsiveness in forager honey bees (Apis mellifera)., 90: 34-42.
115. Huang, Z.Y., G. Bian, Z. Xi, X. Xie*, 2017. Genes important for survival or reproduction in
Varroa destructor identified by RNA. Insect Science,
Yang, W., Z. Wu., Z.Y. Huang*, X. Miao*,2017 Preservation of orange juice using propolis. Journal of Food Science and Technology.
113. Huang, Z.Y.*, S. Lin, K. Ahn. 2016. Methoprene does not affect juvenile hormone titers in honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers. Insect Sci.
112. Shpigler, H.*, A.J. Siegel, Z.Y. Huang and G. Bloch. 2016. No effect of juvenile hormone on task performance in a bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) supports an evolutionary link between endocrine signaling and social complexity. Hormones and Behavior.
111. Chen, Y.-W., P.-S. Wu, E.-C. Yang, Z.Y. Huang*. 2016. The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in field. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology,
110. Tibbetts*, E.A., K. Crocker, Z.Y. Huang. 2016. Socially selected ornaments influence hormone titers of signalers and receivers. PNAS, 113: 8478–8483,
109. Teichroew, J.L., J. Xu*, A. Ahrends, Z.Y. Huang, K. Tan, Z. Xie. 2016. Is China’s unparalleled and understudied bee diversity at risk? Biological Conservation
108. Xie, X., Z.Y. Huang*, Z. Zeng. 2016. Why do Varroa mites prefer nurse bees? Scientific Reports, [reported on MSU News, sciencedaily.com etc]
107. Wang, Q., X. Xu, X. Zhu, L. Chen, S. Zhou, Z.Y. Huang*, B. Zhou*. 2016. Low-temperature stress during capped brood stage increases pupal mortality, disorientation and adult mortality in honey bees. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0154547.
106. Li, Z.Y., Y. Xue, B. Ren, Z. Wang, Z.Y. Huang*. 2016. Drone and worker brood microclimates are regulated deferentially in honey bees, Apis mellifera. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0148740.
105. Huang, Z.Y. and Y. Wang. 2015. Social physiology of honey bees: differentiation in behaviors, castes, and longevity, Chapter in “Hive and the Honey Bee”, Dadant. pp 183-200.
104. Frazier, J., J. Pflugfleder, P. Aupinel, A. Decourtype, J. Ellis, C. Scott-Dupree, Z. Huang, et al. 2015. Assessing effects through laboratory toxicity testing. In Pesticide Risk Assessment for Pollinators (ed D. Fisher and T. Moriarty). Willey Blackwell. Pp. 75-94.
103. Xie, X., S. Luo, Z.Y. Huang. 2015. China invests two times as much as USA on honey bee research. F1000Research 4:291
102. Wang, Y.,Y. Li, Z.Y. Huang, X. Chen, J. Romeis, P. Dai, Y. Peng. 2015. Toxicological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses demonstrate that Cry1C and Cry2A are not toxic to larvae of the honeybee, Apis mellifera. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 06/2015;
101. Le Conte$, Y., Z.Y. Huang$*, M. Roux, Z.J. Zeng, J.-P. Christidès, A.G. Bgnères. 2015. . Varroa destructor changes its cuticular hydrocarbons to mimic new hosts. . ($co-first authors) [reported on MSUNews, Sciencedaily.com etc]
100. Milbrath, M.O, T. V. Tran, W.-F. Huang, L.F. Solter, D.R. Tarpy, F. K. Lawrence, Z.Y. Huang. 2014. Comparative virulence and competition between Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in honey bees (Apis mellifera). J. Invertebrate Pathology, .
99. Wei-Fone Huang, W.-F., L. Solter, K.I. Aronstein, Z.Y. Huang. 2014. Infectivity and virulence of Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis in commercially available North American honey bees.
98. Ihle, K.E., O, Rueppell., Z.Y. Huang, Y. Wang, M.K. Fondrk., R.E. Jr. Page., G.V. Amdam. 2014. Genetic architecture of a hormonal response to gene knockdown in honey bees. Journal of Heredity,
97. Shpigler, H., E. Amsalem, Z.Y. Huang, M. Cohen, A.J. Siegel et al. 2014. Gonadotropic and Physiological Functions of Juvenile Hormone in Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Workers. PLoS ONE 9(6): e100650.
