A Survey of Pesticide Residues in Pollen Loads Collected by Honey Bees in France

Abstract

In 2002, a field survey was initiated on French apiaries to monitor weakness of honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies. Apiaries were evenly distributed in five sites located on continental France. Five colonies were randomly selected in each apiary, leading to a total of 125 studied honey bee colonies. For 3 yr (starting in autumn 2002), colonies were visited four times per year: after winter, before summer, during summer, and before winter. Pollen loads from traps were collected at each visit. Multiresidue analyses were performed in pollen to search residues of 36 different molecules. Specific analyses were conducted to search fipronil and metabolites and also imidacloprid and metabolites. Residues of 19 searched compounds were found in samples. Contamination by pesticides ranged from 50 to 0%. Coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate residues were the most concentrated of all residues (mean concentrations were 925.0 and 487.2 microg/kg, respectively). Fipronil and metabolite contents were superior to the limit of detection in 16 samples. Residues of fipronil were found in 10 samples. Nine samples contained the sulfone compound, and three samples contained the desulfinyl compound. Residues of imidacloprid and 6-chloronicotinic acid were found in 69% of samples. Imidacloprid contents were quantified in 11 samples with values ranging from 1.1 to 5.7 microg/kg. 6-Chloronicotinic acid content was superior to the limit of quantification in 28 samples with values ranging from 0.6 to 9.3 microg/kg. Statistical tests showed no difference between places of sampling with the exception of fipronil. Possible origins of these contaminations, concentration and toxicity of pesticides, and the possible consequences for bees are discussed.

Lethal and Sublethal Toxicity of Fipronil and Imidacloprid on Psyttalia concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

“…The persistence of this insecticide may be due in part to the combined action of the parent compound and several metabolites produced in its natural degradation, such as the more persistent and less selective sulfone metabolite and desulfinyl photoproduct (Hainzl et al 1998, Chauzat et al 2006.…”

Resistance of developing honeybee larvae during chronic exposure to dietary nicotine

“…However, high levels of agrochemical and miticide residues, including neonicotinoids, have been measured in pollen loads, bee bread, honey and propolis, as well as in the wax cells in which larvae develop and pollen is stored (Chauzat and Faucon, 2007;Chauzat et al, 2006;Mullin et al, 2010;Pettis et al, 2013;Wu et al, 2011). Wax may be a sink for hydrophobic chemicals (Chauzat and Faucon, 2007), which facilitates the transfer of pesticides from contaminated to uncontaminated comb (Wu et al, 2011).…”

Short communication. The detection of Israeli Acute Paralysis virus (IAPV), fipronil and imidacloprid in professional apiaries are not related with massive honey bee colony loss in Spain

“…Some hypotheses regarding the origin of this phenomenon have been linked to the deleterious effect of certain pesticides (Chauzat et al, 2006), the possible introduction of a novel infectious agent, such as Nosema ceranae Higes et al, 2008;revised by Williams, 2009) or of the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV: Cox-Foster et al, 2007), as well as other aetiologies (e.g., environmental and climatic changes, radiation, the synergistic action of different agents). However, these latest hypotheses have not always been supported by well founded scientific data.…”