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De Souza D, Urbanowicz C, Ng WH, Baert N, Fersch AA, Smith ML, McArt SH. Acute toxicity of the fungicide captan to honey bees and mixed evidence for synergism with the insecticide thiamethoxam. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15709. [PMID: 38977768 PMCID: PMC11231156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66248-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are commonly co-exposed to pesticides during crop pollination, including the fungicide captan and neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam. We assessed the impact of exposure to these two pesticides individually and in combination, at a range of field-realistic doses. In laboratory assays, mortality of larvae treated with captan was 80-90% greater than controls, dose-independent, and similar to mortality from the lowest dose of thiamethoxam. There was evidence of synergism (i.e., a non-additive response) from captan-thiamethoxam co-exposure at the highest dose of thiamethoxam, but not at lower doses. In the field, we exposed whole colonies to the lowest doses used in the laboratory. Exposure to captan and thiamethoxam individually and in combination resulted in minimal impacts on population growth or colony mortality, and there was no evidence of synergism or antagonism. These results suggest captan and thiamethoxam are each acutely toxic to immature honey bees, but whole colonies can potentially compensate for detrimental effects, at least at the low doses used in our field trial, or that methodological differences of the field experiment impacted results (e.g., dilution of treatments with natural pollen). If compensation occurred, further work is needed to assess how it occurred, potentially via increased queen egg laying, and whether short-term compensation leads to long-term costs. Further work is also needed for other crop pollinators that lack the social detoxification capabilities of honey bee colonies and may be less resilient to pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana De Souza
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | | | - Wee Hao Ng
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Nicolas Baert
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Ashley A Fersch
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Michael L Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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2
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Fine JD, Cox-Foster DL, Moor KJ, Chen R, Avalos A. Trisiloxane Surfactants Negatively Affect Reproductive Behaviors and Enhance Viral Replication in Honey Bees. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:222-233. [PMID: 37861380 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Trisiloxane surfactants are often applied in formulated adjuvant products to blooming crops, including almonds, exposing the managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) used for pollination of these crops and persisting in colony matrices, such as bee bread. Despite this, little is known regarding the effects of trisiloxane surfactants on important aspects of colony health, such as reproduction. In the present study, we use laboratory assays to examine how exposure to field-relevant concentrations of three trisiloxane surfactants found in commonly used adjuvant formulations affect queen oviposition rates, worker interactions with the queen, and worker susceptibility to endogenous viral pathogens. Trisiloxane surfactants were administered at 5 mg/kg in pollen supplement diet for 14 days. No effects on worker behavior or physiology could be detected, but our results demonstrate that hydroxy-capped trisiloxane surfactants can negatively affect queen oviposition and methyl-capped trisiloxane surfactants cause increased replication of Deformed Wing Virus in workers, suggesting that trisiloxane surfactant use while honey bees are foraging may negatively impact colony longevity and growth. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:222-233. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Fine
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, Davis, California, USA
| | - Diana L Cox-Foster
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Pollinating Insect Research Unit, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Kyle J Moor
- Utah Water Research Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arian Avalos
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research Laboratory, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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3
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Tokach R, Smart A, Wu-Smart J. Re-using food resources from failed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies and their impact on colony queen rearing capacity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18127. [PMID: 37872271 PMCID: PMC10593847 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44037-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
For over a decade, beekeepers have experienced high losses of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies due to a variety of stressors including pesticide exposure. Some of these chemical stressors may residually remain in the colony comb and food resources (pollen and nectar) of failed colonies and be later re-used by beekeepers when splitting and building back new colonies. The practice of re-using comb from previously perished colonies (termed "deadout") is common in beekeeping practice, but its role in affecting colony health is not well understood. Here, we evaluate the impact of reused, pesticide-contaminated "deadout" combs on colony function during the process of replacing a queen bee. Queenless microcolonies were established to monitor queen rearing capacity in two treatment groups: (1) colonies given frames containing food resources from deadout colonies in control "clean" apiaries and, (2) colonies given frames containing "contaminated" resources from deadout colonies originating from apiaries experiencing chronic pesticide exposure from widespread systemic pesticide pollution (including neonicotinoid insecticides: clothianidin and thiamethoxam). Results indicate that colonies given pesticide-contaminated resources produced fewer queen cells per colony and had a lower proportion of colonies successfully raising a functional, diploid egg-laying queen. This research highlights the deleterious effects of re-using deadout combs from colonies previously lost due to pesticide contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogan Tokach
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Autumn Smart
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Judy Wu-Smart
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA.