96. Zhu, X., S. Zhou, Z.Y. Huang*. 2014. Transportation and pollination service increase abundance and prevalence of Nosema ceranae in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Journal of Apicultural Research 53: 469-471.
95. Medved, V., Z.Y. Huang; A. Popadic. 2014. Ubx promotes corbicular development in Apis mellifera. . [reported by MSU news, Sciencedaily]
94. Abramson, C.I., T. Giray, Z.Y. Huang, X. Xie. 2013. Opportunities for collaborative research with honey bees in Turkey and China.
93. Yang, W., H. Kuang, J. Wang, S. Wang, Z. Wu, X. Miao*, Z.Y. Huang*. 2013. Comparative sucrose sensitivity in Apis mellifera and A. cerana foragers. PlosOne
92. Shi, Y.Y., L.X. Sun, Z.Y. Huang; X.B. Wu, Y.Q. Zhu, H.J. Zheng; Z.J. Zeng*. 2013. A SNP based high-density linkage map of Apis cerana reveals a high recombination rate similar to Apis mellifera. PlosOne
91. Luo, C.W., Z.Y. Huang, K. Li, X.M. Chen*, Y. Chen, Y. Sun. 2013. EAG responses of Apis cerana to floral compounds of a biodiesel plant, Jatropha curcas. J. Econ. Entomol. 106(4): 1653-1658 (2013); DOI:
90. Li, W.F., Z.Y. Huang, F. Liu, Z.G. Li, L.M. Yan, S. Zhang, B.X. Zhong, S.K. Su*. 2013. Molecular cloning and characterization of juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase in Apis mellifera and its expression profile during the caste differentiation.
89. Milbrath, M.O., X. Xie, Z.Y. Huang*. 2013. Carbon dioxide anesthesia affects mortality of Nosema ceranae infected honey bees. J. Invertebrate Pathology.
88. Wegener, J., Z.Y. Huang, M. W. Lorenz, J.I. Lorenz, K. Bienefeld*, 2013. New insights into the roles of juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids in honey bee reproduction. Journal of Insect Physiology,
87. Goblirsch, M., Z.Y. Huang, M. Spivak*. 2013. Physiological and behavioral changes in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) induced by Nosema ceranae infection: A potential detractor of social resiliency.
86. Shi, Y.Y., W.Y. Yan, Z.Y. Huang, Z.L. Wang, X.B. Wu, Z.J. Zeng*. 2012. Genomewide analysis indicates that queen larvae have lower methylation levels in the honey bee (Apis mellifera).
85. Huang, Z.Y. 2012. Varroa mite reproductive biology.. Also published on Bee Culture.
84. Wang, Z.L., T.T. Liu, Z.Y. Huang, B.W. Xiao, W.Y. Yan, Z.J. Zeng*. 2012. Transcriptome analysis of the Asian honey bee Apis cerana cerana.
83. Luo, C.W., K. Li, X. M. Chen*, Z.Y. Huang. 2012. Ants contribute significantly to the pollination of a biodiesel plant, Jatropha curcas. , 41：1163-1168.
82. Li, L., F. Liu, W. Li, Z. Li, J. Pan, L. Yan, S. Zhang, Z.Y. Huang*, S. Su*. 2012. Differences in MicroRNAs and their expressions between foraging and dancing honey bees, Apis mellifera L.
81. Shi, Y.Y., X.B. Wu, Z.Y. Huang, Z.L. Wang, W.Y. Yan, Z.J. Zeng*. 2012. Epigenetic modification of gene expression in honey bees by heterospecific gland secretions. 2012;7(8):e43727.
80. Ahn, K., X. Xie, J. Riddle, J. Pettis, Z.Y. Huang*. 2012. Effects of Long distance transportation on honey bee physiology. Psyche, 2012
79. Huang, Z.Y. 2012. Pollen nutrition affects honey bee stress resistance.
78. Liu, Z.Y. Z.L. Wang, W.Y. Yan, X.B. Wu, Z.J. Zeng*, Z.Y. Huang*. 2012. The sex determination gene shows no founder effect in the giant honey bee, Apis dorsata. PLoS ONE 7(4): e34436.
