Sulfoxaflor influences the biochemical and histological changes on honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Abstract

Pesticide application can have an adverse effect on pollinator honey bees, Apis mellifera L., ranging from mortality to sublethal effects. Therefore, it is necessary to understand any potential effects of pesticides. The present study reports the acute toxicity and adverse effects of sulfoxaflor insecticide on the biochemical activity and histological changes on A. mellifera. The results showed that after 48 h post-treatment, the LD25 and LD50 values were 0.078 and 0.162 µg/bee, respectively, of sulfoxaflor on A. mellifera. The detoxification enzyme activity shows an increase of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme on A. mellifera in response to sulfoxaflor at LD50 value. Conversely, no significant differences were found in mixed-function oxidation (MFO) activity. In addition, after 4 h of sulfoxaflor exposure, the brains of treated bees showed nuclear pyknosis and degeneration in some cells, which evolved to mushroom shaped tissue losses, mainly neurons replaced by vacuoles after 48 h. There was a slight effect on secretory vesicles in the hypopharyngeal gland after 4 h of exposure. After 48 h, the vacuolar cytoplasm and basophilic pyknotic nuclei were lost in the atrophied acini. After exposure to sulfoxaflor, the midgut of A. mellifera workers showed histological changes in epithelial cells. These findings of the present study showed that sulfoxaflor could have an adverse effect on A. mellifera.

The Synergistic Effect of Lemongrass Essential Oil and Flometoquin, Flonicamid, and Sulfoxaflor on Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): Insights into Toxicity, Biochemical Impact, and Molecular Docking

“…[54] noted that sulfoxaflor has demonstrated effectiveness against various sap-feeding insects, including those resistant to neonicotinoids and other insecticides. However, due to safety concerns regarding the Egyptian honeybee Apis mellifera at certain field concentrations of sulfoxaflor [55,56], it might not be advisable to solely rely on this compound despite its potent toxicity. Nonetheless, employing lower concentrations of the compound could potentially address this issue.…”