Chronic oral toxicity protocol for adult solitary bees (Osmia bicornis L.) : Reduced survival under long-term exposure to a "bee-safe" insecticide
Azpiazu, Celeste (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Sgolastra, Fabio (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari)
Ippolito, Alessio (European Food Safety Authority (Itàlia))
Albacete González, Sergio (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Brandt, Annely (LLH-Bee Institute Kirchhain (Alemanya))
Colli, Monica (Biotecnologie BT Srl (Itàlia))
Grossar, Daniela (Agroscope (Suïssa))
Jeker, Lukas (Agroscope (Suïssa))
Malagnini, Valeria (Centro Trasferimento Tecnologico Fondazione Ednund Mach (Itàlia))
Sancho Blanco, Gonzalo (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Splitt, Aleksandra (The National Institute of Horticultural Research (Polònia))
Straub, Lars (Institute of Bee Health (Suïssa))
Strobl, Verena (Institute of Bee Health (Suïssa))
Boranski, Mikolaj (The National Institute of Horticultural Research (Polònia))
Jachuła, Jacek (The National Institute of Horticultural Research (Polònia))
Martins, Cátia (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (Itàlia))
Medrzycki, Piotr (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria (Itàlia))
Simon-Delso, Noa (BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination (Bèlgica))
Tosi, Simone (University of Turin. Department of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences (Itàlia))
Bosch, Jordi 1961- (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Pollinators are essential for crop productivity. Yet, in agricultural areas, they may be threatened by pesticide exposure. Current pesticide risk assessments predominantly focus on honey bees, with a lack of standardized protocols for solitary bees. This study addresses this gap by developing a long-term oral exposure protocol tailored for O. bicornis. We conducted initial trials to determine optimal container sizes and feeding methods, ensuring high survival rates and accurate syrup consumption measurements. A validation test involving five laboratories was then conducted with the insecticide Flupyradifurone (FPF). Control mortality thresholds were set at ≤ 15% at 10 days. Three laboratories achieved ≤10%, demonstrating the protocol's effectiveness in maintaining healthy test populations. The seasonal timing of experiments influenced control mortality, underscoring the importance of aligning tests with the natural flight period of the population used. Our findings revealed dose-dependent effects of FPF on syrup consumption, showing stimulatory effects at lower concentrations and inhibitory effects at higher ones. The 10-day median lethal daily dose (LDD50) of FPF for O. bicornis (531. 92 ng/bee/day) was 3. 4-fold lower than that reported for Apis mellifera (1830 ng/bee/day), indicating Osmia's higher susceptibility. Unlike other insecticides, FPF did not exhibit time-reinforced toxicity. This study introduces a robust protocol for chronic pesticide exposure in solitary bees, addressing a critical gap in current risk assessment. Based on its low risk to honey bees and bumblebees, FPF is approved for application during flowering. However, our results suggest that it may threaten Osmia populations under realistic field conditions. Our findings underscore the need for comparative toxicity studies to ensure comprehensive protection of all pollinators and the importance of accounting for long term exposure scenarios in risk assessment. By enhancing our understanding of chronic pesticide effects in solitary bees, our study should contribute to the development of more effective conservation strategies and sustainable agricultural practices.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación RTI2018-098399-B-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-128938OB-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PRE2019-088817 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PRE2019-090375
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Chronic testTime-reinforced toxicity (TRT) ; Flupyradifurone ; Syrup consumption ; Time-reinforced toxicity (TRT)
Published in:	Environmental pollution, Vol. 363, Part 1 (December 2024) , art. 125129, ISSN 1873-6424

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125129

10 p, 2.9 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles