Physiological and toxicological responses of honeybees and stingless bees to individual and combined exposure to imidacloprid, glyphosate, and pyraclostrobin
- Authors
- Publication Date
- Aug 29, 2024
- Source
- HAL
- Keywords
- Language
- English
- License
- Unknown
- External links
Abstract
Bees play crucial roles in pollination. They face pesticide exposure, adversely affecting their survival and physiological functions. Pesticides like glyphosate, pyraclostrobin, and imidacloprid are commonly used in Brazilian agroecosystems, with residues found in bee food resources. Our study investigates the chronic effects of these pesticides, alone and in mixtures, on the survival and physiological response of Apis mellifera, Melipona scutellaris, and Scaptotrigona postica. We conducted toxicological bioassays exposure of the bees to residual concentrations of imidacloprid (0.7 µg/L), glyphosate (1.8 µg/L), and pyraclostrobin (0.2 µg/L), both individually and combined. We determined the mean lethal time (LT50) and analyzed enzyme activity in exposed bees. Results showed varying sensitivities among bee species to pesticide exposure. Pesticide mixtures generally led to the most significant reductions in bee survival, with interactions showing complex effects. Enzyme activity analysis revealed alterations in important physiological compartments, indicating potential sublethal effects of pesticide exposure. This study highlighted the need for further research on the effects of mixtures of pesticides, especially on native bee species, to better understand their impact on bee populations. In addition, these findings underscore the need for further research to inform regulatory decisions on pesticide management.