77. Slone, J.D., T.L. Stout, Z.Y. Huang, S.S. Schneider*. 2012. The influence of drone physical condition on the likelihood of receiving vibration signals from worker honey bees, Apis mellifera.
76. Shi, Y. Y., Z.Y. Huang*, Z.J. Zeng*, Z.L. Wang, X.B. Wu, W.Y. Yan. 2011. Diet and cell size both affect queen-worker differentiation through DNA methylation in honey bees (Apis mellifera, Apidae). PLoS ONE 6(4): e18808. doi:10.1371/
75. Leniaud, L., E. Darrouzet, K. Ahn, F. Dedeine, Z.Y. Huang, A.-G. Bagneres*. 2011. Ontogenic
potentialities of the worker caste in two sympatric subterranean termites.
74. Luo C.W., Z. Y. Huang*, X.M. Chen*, K. Li, Y. Chen, Y. Y. Sun. 2011. Contribution of diurnal and nocturnal insects to the pollination of Jatropha curcas in Southwest China. J. Economic Entomology. 104: 149-154
73. Huang, Z.Y. 2011. Effects of Nosema on honey bee behavior and physiology.151: 871-874.
2010 and prior:
72. Huang, Z.Y. 2010. Hives of activity and equality. Book Review for “Honeybee Democracy” by Thomas Seeley..
71. Tibbetts*, E.A., A. Izzo, Z.Y. Huang. 2010. Behavioral and physiological factors associated with juvenile hormone in Polistes wasp queens. Behav Ecol Sociobiol,
70. Tibbetts*, E. A., Z.Y. Huang. 2010. The challenge hypothesis in an insect: juvenile hormone is associated with reproductive conflict following queen loss in Polistes wasps.
69. Chen*, Y.P., Z.Y. Huang. 2010. Nosema ceranae, a newly identified pathogen of Apis mellifera in the U.S. and Asia.(Invited review)
68. Huang, Z.Y. 2010. Honey bee nutrition.150: 773-776.
67. Izzo, A., M. Wells, Z. Huang, Z, E. Tibbetts*. 2009. Cuticular hydrocarbons correlate with fertility, not dominance, in a paper wasp,
66. Johnson, R.M., Z.Y. Huang, M.R. Berenbaum*. 2009. Role of detoxification in Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) tolerance of the miticide tau-fluvalinate.
65. Navajas, M., D.L. Anderson, J. Clement, Z.Y. Huang, T. Zhou, L.I. de Guzman, Y. Le Conte. 2009. New Asian types of Varroa destructor represent new threats for world apiculture.
64. Du, Y., Y. Nomura, Z. Liu, Z.Y. Huang, K. Dong. 2009. Functional expression of an arachnid sodium channel reveals residues responsible for tetrodotoxin resistance in invertebrate sodium channels. [ ]
63. Wegener, J., Z.Y. Huang, M.W. Lorenz, K. Bienefeld. 2009. Regulation of hypopharyngeal gland activity and oogenesis in honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers.
62. Huang, Z.Y. 2009. A standardized procedure for the in vitro Rearing of Honey Bee Larvae.visited Feb 22, 2013. [backup copy , in case the above URL does not work]
61. Huang, Z.Y. 2008. Book review on “Form and Function in the Honey Bee” by Goodman. American Entomologist 55: Winter.
60. Kou, R., S.-Y. Chou, Z.Y. Huang, R.-L. Yang. 2008. Juvenile hormone levels are increased in winners of cockroach fights. Hormones and Behavior 54: 521-527 
59. Kou, R., H.-W. Chang, Z.Y. Huang, R.-L. Yang. 2008. Pheromone, juvenile hormone, and social status in the male lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 68: 144-155 [ ]
58. Duan, J.J. M. Marvier, J. Huesing, G. Diverly, Z.Y. Huang. 2008. A meta-analysis of
effects of Bt crops on honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). PLoS ONE 3(1): e1415. doi:10.1371
57. Cho, S., Z. Y. Huang and J. Zhang. 2007. Sex-specific splicing of the honey bee doublesex gene reveals 300 million years of evolution at the bottom of the insect sex-determination
pathway. Genetics 177:1733-41 [ ]
56. Huang, Z.Y. 2007. The honey bee genome: the untold stories. Chinese Bulletin of Entomology. In Chinese.
55. Huang, Z.Y. 2007. Beekeeping in various parts of the world: China. ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture. I.A. Root. pp 92-93.
