A Pesticide Residues Insight on Honeybees, Bumblebees and Olive Oil after Pesticidal Applications against the Olive Fruit Fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

In 2017 and 2018, a field survey was initiated on Greek olive orchards to investigate the attractiveness of bait spray applications and the impact of cover and bait sprays applied against the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae), on the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. and bumblebees Bombus terrestris, by investigating the pesticides’ residual prevalence. Bee colonies were evenly distributed in three sites located on coastal areas of Western Crete and visited almost weekly between July and October. Samples collected, were analyzed using existing or developed-optimized liquid and gas chromatographic methods. In bee samples, concentrations varied from 0.0013 to 2.3 mg/kg for dimethoate, from 0.0013–0.059 mg/kg for its metabolite omethoate, and from 0.0035 to 0.63 mg/kg regarding the pyrethroids, β-cyfluthrin and λ-cyhalothrin. In one bee sample dimethoate concentration exceeded both acute oral and contact median lethal dose (LD50). Residue findings in bees, along with verified olive oil residues corroborated that those insecticides had been applied in the olive orchards and transferred to bees. The possibility of non-target effects of the bait sprays to the bees, as well as the impact of the contaminated olive to the bees are discussed.

A Qualitative Analysis of Beekeepers’ Perceptions and Farm Management Adaptations to the Impact of Climate Change on Honey Bees

“…Climate change is a severe threat to honey bees [ 23 , 24 ], significantly influencing other strictly related factors such as diseases, parasites, predators, parasitoids, viruses, and pesticide use [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. These issues deeply influence the behavior, physiology and distribution of honey bees, and indirectly the availability of feeding sources necessary for colony survival and development [ 29 ].…”

Landscape composition and configuration affect bees in the olive agroecosystem

“…Olive orchards are perennial, stable systems that can be suitable habitats for arthropods in general and bees in particular (Potts et al, 2006). Olive trees can provide resources, especially at the period of the year with the highest temperature, and when the blossom of other flora is scanty (Canale & Loni, 2010;Varikou et al, 2020). As olive pollination is not insect dependent, not many works have studied the effect of landscape structure on bees in olive agroecosystem.…”

A comprehensive HRMS methodology using LC-(ESI)-/GC-(APCI)-QTOF MS complementary platforms for wide-scope target screening of >750 pesticides in olive oil

“…39 Similar concentrations of lambda-cyhalothrin in Greek olive oil samples have been reported again ranging between 10 and 24 ng g −1 . 40…”

“…Chlorpyrifos was identified in one sample but below the quantification limit of 4.4 ng g −1 . Chlorpyrifos has been identified and quantified in Greek olive oil samples with concentrations ranging between 15 and 17 ng g −1 , 40 and in virgin olive oils produced in Chile at average concentration of 84 ng g −1 . 41 Pirimiphos-methyl was also identified in one sample but below the quantification limit of 2.0 ng g −1 .…”