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4
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Fuente-Ballesteros A, Brugnerotto P, Nguyen VD, Costa ACO, Bernal J, Ares AM. Contamination of Honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.) Royal Jelly by Pesticides and Sample Preparation Methods for Its Determination: A Critical Appraisal. Foods 2023; 12:3612. [PMID: 37835264 PMCID: PMC10572548 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pesticides can easily enter the food chain, harming bee populations and ecosystems. Exposure of beehive products to various contaminants has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the decline in bee populations, and multiple food alerts have been reported. Despite this fact, royal jelly, a valuable bee product with nutritional and functional properties, has received less attention in this context. Pesticide residues of different chemical class can contaminate royal jelly when foraging bees collect pollen or nectar from pesticide-treated flowers, or in some cases, due to its frequent and inappropriate use in the treatment of mites in beehives. To monitor this issue and also make it more reliable, it is crucial to develop effective sample preparation methods for extracting pesticides from royal jelly for subsequent analysis. In this context, this review provides information about sample preparation methods (solid-phase extraction, solvent extraction, and QuEChERS-quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) and analytical methods that have been validated or improved to extract and analyze pesticides, respectively, in royal jelly samples of different origins. Finally, future perspectives are discussed. With this background, we aim to provide data that can guide future research related to this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Fuente-Ballesteros
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I.U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (A.F.-B.); (J.B.)
| | - Patricia Brugnerotto
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, SC, Brazil; (P.B.); (A.C.O.C.)
| | - Vinh Dinh Nguyen
- Faculty of Chemistry, TNU-University of Sciences, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City 25000, Vietnam;
| | - Ana C. O. Costa
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, SC, Brazil; (P.B.); (A.C.O.C.)
| | - José Bernal
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I.U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (A.F.-B.); (J.B.)
| | - Ana M. Ares
- Analytical Chemistry Group (TESEA), I.U. CINQUIMA, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (A.F.-B.); (J.B.)
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5
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Wu WY, Liao LH, Lin CH, Johnson RM, Berenbaum MR. Effects of pesticide-adjuvant combinations used in almond orchards on olfactory responses to social signals in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Sci Rep 2023; 13:15577. [PMID: 37730836 PMCID: PMC10511525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41818-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to agrochemical sprays containing pesticides and tank-mix adjuvants has been implicated in post-bloom mortality, particularly of brood, in honey bee colonies brought into California almond orchards for pollination. Although adjuvants are generally considered to be biologically inert, some adjuvants have exhibited toxicity and sublethal effects, including decreasing survival rates of next-generation queens. Honey bees have a highly developed olfactory system to detect and discriminate among social signals. To investigate the impact of pesticide-adjuvant combinations on honey bee signal perception, we performed electroantennography assays to assess alterations in their olfactory responsiveness to the brood ester pheromone (BEP), the volatile larval pheromone β-ocimene, and the alarm pheromone 2-heptanone. These assays aimed to uncover potential mechanisms underlying changes in social behaviors and reduced brood survival after pesticide exposure. We found that combining the adjuvant Dyne-Amic with the fungicide Tilt (propiconazole) and the insecticide Altacor (chlorantraniliprole) synergistically enhanced olfactory responses to three concentrations of BEP and as well exerted dampening and compensatory effects on responses to 2-heptanone and β-ocimene, respectively. In contrast, exposure to adjuvant alone or the combination of fungicide and insecticide had no effect on olfactory responses to BEP at most concentrations but altered responses to β-ocimene and 2-heptanone. Exposure to Dyne-Amic, Altacor, and Tilt increased BEP signal amplitude, indicating potential changes in olfactory receptor sensitivity or sensilla permeability to odorants. Given that, in a previous study, next-generation queens raised by nurses exposed to the same treated pollen experienced reduced survival, these new findings highlight the potential disruption of social signaling in honey bees and its implications for colony reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yen Wu
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ling-Hsiu Liao
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Chia-Hua Lin
- Department of Entomology, Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Research Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 2501 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Reed M Johnson
- Department of Entomology, Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Research Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 2501 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - May R Berenbaum
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