54. Wharton, K, F.C. Dyer, Z. Y. Huang, T. Getty. 2007. The honeybee queen influences the regulation of colony drone production. Behavioral Ecology 18: 1092-1099 . ]
53. Chow, S.-Y, Z.Y. Huang, S.-C. Chen, R.-L. Yang, R. Kou. 2007. Antenna contact and agonism in the male lobster cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea. Hormones and Behavior 52: 252-260 [ ].
52. Liu, Z., J. Tan, Z.Y. Huang, K. Dong. 2006. Effect of a fluvalinate-resistance-associated sodium channel mutation from varroa mites on cockroach sodium channel sensitivity to fluvalinate, a pyrethroid insecticide. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 36: 885-889 .
51. Cho, S., Z.Y. Huang, D.R. Green, D.R. Smith, and J. Zhang. 2006. Evolution of the complementary sex-determination gene of honey bees: balancing selection and trans-species polymorphisms. Genome Research 16: 1366-1375 . [ ], recommended by F1000:
50. Huang, Z.Y., J. Zhao, L. Zhou, Y. Qin. 2006. Electronic monitoring of feeding behavior of Varroa mites on honey bees. Journal of Apicultural Research 45(3): 157-158 .
49. Zeng, Z., Z.Y. Huang, Y. Qin, H. Pang. 2005. Hemolymph juvenile hormone titers in worker honey bees under normal and pre-swarming conditions. J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 274-278 [ ].
48. Tan, J., Z. Liu, R. Wang, Z.Y. Hua ng, A.C. Chen, M. Gurevitz, K. Dong. 2005. Identification of amino acid residues in the insect sodium channel critical for pyrethroid binding. Molecular Pharmac
ology 67: 513-522 [ ].
47. Schneider, S.S., L. A. Lewis, Z. Y. Huang. 2004. The vibration signal and juvenile hormone titers in worker honey bees, Apis mellifera. Ethology 110: 977-985 
46. Leoncini, I., Y. Le Conte, G. Costagliola, E. Plettner, A.L. Toth, M. Wang, Z.Y. Huang, J-M. Becard, D. Crauser, K.N. Slessor, G.E. Robinson*. 2004. Regulation of behavioral maturation by a primer pheromone produced by adult worker honey bees. PNAS 101:17561-17564 [ ]
45. Huang, Z.Y., A.V. Hanley, W. Pett, J.J. Duan. 2004. Field and semi-field evaluation of impacts of transgenic canola pollen on survival and development of worker honey bees. Journal of Economic Entomology 97: 1517-1523 
44. Smith, L., Z.Y. Huang. 2004. Another job for busy bees: Honey bees are the perfect choice for vectoring biocontrol agents. Bee Culture 132: 46-49 
43. Zhou, T., D.L. Anderson, Z.Y. Huang, S. Huang, J. Yao, T. Ken, Q. Zhang. 2004. Identification of Varroa mites infesting Apis cerana and Apis mellifera in China. Apidologie 35: 645-654 [ ]
42. Lin, H., C. Dusset & Z.Y. Huang. 2004. Short-term changes in juvenile hormone titres in
honey bee workers due to stress. Apidologie 35: 319-328. [ ]
41. Hanley, A.V., Z.Y. Huang & W. Pett. 2003. Does transgenic Bt corn pollen affect larval development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) and greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.)? J. Apic Research 42: 77-81. [ ]
40. Wang, R., Z.Y. Huang & K. Dong. 2003. Molecular characterization of an arachnid sodium channel gene from the varroa mite (Varroa destructor). Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 33: 733-739. 
