Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity
How neonicotinoid contamination affects honey bees remains controversial. Studies have yielded contradictory results, and few have examined effects on colony development. Here we report the results of a comprehensive five-year study of the effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on honey bee colon...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322000422 |
| _version_ | 1819294743975165952 |
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| author | William G. Meikle Théotime Colin John J. Adamczyk Milagra Weiss Andrew B. Barron |
| author_facet | William G. Meikle Théotime Colin John J. Adamczyk Milagra Weiss Andrew B. Barron |
| author_sort | William G. Meikle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | How neonicotinoid contamination affects honey bees remains controversial. Studies have yielded contradictory results, and few have examined effects on colony development. Here we report the results of a comprehensive five-year study of the effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on honey bee colonies. Colonies fed 5 ng/g (ppb) imidacloprid in sugar syrup showed increased brood production, lower temperature variability, higher CO2 production and had more foragers compared to control colonies fed unadulterated syrup, but treatment did not affect adult bee numbers or average hive temperatures, and did not increase food stores, daily food acquisition or colony survivorship. These results suggest that imidacloprid contamination increased colony metabolism without improving colony productivity, and helps explain why some studies have reported no, or even positive, effects of neonicotinoids. Effect sizes were generally small but that could be attributed at least in part to variability in uncontrolled factors such as weather. We provide an explanation for the diverse effects of pesticide contamination on honey bees, and an improved understanding of how colonies are impacted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:31:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca1391e47eca44d9897207351a4e6ba7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:31:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca1391e47eca44d9897207351a4e6ba72022-12-21T17:15:25ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132022-02-01231113202Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevityWilliam G. Meikle0Théotime Colin1John J. Adamczyk2Milagra Weiss3Andrew B. Barron4Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ, USA; Corresponding author.School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaThad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Poplarville, MS, USACarl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaHow neonicotinoid contamination affects honey bees remains controversial. Studies have yielded contradictory results, and few have examined effects on colony development. Here we report the results of a comprehensive five-year study of the effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on honey bee colonies. Colonies fed 5 ng/g (ppb) imidacloprid in sugar syrup showed increased brood production, lower temperature variability, higher CO2 production and had more foragers compared to control colonies fed unadulterated syrup, but treatment did not affect adult bee numbers or average hive temperatures, and did not increase food stores, daily food acquisition or colony survivorship. These results suggest that imidacloprid contamination increased colony metabolism without improving colony productivity, and helps explain why some studies have reported no, or even positive, effects of neonicotinoids. Effect sizes were generally small but that could be attributed at least in part to variability in uncontrolled factors such as weather. We provide an explanation for the diverse effects of pesticide contamination on honey bees, and an improved understanding of how colonies are impacted.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322000422InsecticideSublethal effectApis melliferaPollinatorThermoregulationHive CO2 |
| spellingShingle | William G. Meikle Théotime Colin John J. Adamczyk Milagra Weiss Andrew B. Barron Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Insecticide Sublethal effect Apis mellifera Pollinator Thermoregulation Hive CO2 |
| title | Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity |
| title_full | Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity |
| title_fullStr | Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity |
| title_short | Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities, but do not increase colony size or longevity |
| title_sort | traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulate different honey bee colony activities but do not increase colony size or longevity |
| topic | Insecticide Sublethal effect Apis mellifera Pollinator Thermoregulation Hive CO2 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322000422 |
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