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Wernecke A, Eckert JH, Bischoff G, Forster R, Pistorius J, Odemer R. A selected organosilicone spray adjuvant does not enhance lethal effects of a pyrethroid and carbamate insecticide on honey bees. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1171817. [PMID: 37324382 PMCID: PMC10267468 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1171817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of the agricultural landscape, non-target organisms, such as bees, may be exposed to a cocktail of agrochemicals including insecticides and spray adjuvants like organosilicone surfactants (OSS). While the risks of insecticides are evaluated extensively in their approval process, in most parts of the world however, authorization of adjuvants is performed without prior examination of the effects on bees. Nevertheless, recent laboratory studies evidence that adjuvants can have a toxicity increasing effect when mixed with insecticides. Therefore, this semi-field study aims to test whether an OSS mixed with insecticides can influence the insecticidal activity causing increased effects on bees and bee colonies under more realistic exposure conditions. To answer this question a pyrethroid (Karate Zeon) and a carbamate (Pirimor Granulat) were applied in a highly bee attractive crop (oil seed rape) during bee flight either alone or mixed with the OSS Break-Thru S 301 at field realistic application rates. The following parameters were assessed: mortality, flower visitation, population and brood development of full-sized bee colonies. Our results show that none of the above mentioned parameters was significantly affected by the insecticides alone or their combination with the adjuvant, except for a reduced flower visitation rate in both carbamate treatments (Tukey-HSD, p < 0.05). This indicates that the OSS did not increase mortality to a biologically relevant extent or any of the parameters observed on honey bees and colonies in this trial. Hence, social buffering may have played a crucial role in increasing thresholds for such environmental stressors. We confirm that the results of laboratory studies on individual bees cannot necessarily be extrapolated to the colony level and further trials with additional combinations are required for a well-founded evaluation of these substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wernecke
- Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Bee Protection, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jakob H. Eckert
- Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Bee Protection, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gabriela Bischoff
- Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Bee Protection, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rolf Forster
- Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL)—Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jens Pistorius
- Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Bee Protection, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Richard Odemer
- Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Bee Protection, Braunschweig, Germany
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7
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Wueppenhorst K, Eckert JH, Steinert M, Erler S. What about honey bee jelly? Pesticide residues in larval food jelly of the Western honey bee Apis mellifera. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:158095. [PMID: 35987228 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Karoline Wueppenhorst
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104 Braunschweig, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Jakob H Eckert
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104 Braunschweig, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Steinert
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Silvio Erler
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104 Braunschweig, Germany; Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstr. 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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8
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Ghasemi V, Salehinejad A, Ghadamyari M, Jack CJ, Sharifi M. Toxic evaluation of Proclaim Fit ® on adult and larval worker honey bees. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:1441-1449. [PMID: 36301371 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02601-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Impacts to honey bees due to exposure to agricultural pesticides is one of the most serious threats to the beekeeping industry. Our research evaluated toxicity of the formulated insecticides Lufenuron+Emamectin benzoate (Proclaim Fit®) on the European honey bee Apis mellifera L. at field-realistic concentration (worst-case scenario). Newly emerged (≤24-h old) and forager (unknown age) worker bees were treated with the field recommended concentration of Proclaim Fit® using three routes of exposure including residual contact, oral, and spray within the laboratory. We also assessed the effects of Proclaim Fit® on the specific activity of some well-known detoxifying enzymes including α-esterase, β-esterase, and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the honey bees. In addition, toxicity of the formulation was tested on 4th instar larvae within the hive. Based on estimated median survival times (MSTs), Proclaim Fit® was highly toxic to the bees, especially when applied as spray. According to our estimated relative median potency (RMP) values, newly emerged bees were 1.72× more susceptible than foragers to Proclaim Fit® applied orally. Enzyme assays revealed the considerable involvement of the enzymes, especially GST and α-esterase, in detoxification of the Proclaim Fit®, but their activities were significantly influenced by route of exposure and age of bee. Notably, Proclaim Fit® was highly toxic to 4th instar honey bee larvae. Our results generally indicate a potent toxicity of Proclaim Fit® toward honey bees. Therefore, its application requires serious consideration and adherence to strict guidelines, especially during the flowering time of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Ghasemi
