Primary olfactory centers (antennal lobes, ALs) of the honey bee brain are invaded by dopamine (DA)-immunoreactive neurons early in development (pupal stage 3), immediately prior to a period of rapid growth and compartmentalization of the AL neuropil. Here we examine the modulatory actions of DA on honey bee AL neurons during this period. Voltage-clamp recordings in whole-cell configuration were used to determine the effects of DA on ionic currents in AL neurons in vitro from pupal bees at stages 4 to 6 of the 9 stages of metamorphic adult development. In approximately 45 percent of the neurons tested, DA (5-50 x 10^-5 M) reduced the amplitude of outward currents in the cells. In addition to a slowly-activating, sustained outward current, DA reduced the amplitude of a rapidly-activating, transient outward conductance in some cells. Both of the currents modulated by DA could be abolished by the removal of Ca²⁺ from the external medium, or by treatment of cells with charybdotoxin (2 x 10^-8 M), a blocker of Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ currents in the cells. Ca²⁺ currents were not affected by DA, nor were A-type K⁺ currents (I_A). Results suggest that delayed rectifier-like current (I_KV) also remains intact in the presence of DA. Taken together, our data indicate that Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ currents are targets of DA modulation in honey bee AL neurons. This study lends support to the hypothesis that DA plays a role in the developing brain of the bee.