Relationship of Landscape Type on Neonicotinoid Insecticide Exposure Risks to Honey Bee Colonies: A Statewide Survey

Abstract

Neonicotinoid insecticide use has been suggested as a cause of honey bee colony decline; however, detection rates and concentrations of neonicotinoid insecticide residues in field-collected honey bees have been low. We collected honey bee and beebread samples from apiaries in agricultural, developed, and undeveloped areas during 2 years in Virginia to assess whether landscape type or county pesticide use was predictive of honey bee colony exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides. Trace concentrations of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid were detected in honey bees (3 of 84 samples, 2.02-3.97 ng/g), whereas higher concentrations were detected in beebread (5 of 84 samples, 4.68-11.5 ng/g) and pollen (three of five pollen trap samples, 7.86-12.6 ng/g). Imidacloprid was only detected in samples collected during July and August and was not detected in honey bees from hives where neonicotinoids were detected in pollen or beebread. The number of hives sampled at a site, county pesticide use, and landscape characteristics were not predictive of neonicotinoid detections in honey bees or beebread (all P > 0.05). Field surveys may underestimate honey bee exposure to field-realistic levels of pesticides or the risk of exposure in different landscapes because of low detection rates. Undetectably low levels of exposure or high levels of exposure that go undetected raise questions with regard to potential threats to honey bees and other pollinators.

Honeybee dietary neonicotinoid exposure is associated with pollen collection from agricultural weeds

“…Though previous authors have assessed the impact of proximity to treated crops on dietary neonicotinoid exposure for honeybees [7], few have attempted to relate these patterns to landscape context. The outcomes of these studies have been mixed, detecting no neonicotinoids at all [14] or being unable to draw robust conclusions owing to low sample size [42], to finding an association between mass-flowering crops and neonicotinoid residues in stored honey [43]. By contrast, many studies have attempted to relate landscape context to honeybee health [14,[44][45][46], with colonies often foraging extensively from weedy, volunteer plant species growing in disturbed environments.…”

Bioprospecção de atividades biológicas e compostos bioativos da própolis orgânica brasileira

“…Esta própolis apresenta um grande potencial para descoberta de novas moléculas e tem chamado a atenção do mercado brasileiro, europeu e asiático graças ao seu sabor suave e ausência de metais pesados e pesticidas. Tais características estão relacionadas à sua origem orgânica, sendo produzida exclusivamente em matas nativas (Mata Atlântica), de reflorestamento, de áreas de preservação permanente ou reserva legal; e tornam esta amostra de própolis de grande valor, uma vez que a presença de contaminantes nestes produtos naturais e nas colmeias tem sido relatada por diversos pesquisadores (González-Martín et al, 2017;Gooley et al, 2018;Calatayud-Vernich et al, 2019).…”