- Division of Honey Bee, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Ali Salehinejad
- Department of Plant Protection, Baharan Institute of Higher Education, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghadamyari
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Cameron J Jack
- Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Mahboobeh Sharifi
- Plant Protection Research Department, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Gorgan, Iran
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9
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Fisher Ii A, Glass JR, Ozturk C, DesJardins N, Raka Y, DeGrandi-Hoffman G, Smith BH, Fewell JH, Harrison JF. Seasonal variability in physiology and behavior affect the impact of fungicide exposure on honey bee (Apis mellifera) health. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:120010. [PMID: 36002100 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Honey bee pollination services are of tremendous agricultural and economic importance. Despite this, honey bees and other pollinators face ongoing perils, including population declines due to a variety of environmental stressors. Fungicides may be particularly insidious stressors for pollinators due to their environmental ubiquity and widespread approval for application during crop bloom. The mechanisms by which fungicides affect honey bees are poorly understood and any seasonal variations in their impact are unknown. Here we assess the effects on honey bee colonies of four-week exposure (the approximate duration of the almond pollination season) of a fungicide, Pristine® (25.2% boscalid, 12.8% pyraclostrobin), that has been commonly used for almonds. We exposed colonies to Pristine® in pollen patties placed into the hive, in either summer or fall, and assessed colony brood and worker populations, colony pollen collection and consumption, and worker age of first foraging and longevity. During the summer, Pristine® exposure induced precocious foraging, and reduced worker longevity resulting in smaller colonies. During the fall, Pristine® exposure induced precocious foraging but otherwise had no significant measured effects. During the fall, adult and brood population levels, and pollen consumption and collection, were all much lower, likely due to preparations for winter. Fungicides and other pesticides may often have reduced effects on honey bees during seasons of suppressed colony growth due to bees consuming less pollen and pesticide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Fisher Ii
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA.
| | - Jordan R Glass
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Cahit Ozturk
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Nicole DesJardins
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Yash Raka
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E Allen Rd., Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Brian H Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Jennifer H Fewell
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Jon F Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
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Straw EA, Thompson LJ, Leadbeater E, Brown MJF. 'Inert' ingredients are understudied, potentially dangerous to bees and deserve more research attention. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212353. [PMID: 35232234 PMCID: PMC8889201 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrochemical formulations are composed of two broad groups of chemicals: active ingredients, which confer pest control action, and 'inert' ingredients, which facilitate the action of the active ingredient. Most research into the effects of agrochemicals focusses on the effects of active ingredients. This reflects the assumption that 'inert' ingredients are non-toxic. A review of relevant research shows that for bees, this assumption is without empirical foundation. After conducting a systematic literature search, we found just 19 studies that tested the effects of 'inert' ingredients on bee health. In these studies, 'inert' ingredients were found to cause mortality in bees through multiple exposure routes, act synergistically with other stressors and cause colony level effects. This lack of research is compounded by a lack of diversity in study organism used. We argue that 'inert' ingredients have distinct, and poorly understood, ecological persistency profiles and toxicities, making research into their individual effects necessary. We highlight the lack of mitigation in place to protect bees from 'inert' ingredients and argue that research efforts should be redistributed to address the knowledge gap identified here. If so-called 'inert' ingredients are, in fact, detrimental to bee health, their potential role in widespread bee declines needs urgent assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A. Straw
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
- Department of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linzi J. Thompson
- Department of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ellouise Leadbeater
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Mark J. F. Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
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