Transitions and transmission: behavior and physiology as drivers of honey bee-associated microbial communities

•The effect of an animal host’s behavior on its microbiome has only recently gained appreciation and more causal evidence is needed.•The honey bee experiences dramatic behavioral and physiological shifts during its life cycle, which impact its microbiome.•The tractability of the honey bee and its microbiota make it a promising system for disentangling the effects of host behavior on the microbiome.