Newer characters, same story: neonicotinoid insecticides disrupt food webs through direct and indirect effects

Tooker, John F.; Pearsons, Kirsten A.

doi:10.1016/j.cois.2021.02.013

Cited by 57 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Firefly larvae of other species are known to feed on slugs ( Barker, 2004 ), which can also contain high doses of neonicotinoids (500 ng g −1 ), leading to disrupted biological control provided by carabid beetles ( Douglas, Rohr & Tooker, 2015 ). Compounded with reduced prey availability in habitats where neonicotinoids are used ( Ritchie et al, 2019 ; Tooker & Pearsons, 2021 ), decreased feeding activity and high risks of further neonicotinoid exposure through contaminated prey may explain why adult lampyrid densities are significantly lower where clothianidin has been used as a seed coating ( Disque et al, 2019 ), even if acute mortality is low. Adult fireflies may also encounter neonicotinoid residues while resting on sprayed vegetation or during oviposition into soil ( Pisa et al, 2021 ), although the risk of such exposure does not appear to have been explored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity of clothianidin to common Eastern North American fireflies

Pearsons

Lower

Tooker

2021

PeerJ

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Background Previous research suggests that fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are susceptible to commonly used insecticides. In the United States, there has been a rapid and widespread adoption of neonicotinoid insecticides, predominantly used as seed coatings on large-acreage crops like corn, soy, and cotton. Neonicotinoid insecticides are persistent in soil yet mobile in water, so they have potential to contaminate firefly habitats both in and adjacent to application sites. As a result, fireflies may be at high risk of exposure to neonicotinoids, possibly jeopardizing this already at-risk group of charismatic insects. Methods To assess the sensitivity of fireflies to neonicotinoids, we exposed larvae of Photuris versicolor complex and Photinus pyralis to multiple levels of clothianidin-treated soil and monitored feeding behavior, protective soil chamber formation, intoxication, and mortality. Results Pt. versicolor and Pn. pyralis larvae exhibited long-term intoxication and mortality at concentrations above 1,000 ng g−1 soil (1 ppm). Under sub-lethal clothianidin exposure, firefly larvae fed less and spent less time in protective soil chambers, two behavioral changes that could decrease larval survival in the wild. Discussion Both firefly species demonstrated sub-lethal responses in the lab to clothianidin exposure at field-realistic concentrations, although Pt. versicolor and Pn. pyralis appeared to tolerate higher clothianidin exposure relative to other soil invertebrates and beetle species. While these two firefly species, which are relatively widespread in North America, appear somewhat tolerant of neonicotinoid exposure in a laboratory setting, further work is needed to extend this conclusion to wild populations, especially in rare or declining taxa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity of clothianidin to common Eastern North American fireflies

Pearsons

Lower

Tooker

2021

PeerJ

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“…In fact, a combination of over sixteen different agrochemicals was detected in flying insects in nature conservation areas adjacent to agricultural lands across Germany (Brühl et al 2021) and the USA (Main et al 2020). Thus, agrochemicals are suggested to play a major role in driving global insect declines (Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys 2019; Tooker and Pearsons 2021), particularly on farmlands (Emmerson et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant growers’ environmental consciousness may not be enough to mitigate pollinator declines: a questionnaire-based case study in Hungary

Varga-Szilay

Pozsgai

2022

Preprint

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Pesticides are one of the most important anthropogenic-related stressors. In times of global pollinator decline, the role of integrated farming and that of urban gardens in supporting wild pollinators is becoming increasingly important. We circulated an online questionnaire to survey the plant protection practices among Hungarian farmers and garden owners with a particular emphasis on pollinator protection. We found that plant growers heavily rely on pesticide use, and pesticides are widely used in otherwise pollinator-friendly gardens. Whether pesticide use practices were driven by expert opinion and the respondents' sex were the best predictors of pesticide use. Although most respondents supported pollinators, pesticides are also widely used among home garden owners, which can pose a non-evident ecological trap for pollinator populations in the gardens. Special attention should be paid to implementing measures to reduce pesticide, use not only in farmlands but also in home gardens. Environmental education and financial support through agroecological schemes could efficiently promote the transition. However, whereas farmers can be encouraged to reduce pesticide use mostly by expert advice, garden owners are likely to rely on more conventional information channels. The attitude of Hungarian plant growers can provide an insight into pesticide use practices of Central and Eastern European countries, but similar surveys are needed across Europe for a complete understanding of broad-scale processes. This work lays the foundations for similar studies which can inform and facilitate the transformation processes to pesticide-free farming and gardening.

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“…Pesticides can be an important part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, when they are applied only as the last resort to prevent pest population outbreaks that cause economic damage (Tooker and Pearsons, 2021). However, pesticide use has shifted away from IPM programs towards preventative and prophylactic uses such as seed coatings or transgenic traits.…”

Section: Use Of Insecticides Worldwidementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, pesticide use has shifted away from IPM programs towards preventative and prophylactic uses such as seed coatings or transgenic traits. As a consequence, pesticides are now applied in more crops and landscapes than at any time in history (Bernhardt et al, 2017;Stehle and Schulz, 2015;Tooker and Pearsons, 2021). Agricultural landscapes currently occupy ca.…”

Section: Use Of Insecticides Worldwidementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neonicotinoids have received most of the attention of this thesis because they are among the most widely used and toxic insecticides, accounting for more than 20% of the world's insecticide market in 2008 (Jeschke et al, 2011). Furthermore, the use of neonicotinoids is increasing, despite the scientific evidences of environmental harms demonstrated in literature (Douglas and Tooker, 2015;Tooker and Pearsons, 2021). Chapter 2 demonstrates, for the first time, that honeydew is a route of neonicotinoid exposure that harms beneficial insects that feed on it.…”

Section: Neonicotinoidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Honeydew as a newly described route of insecticide exposure to beneficial insects

Agudo¹

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Newer characters, same story: neonicotinoid insecticides disrupt food webs through direct and indirect effects

Cited by 57 publications

References 91 publications

Toxicity of clothianidin to common Eastern North American fireflies

Toxicity of clothianidin to common Eastern North American fireflies

Plant growers’ environmental consciousness may not be enough to mitigate pollinator declines: a questionnaire-based case study in Hungary

Honeydew as a newly described route of insecticide exposure to beneficial insects

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