Ms. in Biological Sciences. Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
PhD in Biological Sciences. Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Current positions
CONICET: Associate Researcher of the Argentina National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
Research interests
Pollination, Chemical Ecology, Plant-insect interactions, bees, hawkmoths
Publications in refereed journals (last 5 years)
Palottini, F.; Lucia, A.; Martínez, E.; Balbuena, M.S. (2025). Volatile organic compounds under threat in bumblebees: chemical identification and antennal detection. Journal of Chemical Ecology 51: 74, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-025-01627-w
Balbuena, M.S.; Latorre-Estivalis, J.M.; Farina, W.M. (2025). Sugar response and gustatory gene expression in the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi. Journal of Insect Physiology 13: 104818, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2025.104818
Palottini, F.; Fernández, C.; Balbuena, M.S. (2024). Antennal sensilla pattern distribution and odor detection in Bombus pauloensis foragers (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Apidologie, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-024-01123-2
Balbuena, M.S.; Latorre-Estivalis J.M.; Farina W. (2024). Identification of chemosensory genes in the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi. G3 Genes Genomes Genetics https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkae060.
Balbuena, M.S.; Buchmann, S.; Papaj, D.; Raguso, R.A. (2024). Organ-specific volatiles form Sonoran Desert Krameria flowers as potential signals for oil-collecting bees. Phytochemistry 218: 113937, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113937
Grüter, C.; Balbuena, M.S.; Valadares, L. (2023). Mechanisms and adaptations that shape division of labour in stingless bees. Current Opinion in Insect Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2023.101057
Farina, W.M.; Palottini, F.; Estravis-Barcala, M.C.; Arenas, A.; Balbuena, M.S.; González, A. (2023). Conditioning honeybees to a specific mimic odor increases foraging activity on a self-compatible almond variety. Apidologie, doi: 10.1007/s13592-023-01019-7
Balbuena, M.S.; Broadhead, G.T.; Dahake, A.; Barnett, E.; Vergara, M.; Skogen, K.A.; Jogesh, T.; Raguso, R.A. (2022). Mutualism has its limits: consequences of asymmetric interactions between a well-defended plant and its herbivorous pollinator. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 377: 20210166, doi:10.1098/rstb.2021.0166
Balbuena, M.S.; Farina, W.M. (2020). Chemosensory reception in the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula. Journal of Insect Physiology, 125: 104076, doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104076
Vázquez, D.E.; Balbuena, M.S.; Chaves, F.; Gora, J.; Menzel, R.; Farina, W.M. (2020). The herbicide glyphosate affects wake/rest behavior of the honey bee. Scientific Reports, 10:10516, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67477-6
Grad Students
Total number of Master degree: 1
Management of research projects (last 5 years)
“Claves químicas que medían la interacción intra e interespecífica de abejas nativas, sociales y solitarias” (CONICET, PIP 11220220100529CO). Período 2023-2025. Rol: Investigadora Responsable.
“Ecología química de abejas polinizadoras nativas de interés económico y ecológico. Olores que median la interacción intra e interespecífica de especies sociales y solitaria” (PICT-2020). Investigadora Responsable.
“Ecología cognitiva de abejas sociales nativas e introducidas: una aproximación integrativa sobre insectos polinizadores de importancia agronómica” (PICT-2019). Grupo Responsable.
“Individual and collective foraging in the eusocial bee Apis mellifera: the role of biogenic amines in behavioral flexibility” (CONICET-DAAD 2019-2020). Grupo Responsable.
