The commercial insecticide Fastac Duo is a combined insecticide, widely used in different crops, acting on insects, affecting both pests and pollinators, such as bees. In this study, the effects of sublethal concentrations of Fastac Duo in stingless bees Scaptotrigona bipunctata were evaluated. Worker forager bees were exposed to the insecticide and histochemical and morphological analyses were conducted after 24, 48 and 72 h of ingestion. Brain analysis of S. bipunctata revealed changes in the chromatin condensing state according to exposure time and insecticide concentration when compared to the control group. Morphological changes were observed in the midgut in all concentrations and exposure times, which may interfere in several physiological processes. In conclusion, although the concentrations used in the study did not cause high mortality, it induced changes in the internal morphology that can lead to changes in bee activity.
The meliponines can be found in tropical and subtropical regions and is observed in the majority of Latin America. Scaptotrigona bipunctata are stingless bees that build colonies that possess between 2,000 and 50,000 individuals. This study aimed to estimate the toxicity of the insecticide acephate after oral and contact contamination in S. bipunctata. Results revealed differences between the two types of contamination and indicated that S. bipunctata is tolerant to acephate since the mortality rate was low. The findings indicated that there were expression changes of isoenzyme esterases after contamination with the insecticide, which was able to partially inhibit almost all of the enzymes identified in this study. In addition, morphological changes were identified in the midgut of the bees in the first 24 hours of contamination. However, after 48 hours it was observed the regeneration of the peritrophic membrane and other structures, contributing to the survival of the insects. It is essential to propose measures to minimize the impact of agrochemicals on pollinators and this study provides support for investigations on pesticide toxicity in stingless bees.
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