39. Wang, R., K. Dong, Z.Y. Huang, P.J. Elzen & J. Pettis. 2002. Resistance Mechanism of Varroa jacobsoni to Fluvalinate: Altered Sodium Channel? In (eds: E.H. Erickson, R.E. Page Jr, and A.A. Hanna) Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites. pp 173-176
38. Huang, Z.Y., Fewell, J.H. 2002. Modeling insect societies: from genes to colony behavior. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17: 403-404 
37. Wang, R., Z. Liu, K. Dong, P.J. Elzen, J. Pettis, Z.Y. Huang. 2002. Association of novel mutations in a sodium channel gene with fluvalinate resistance in the varroa mite, Varroa destructor. Journal of Apicultural Research 40: 17-25 30. [ ]
36. Schulz, D.S., M.J. Vermiglio, Z.Y. Huang, G.E. Robinson. 2002. Effects of colony food shortage on social interactions in honey bee colonies. Insectes Sociaux 49: 50-55 29. [ ]
35. Huang, Z.Y. 2001. MiteZapper – a new and effective method for varroa mite control. American Bee Journal. 141: 730-732 [ ]
34. Huang, Z.Y. & H. Lin. 2001. The small hive beetle: a new pest of honey bees in the United States. Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society 46: 5, 8
33. Zhou, T., J. Yao, S.X. Huang & Z.Y. Huang. 2001. Larger cell size reduces varroa mite reproduction. Proceedings of the American Bee Research Conference, American Bee Journal 141: 895-896
32. Huang, Z.Y., H.O. Kuang, B.Y. Kuang & Y. Qin. 2001. Juvenile hormone and division of labor in Apis cerana. Proceedings of 7th International Bee Research Association Conference and Asian Apicultural Association Conference, Thailand, 2000. Journal of Apicultural Research 40 (supplement): 3-6 54. [ ]
31. Beshers, S.N., Z.Y. Huang, Y. Oono & G.E. Robinson. 2001. Social inhibition and the regulation of temporal polyethism in honey bees. Journal of Theoretical Biology 213: 461-479 [ ]
30. Pearce, A.N., Z.Y. Huang & M.D. Breed. 2001. Juvenile hormone and aggression in honey bees. Journal of Insect Physiology 47: 1243-1247 
29. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.E. Robinson. 1999. Social control of division of labor in honey bee colonies. In (Eds: C. Detrain, J.L. Denoubourg & J.M. Pasteels) Information Processing in Social
Insects. Birhauser, pp. 165-186
28. Huang, Z.Y. 1999. Regulation of division of labor in worker honey bees: the activator-inhibitor model. In (Eds: L.J. Connor & R. Hoopingarner). Apiculture in the 21st Century. Wicwas Press, pp
27. Schmidt-Bailey, J., D. Westervelt & Z.Y. Huang. 2000. The Spartan Beetle Buster: testing of a new method for surveying the small hive beetle. Proceedings of the American Bee Research Conference, American Bee Journal 140: 907. Abstract
26. Wang, R., D. Ke, P.J. Elzen, J. Pettis & Z.Y. Huang. 2000. Altered sodium channel as a possible resistance mechanism of Varroa jacobsoni to fluvalinate. Proceedings of the American Bee Research Conference, American Bee Journal 140: 747. Abstract
25. Jassim, O., Z.Y. Huang & G.E. Robinson. 2000. Juvenile hormone profiles of worker honey bees during normal and accelerated behavioral development. Journal of Insect Physiology 46: 243-249 [ ]
24. Bloch, G., D.W. Borst, Z.-Y. Huang, G.E. Robinson & A. Hefetz. 2000. Haemolymph JH titer, biosynthesis rates, ovarian development and the social environment in Bombus terrestris. Journal of Insect Physiology 46: 46-57 [ ]
23. Giray, T., Z.-Y. Huang & G.E. Robinson. 1999. Endocrine basis of genetic differences for behavioral development in honey bees. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 47: 17-28 
22. Huang, Z.-Y., E. Plettner & G.E. Robinson. 1998. Effect of social environment and mandibular gland removal on division of labor in worker honey bees. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 183: 143-152 [ ]
21. Pankiw, T., Z.-Y. Huang, M.L. Winston & G.E. Robinson. 1998. Queen mandibular gland pheromone influences worker honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) juvenile hormone titers and foraging ontogeny. Journal of Insect Physiology 44: 685-692 [ ]
20. Schulz, D.J., Z.-Y. Huang & G.E. Robinson. 1998. Effect of colony food shortage on the behavioral development of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 42: 295-303 
19. Robinson, G.E. & Z.-Y. Huang. 1998. Colony integration in honey bees: genetic, endocrine, and social control of division of labor. Apidologie 29: 159-170 (Invited review) [ ]
18. Trumbo, S.T., Z.-Y. Huang & G.E. Robinson. 1997. Division of labor between undertaker specialists and other middle age workers in honey bee colonies. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 41: 151-163 
17. Cnaani, J., D.W. Borst, Z.-Y. Huang, G.E. Robinson & A. Hefetz. 1997. Caste determination in Bombus terrestris: differences in larval development and rates of JH biosynthesis. Journal of Insect Physiology 43: 373-381 [ ]
16. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.E. Robinson. 1996. Regulation of honey bee division of labor by colony age demography. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 39: 147-158 
Huang, Z.-Y. 1996. Insects in Chinese culture..
15. Bloch, G., D. W. Borst, Z.-Y. Huang, G.E. Robinson & A. Hefetz. 1996. Effects of social conditions on juvenile hormone-mediated reproductive development in Bombus terrestris workers.
14. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.E. Robinson. 1995. Seasonal changes in juvenile
hormone in worker honey bees. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 165: 18-28 [ ]
13. Robinson, G.E., R.E. Page & Z.-Y. Huang. 1994. Temporal polyethism in social insects is a developmental process. Animal Behavior 48: 467-469 [ ]
12. Huang, Z.-Y., G.E. Robinson & D.W. Borst. 1994. Physiological
correlates of division of labor among similarly aged honey bees. Journal of
Comparative Physiology A 174: 731-739 [ ]
11. Goodman, W.G., Z.-Y. Huang, G.E. Robinson, C. Strambi & A. Strambi. 1993. A comparison of two juvenile hormone radioimmunoassays. Archives of Insect Biochemistry & Physiology 23: 147-152 [ ]
10. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.E. Robinson. 1992. Honey bee colony integration: Worker-worker interactions mediate plasticity in endocrine and behavioral development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 89: 11726-11729 (cited in the text book “Animal Behavior” by J. Alcock) [ ]
9. Robinson, G.E., C. Strambi, A. Strambi & Z.-Y. Huang. 1992. Reproduction in worker honey bees is associated with low juvenile hormone titres and rates of biosynthesis. General & Comparative Endocrinology 87: 471-480
8. Huang, Z.-Y., G.E. Robinson, S.S. Tobe, K.J. Yagi, C. Strambi, A. Strambi & B. Stay. 1991. Hormonal regulation of behavioral development in the honey bee is based on changes in the rate of juvenile hormone biosynthesis. Journal of Insect Physiology 37: 733-741 [ ]
7. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.W. Otis. 1991. Inspection and feeding of larvae by worker honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Effect of starvation and food quantity. Journal of Insect Behavior 4: 305-317 
6. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.W. Otis. 1991. Non-random visitation of brood cells by worker honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Insect Behavior 4: 177-184 
5. Huang, Z.-Y. & C.O. Knowles. 1990. Nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in honey bee (Apis mellifera) brain. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology C 97: 275-281. 
4. Huang, Z.-Y. & C.O. Knowles. 1990. Properties of a quinuclidinyl benzilate binding component in the bulb mite. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology C 95: 71-77 [ ]
3. Huang, Z.-Y. 1990. A simple in vivo bioassay for estimating the hypopharyngeal gland activity in honeybees (Apis mellifera L, Apidae, Hymenoptera). Journal of Apicultural Research 29: 75-81 
2. Huang, Z.-Y., G.W. Otis & P.E.A. Teal. 1989. Nature of brood signal activating the protein synthesis of hypopharyngeal gland in honey bees, Apis mellifera (Apidae: Hymenoptera). Apidologie 20: 455-464
1. Huang, Z.-Y. & G.W. Otis. 1989. Factors determining hypopharyngeal gland activity of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Insectes Sociaux 36: 264-276