Biochemical Responses, Feeding and Survival in the Solitary Bee Osmia Bicornis Following Exposure to an Insecticide and a Fungicide Alone and in Combination

Overview

Journal Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

Publisher Springer

Specialties Environmental Health
Toxicology

Date 2022 Nov 16

PMID 36383317

Authors

Catia Ariana Henriques Martins

Ilaria Caliani

Antonella DAgostino

Agata Di Noi

Silvia Casini

Martina Parrilli

Celeste Azpiazu

Jordi Bosch

Fabio Sgolastra

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In agricultural ecosystems, bees are exposed to combinations of pesticides that may have been applied at different times. For example, bees visiting a flowering crop may be chronically exposed to low concentrations of systemic insecticides applied before bloom and then to a pulse of fungicide, considered safe for bees, applied during bloom. In this study, we simulate this scenario under laboratory conditions with females of the solitary bee, Osmia bicornis L. We studied the effects of chronic exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide, Confidor® (imidacloprid) at a realistic concentration, and of a pulse (1 day) exposure of the fungicide Folicur® SE (tebuconazole) at field application rate. Syrup consumption, survival, and four biomarkers: acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CaE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were evaluated at two different time points. An integrated biological response (IBRv2) index was elaborated with the biomarker results. The fungicide pulse had no impact on survival but temporarily reduced syrup consumption and increased the IBRv2 index, indicating potential molecular alterations. The neonicotinoid significantly reduced syrup consumption, survival, and the neurological activity of the enzymes. The co-exposure neonicotinoid-fungicide did not increase toxicity at the tested concentrations. AChE proved to be an efficient biomarker for the detection of early effects for both the insecticide and the fungicide. Our results highlight the importance of assessing individual and sub-individual endpoints to better understand pesticide effects on bees.

Citing Articles

A test method for assessing chronic oral toxicity of a pesticide to solitary nesting orchard bees, Osmia spp. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae).

Cabrera A, Zuber J, Hamaekers N, Olmstead A, Jensen P, Karunanithi P Environ Entomol. 2024; 53(6):1017-1026.

PMID: 39397314 PMC: 11649340. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvae098.

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