Effects of a commercially formulated glyphosate solutions at recommended concentrations on honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) behaviours

AbstractGlyphosate, the active ingredient of the most widely used commercial herbicide formulation, is extensively used and produced in China. Previous studies have reported sublethal effects of glyphosate on honeybees. However, the effects of commercially formulated glyphosate (CFG) at the recommended concentration (RC) on the chronic toxicity of honeybees, especially on their behaviours, remain unknown. In this study, a series of behavioural experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of CFG on honeybees. The results showed that there was a significant decline in water responsiveness at 1/2 × , 1 × and 2 × the RC after 3 h of exposure to CFG for 11 days. The CFG significantly reduced sucrose responsiveness at 1/2 × and 1 × the RC. In addition, CFG significantly affected olfactory learning ability at 1/2 × , 1 × , and 2 × the RC and negatively affected memory ability at 1/2 × and 1 × the RC. The climbing ability of honeybees also significantly decreased at 1/2 × , 1 × and 2 × the RC. Our findings indicated that, after they were chronically exposed to CFG at the RC, honeybees exhibited behavioural changes. These results provide a theoretical basis for regulating field applications of CFG, which is necessary for establishing an early warning and notification system and for protecting honeybees.

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Review on Sublethal Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Knowledge Gaps and Future Perspectives

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041863 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1863 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agata Di Noi ◽

Silvia Casini ◽

Tommaso Campani ◽

Giampiero Cai ◽

Ilaria Caliani

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Anthropogenic Contamination ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Pollination Services ◽

General Decline ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Impact

Honey bees and the pollination services they provide are fundamental for agriculture and biodiversity. Agrochemical products and other classes of contaminants, such as trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, contribute to the general decline of bees’ populations. For this reason, effects, and particularly sublethal effects of contaminants need to be investigated. We conducted a review of the existing literature regarding the type of effects evaluated in Apis mellifera, collecting information about regions, methodological approaches, the type of contaminants, and honey bees’ life stages. Europe and North America are the regions in which A. mellifera biological responses were mostly studied and the most investigated compounds are insecticides. A. mellifera was studied more in the laboratory than in field conditions. Through the observation of the different responses examined, we found that there were several knowledge gaps that should be addressed, particularly within enzymatic and molecular responses, such as those regarding the immune system and genotoxicity. The importance of developing an integrated approach that combines responses at different levels, from molecular to organism and population, needs to be highlighted in order to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic contamination on this pollinator species.

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Chronic toxicity of amitraz, coumaphos and fluvalinate to Apis mellifera L. larvae reared in vitro

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-018-24045-3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pingli Dai ◽

Cameron J. Jack ◽

Ashley N. Mortensen ◽

Tomas A. Bustamante ◽

James D. Ellis

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Chronic Toxicity

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Chronic toxicity of clothianidin, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, and dimethoate to Apis mellifera L. larvae reared in vitro

Pest Management Science ◽

10.1002/ps.5124 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 29-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Pingli Dai ◽

Cameron J Jack ◽

Ashley N Mortensen ◽

Tomas A Bustamante ◽

Jeffrey R Bloomquist ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Chronic Toxicity

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The effects of foraging role and genotype on light and sucrose responsiveness in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Behavioural Brain Research ◽

10.1016/j.bbr.2009.07.022 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 205 (1) ◽

pp. 132-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jennifer M. Tsuruda ◽

Robert E. Page

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Sucrose Responsiveness

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DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ACUTE AND CHRONIC TOXICITY INDUCED BY IMIDACLOPRID AND ITS METABOLITES IN APIS MELLIFERA

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ◽

10.1897/1551-5028(2001)020<2482:dbaact>2.0.co;2 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

pp. 2482 ◽

Cited By ~ 100

Author(s):

Séverine Suchail ◽

David Guez ◽

Luc P. Belzunces

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Chronic Toxicity ◽

Acute And Chronic Toxicity

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Chronic High-Dose Neonicotinoid Exposure Decreases Overwinter Survival of Apis mellifera L.

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11010030 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 30 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sarah C. Wood ◽

Ivanna V. Kozii ◽

Igor Medici de Mattos ◽

Roney de Carvalho Macedo Silva ◽

Colby D. Klein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Negative Control ◽

Feed Consumption ◽

High Dose ◽

Overwinter Survival ◽

Pathogen Load ◽

Temperature Homeostasis ◽

High Doses ◽

Overwinter Mortality

Overwinter colony mortality is an ongoing challenge for North American beekeepers. During winter, honey bee colonies rely on stored honey and beebread, which is frequently contaminated with the neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin and thiamethoxam. To determine whether neonicotinoid exposure affects overwinter survival of Apis mellifera L., we chronically exposed overwintering field colonies and winter workers in the laboratory to thiamethoxam or clothianidin at different concentrations and monitored survival and feed consumption. We also investigated the sublethal effects of chronic thiamethoxam exposure on colony pathogen load, queen quality, and colony temperature regulation. Under field conditions, high doses of thiamethoxam significantly increased overwinter mortality compared to controls, with field-realistic doses of thiamethoxam showing no significant effect on colony overwinter survival. Under laboratory conditions, chronic neonicotinoid exposure significantly decreased survival of winter workers relative to negative control at all doses tested. Chronic high-dose thiamethoxam exposure was not shown to impact pathogen load or queen quality, and field-realistic concentrations of thiamethoxam did not affect colony temperature homeostasis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that chronic environmental neonicotinoid exposure significantly decreases survival of winter workers in the laboratory, but only chronic high-dose thiamethoxam significantly decreases overwinter survival of colonies in the field.

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